Intermediate English Grammar for ESL Learners - Robin Torres-Gouzerh 2016

Shades of meaning
6 Modal auxiliaries

Auxiliaries can be organized into two groups. The first of these groups consists of the three high-frequency auxiliaries be, have, and do. Besides functioning as auxiliaries, they may also be used as verbs.

Carlos is a marketing manager.

Yvette has six children.

The Wyatt brothers do business efficiently.

When be is used as an auxiliary verb, it is combined with a present participle.

Carlos is setting goals for the year to come.

When have is used as an auxiliary verb, it is combined with a past participle.

Yvette has done all she can to raise them.

And when do is used as an auxiliary, it can be used with not to negate a statement; it can also introduce a question or add emphasis to a statement.

The Wyatt brothers don’t like to lose their investors.

Do you spend a lot of time at the library?

We do go to the library on Saturdays, if not during the week.

A second group of auxiliaries is the modal auxiliaries. Some of the most frequently used modal auxiliaries are be to, be supposed to, may, might, must, can, could, had better, have to, have got to, ought to, should, used to, and would. For the most part, these auxiliaries express the speaker’s mind-set or mood. In addition, modal auxiliaries may indicate possibility, permission, obligation, or ability.

They should talk to their parents about it.

Every morning I would drive 15 miles to work.

I might be able to finish the kitchen by tonight.

Modal auxiliaries always precede the verb in the sentence, regardless of the verb form, including the addition of the auxiliaries be, have, and do. Modal auxiliaries (except those that include be or have) do not change form for number, and some make no tense changes.

When used in the present tense, most modal auxiliaries are followed by the base form of the verb.

Mom might make fried chicken tonight.

They must consider every possibility.

In order to form a question with a modal auxiliary, move the auxiliary to the beginning of the sentence in front of the subject.

Can you lift this heavy box?

May our friends join you for lunch?

To form a negative statement with a modal auxiliary, place the word not immediately after the modal auxiliary and before all other auxiliary verbs.

I cannot understand a word she says.

Maybe she should not have borrowed that winter jacket.

Would and could specify a desired or hypothetical situation. These two auxiliaries are often used in a main clause when if + a subjunctive form is used in the other clause.

He would really like to eat one.

I wish I could go horse riding.

If I were a rich man, I would build homeless shelters everywhere.

Would is also used to indicate a habitual action.

I would often go to the movies with my sister.

Can indicates the ability to do something. Note that its past form is could.

Walking down that road can be dangerous.

Man can travel far into outer space.

She could not see where the road ended.

Whereas can indicates the ability to do something, may indicates that something is acceptable. )n casual speech, however, can is often substituted for may.

Anne may borrow my car if she needs to.

Anne can borrow my car if she needs to.

The first sentence above indicates that Anne has permission to borrow the car, while the second sentence indicates that Anne has the ability to borrow it, or, if used casually, that she has permission to borrow it.

Although there is no clear-cut rule, may is usually used to make polite requests.

May I have one of those forms, please?

Dad, may we go swimming today?

Must indicates necessity or requirement; it can also express certainty.

We must obtain a license before we can sell liquor.

I must insist that you finish the job by dusk.

If he’s not here, he must have been delayed.

May and might can both indicate uncertainty or possibility.

I may have to go to New York this weekend.

The children may need a flu shot.

We might have another storm tonight.

You might be right.

Had better and ought to suggest that something needs to be done and imply advisability.

You had better be on time for your own party.

She really ought to find new friends.

Exercise 6.1 Underline the correct modal auxiliary in each sentence.

1. It’s raining, and you may | might not play outside.

2. His father should | may not believe him blindly.

3. Don’t send the e-mail out, because I might | must change my mind.

4. Would | Should we leave the clothes to dry outside?

5. If they rehearsed more often, they may | would become a good rock band.

6. He can | may play basketball really well, and he’s a good student as well.

7. No one can | must play the drums better than John.

8. The hurricane should | could cause a lot of damage if it hits the coast.

9. They may | must go hiking tomorrow if the weather is nice.

10. You could | should not play with knives or guns.

Exercise 6.2 Complete each sentence with an appropriate phrase.

