Modal auxiliary verbs
Will Shall May & Might Would Can & Could Must Should Ought to
What are "modal auxiliary verbs"?
They are verbs which 'help' other verbs to express a meaning: it is important to realise that "modal verbs" have no meaning by themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying functions; it can be used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and the future. It is therefore wrong to simply believe that "would is the past of will": it is many other things.
A few basic grammatical rules applying to modal verbs
Modal verbs are NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs such as do, does, did etc. The negative is formed simply by adding "not" after the verb; questions are formed by inversion of the verb and subject:
You should not do that.
Could you pick me up when I've finished?
Modal verbs NEVER change form: you can never add an "-s" or "-ed", for example.
Modal verbs are NEVER followed by to, with the exception of ought to.
What sort of meanings do modals give to other verbs?
The meaning are usually connected with ideas of DOUBT, CERTAINTY, POSSIBILITY and PROBABILITY, OBLIGATION and PERMISSION (or lack of these).
You will see that they are not used to talk about things that definitely exist, or events that definitely happened. These meanings are sometimes divided into two groups:
DEGREES OF CERTAINTY: certainty; probability; possibility; impossibility
OBLIGATION/FREEDOM TO ACT: permission,lack of permission; ability; obligation.
OBLIGATION/FREEDOM TO ACT: permission,lack of permission; ability; obligation.
Let's look at each modal verb separately, and the functions they help to express:
Will
Making personal predictions
I don't think the Queen will ever abdicate.
I doubt if I'll stay here much longer.
Talking about the present with certainty (making deductions)
I'm sure you will understand that there is nothing the Department can do
There's a letter for you. It'll be from the bank: they said they'd be writing.
Talking about the future with certainty
I won't be in the office until 11; I've got a meeting.
Don't bother ringing: they'll have left for their 10 o'clock lecture.
Talking about the past with certainty
I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.
Reassuring someone
Don't worry! You'll settle down quickly, I'm sure.
It'll be all right! You won't have to speak by yourself.
Making a decision
For the main course I'll have grilled tuna.
I'm very tired. I think I'll stay at home tonight.
Making a semi-formal request
Will you open the window, please? It's very hot in here.
Sign this, will you?
Offering to do something
You stay there! I'll fetch the drinks.
Insistence; habitual behavior
I'm not surprised you don't know what to do! You will keep talking in class.
Damn! My car won't start. I'll have to call the garage.
Making a promise or a threat
You can count on me! I'll be there at 8 o'clock sharp.
If you don't finish your dinner off, you'll go straight to bed!
Shall
Shall is a form of will, used mostly in the first person. Its use, however, is decreasing, and in any case in spoken English it would be contracted to "-ll" and be indistinguishable from will.
The only time you do need to use it is in questions, when:
Making offers
Shall I fetch you another glass of wine?
Making suggestions
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
May & Might
May & might sometimes have virtually the same meaning; they are used to talk about possibilities in the past, present or future. ("Could" is also sometimes used).
May is sometimes a little bit "more sure" (50% chance); whereas might expresses more doubt (maybe only a 30% chance).
May & might are used, then, for:
Talking about the present or future with uncertainty
She may be back in her office: the lecture finished ten minutes ago.
I may go shopping tonight, I haven't decided yet.
England might win the World Cup, you never know.
Talking about the past with uncertainty
I'm surprised he failed. I suppose he might have been ill on the day of the exam.
They can also sometimes be used for talking about permission, but usually only in formal situations. Instead of saying May I open a window? we would say Is it all right/OK if I open a window? or Can I open a window? for example. You might, however, see:
Students may not borrow equipment without written permission.
May
Talking about things that can happen in certain situations
If the monitors are used in poorly lit places, some users may experience headaches.
Each nurse may be responsible for up to twenty patients.
With a similar meaning to although
The experiment may have been a success, but there is still a lot of work to be done. (= Although it was a success, there is still ...)
Might
Saying that something was possible, but did not actually happen
You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might have stopped and given me a lift!
Would
As the past of will, for example in indirect speech
"The next meeting will be in a month's time" becomes
He said the next meeting would be in a month's time.
Polite requests and offers (a 'softer' form of will)
Would you like another cup of tea?
Would you give me a ring after lunch?
I'd like the roast duck, please.
In conditionals, to indicate 'distance from reality': imagined, unreal, impossible situations
If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day of Spring.
It would have been better if you'd word processed your assignment.
After 'wish', to show regret or irritation over someone (or something's) refusal or insistence on doing something (present or future)
I wish you wouldn't keep interrupting me.
I wish it would snow. (This is a complicated area! Check in a good grammar book for full details!)
Talking about past habits (similiar meaning to used to)
When I was small, we would always visit relatives on Christmas Day.
Future in the past
The assassination would become one of the key events of the century.
Can & Could
Talking about ability
Can you speak Mandarin? (present)
She could play the piano when she was five. (past)
Making requests
Can you give me a ring at about 10?
Could you speak up a bit please? (slightly more formal, polite or 'softer')
Asking permission
Can I ask you a question?
