MODAL AUXILIARIES

1. THE FORM OF MODAL AUXILIARIES

• Helping verbs that express a wide range of meanings (ability, permission, possibility,
necessity, etc)

Auxiliary + the simple form of a verb

can ,could, may, might,
can I can speak English should, had better, must, will,
could He couldn’t come to class and would are followed by
may It may rain tomorrow the simple form of a verb
might It might rain tomorrow
should Laila should study harder
had better I had better study tonight
must Wawa must see a doctor today
will I will be in class tomorrow
would Would you please close the door?

Auxiliary + to + the simple form of a verb

have to I have to study tonight. have to, have got to, ought to
have got to I have got to study tonight are followed by an infinitive
ought to Lina ought to study harder to + the simple form of a verb

2. EXPRESSING ABILITY: CAN AND COULD

Can express the ability in the present or future

Eg. Amar can play the piano.

You can buy a pencil at the stationery.

Could express the ability in the past.

Eg. Our son could talk when he was two years old.

3. EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY

May and Might express the possibility in the present or future.

Eg. It may rain tomorrow } same meaning

It might rain tomorrow}

Maybe is an adverb meaning perhaps

May be is a verb form; auxiliary may + the main verb be

Eg. Maybe it will rain tomorrow.

Zana may be sick.
4. USING COULD TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY

Another meaning of could is possibility.

Eg. He could be sick.

It could start raining any minute.

(Could is used to express both past and present possibility)

5. ASKING FOR PERMISSION

May I
Used to ask polite questions.
Could I Can is less formal.
Please is optional.
Can I

6. ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE

POLITE QUESTION POSSIBLE ANSWERS Used to ask polite questions.

Would you please Yes. Can is less formal.
Could you please Yes, of course. May is NOT used when you is
Will you please Yes. Certainly the subject of a polite
Can you please Of course. question.
Certainly
I’d be happy to
I’d be glad to
My pleasure.
7. EXPRESSING ADVICE

{should } Should, ought to, and had better have

My clothes are dirty. I {ought to } wash them. basically the same meaning. They mean
{had better } “This is a good idea/advice”.

You need your sleep. You shouldn’t stay up late. Negative

I’d Contraction of had = ‘d.

You’d Note: Usually had is the past tense of have.
He’d better study tonight However, in the expression had better, had
We’d is used as part of an idiom and the meaning
They’d is not past. The meaning is present or future.

Had better not negative

8. EXPRESSING NECESSITY

have to, have got to, and must have basically

the same meaning. They express the idea that
I have a very important test tomorrow. something is very necessary.
( have to )
I (have got to) study tonight.
(must ) have to is used much frequently than must in
everyday speech and writing. Must is a strong
word. Have got to is used informally.

I had to study last night. had to is the past form.

9. STATING PREFERENCES

a) I prefer apple to oranges. prefer + NOUN + to + NOUN

b) I prefer watching TV to studying. prefer + -ING VERB + to + -ING VERB

c) I like apples better than oranges. like + NOUN + better than + NOUN
d) I like watching TV better than studying. like + -ING VERB + better than + -ING VERB

e) Ani would rather have an apple than an In (e) and (f): would rather and than are
orange. followed immediately by the simple form of a
f) I’d rather visit a city than live there. verb.

g) I’d/You’d/He’d/We’d rather have an apple. Contraction of would = ‘d

h) Would you rather have an apple or an In (h): In a polite question, would rather can be
orange? followed by or to offer someone a choice.