Could I ask you a personal question? (more formal, polite or indirect)
Reported Speech
Could is used as the past of can.
He asked me if I could pick him up after work.
General possibility
You can drive when you're 17. (present)
Women couldn't vote until just after the First World War.
Choice and opportunities
If you want some help with your writing, you can come to classes, or you can get some 1:1 help.
We could go to Stratford tomorrow, but the forecast's not brilliant. (less definite)
Future probability
Could (NOT can) is sometimes used in the same way as might or may, often indicating something less definite.
When I leave university I might travel around a bit, I might do an MA or I suppose I could even get a job.
Present possibility
I think you could be right you know. (NOT can)
That can't be the right answer, it just doesn't make sense.
Past possibility
If I'd known the lecture had been cancelled, I could have stayed in bed longer.
Must
Examples here refer to British English; there is some variation in American English.
Necessity and obligation
Must is often used to indicate 'personal' obligation; what you think you yourself or other people/things must do. If the obligation comes from outside (eg a rule or law), then have to is often (but not always) preferred:
I really must get some exercise.
People must try to be more tolerant of each other.
You musn't look - promise?
If you own a car, you have to pay an annual road tax.
Strong advice and invitations
I think you really must make more of an effort.
You must go and see the film - it's brilliant.
You must come and see me next time you're in town.
Saying you think something is certain
This must be the place - there's a white car parked outside.
You must be mad.
What a suntan! You must have had great weather.
The negative is expresses by can't:
You're going to sell your guitar! You can't be serious!
She didn't wave - she can't have seen me.
Should
Giving advice
I think you should go for the Alfa rather than the Audi.
You shouldn't be drinking if you're on antibiotics.
You shouldn't have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.
Obligation: weak form of must
The university should provide more sports facilities.
The equipment should be inspected regularly.
Deduction
The letter should get to you tomorrow - I posted it first class.
Things which didn't or may/may not have happened
I should have renewed my TV licence last month, but I forgot.
You shouldn't have spent so much time on that first question.
Should is a modal auxiliary verb. There is no –s in the third person singular.
• He should be here soon. (NOT He shoulds …)
• You should mend your ways.
Should is followed by an infinitive without to. Questions and negatives are made without do.
• You should go now.
• Should I go now?
• No, you should not.
Note that should is the past equivalent of shall in indirect speech.
• They asked, ‘What shall we do?’
• They asked what they should do.
Uses: To express obligation
Should is often used to talk about duty or obligation. It can also be used to say or ask what the correct or best thing to do is.
• You should tell the truth.
• If you are not feeling well, you should consult a doctor.
• There should be an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Note that should is not as strong as must.
In questions, should is used to ask for advice or instructions.
• It is rather cold here. Should I turn the heating on?
• What should we do now?
• Should I seek his opinion?
• Should we talk to him?
To express probability
Should can express logical probability.
• You should find this grammar book helpful.
• He should be here soon – he left home at six.
• ‘Granny will be staying with us for a couple of months.’ ‘That should be nice.’
• I should be able to beat him.
• Mount Everest should be visible from Tiger Hill if the sky is clear.
Should have + past participle
The structure should have + past participle can be used to talk about past events which did not happen.
• I should have sent the money this morning, but I forgot.
This structure can also be used to talk about past events which may or may not have happened.
• They should have reached home by now. It is 10 o’clock.
We can use should not have + past participle to refer to unwanted or unnecessary things that happened.
• You shouldn’t have said things like that to her.
• It is very kind of you, but you shouldn’t have bothered.
Should or Would?
In British English, both would and should can be used after first person pronouns (I and we). There is no difference in meaning.
• I would/should like some sweets before I go to bed.
• We would/should be happy to receive them at the airport.
Should after why
Should can be used after why to suggest surprise.
• Why should anyone want to buy something so useless?
• Why shouldn’t she buy it if she can afford it?
• I don’t see why we should have to pay for your mistakes.
Should in subordinate clauses
Should can be used after certain adjectives expressing personal judgments and reactions. Examples are: odd, strange, sad, unfair etc.
• It is strange that she should find old men attractive.
• It is odd that she should want to trust him again.
• It is unfair that she should have died so young.
This also happens after adjectives and nouns expressing the importance of an action. Examples are: necessary, important, essential, vital, eager etc.
• It is important that the meeting should be a success.
• It is necessary that she should be told.
Other cases
Should can used after so that, in order that, for fear that, in case and lest to show the purpose of an action.
• He took an umbrella so that he shouldn’t get wet.
• He ran lest he should miss the train.
• He took his umbrella in case it should rain.
Should in conditional clauses
Should is used in conditional clauses expressing possibilities, suppositions etc.
• If he should come, ask him to wait.
• Should it rain, there will be no picnic today.
Note that if he should come indicates less likelihood of his coming than if he comes. The sentence means something like this: There is not much chance of his coming. But if he turns up, ask him to wait.
Ought to
Ought to usually has the same meaning as should, particularly in affirmative statements in the present:
You should/ought to get your hair cut.
Should is much more common (and easier to say!), so if you're not sure, use should.
EXERCISES
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