Example You must learn to respect your elders.

1. He can ... .

2. She would ... .

3. I should ... .

4. You ought to ... .

5. He had better ... .

6. May I ...?

7. Can you please ...?

8. Why must that man ...?

Exercise 6.3 Complete each sentence with either must or should.

Example They should buy organic fruit, because it’s healthier.

1. We ... go to India for our spring vacation.

2. If you want to become a lawyer, you ... go to law school.

3. A child ... drink at least three glasses of milk a day.

4. A person ... eat a balanced diet.

5. A person ... eat in order to live.

6. According to my academic advisor, I ... take another history course.

7. I ... pay my bills online tonight, but I think I’ll wait and do it in the morning.

8. Everyone ... have a goal in life.

9. You ... have a passport issued before you can leave the country.

10. Wheat ... have plenty of sun in order to grow.

11. If the car is locked, you ... use a key to open it.

12. I ... go to work, but I don’t feel well. I think I’ll stay home.

13. I just missed the last bus, so I ... walk home.

14. If you don’t know how to pronounce a word, you ... ask a native speaker of English to pronounce it for you.

15. This cake is very good. You ... try a piece.

16. This cake is excellent! You ... try a piece!

Shades of meaning

Ought to and had better express advisability. But besides expressing advisability, ought to, as well as should, may suggest that care be taken in carrying out the action of the verb.In addition, they may imply duty or responsibility in carrying out that action.

Had better is similar in meaning to ought to and should, but it is usually stronger. The auxiliary had better often expresses a warning. It is followed by the basic form of the verb and has either a present or future meaning.

Our left front tire is almost flat. We had better stop to fill it with air.

She had better clean that wound as soon as possible, or it might get infected.

Like the auxiliary verb had, the verb had in the auxiliary had better can contract with a subject pronoun: you’d better, they’d better, and so on.

The past form of should is composed of should have + past participle.

I had an exam this morning. I didn’t do well on it, because I read the wrong chapter. I should have been more attentive in class.

It feels like I really hurt my ankle. I should not have played soccer for so long this afternoon.

The past form of ought to is composed of ought to have + past participle.

I ought to have read the right chapter.

You ought to have thought about the consequences before you volunteered.

Exercise 6.4 For each pair of sentences, select the one that is stronger in meaning or shows greater obligation.

1. a. You’d better not go out there alone.

b. You shouldn’t go out there alone.

2. a. She shouldn’t go into that room.

b. She must not go into that room.

3. a. Ishould call the police.

b. I have to call the police.

4. a. They must go to class.

b. They ought to go to class.

5. a. You should go to the doctor.

b. You had better go to the doctor.

6. a. (e has to go to work.

b. (e ought to go to work.

Exercise 6.5 Respond to each sentence, using the past form should have or should not have.

Example You forgot to set your alarm clock, because you fell asleep on the couch.

I shouldn’t have fallen asleep on the couch.

1. You didn’t do your exercises, because you went to a movie.

2. You failed the exam, because you didn’t study.

3. You didn’t read the chapter, because you played video games instead.

4. You misspelled a word, because you didn’t look it up in the dictionary.

5. The room is full of mosquitoes, because you left the window open.

6. It’s warm in here, because you turned off the fan.

7. You’re poor, because you spent all your money while you were on vacation.

8. You can’t make dinner, because you didn’t go grocery shopping.

9. You are cold, because you left your coat at home.

10. You can’t look her in the eye, because you lied to her.

11. You didn’t have coffee this morning. You’re feeling very sleepy.

12. You have a stomachache, because you ate all the ice cream.

Have to and have got to express necessity. Like must, they suggest that there is no other choice.

All candidates have to take the grammar test.

I simply have got to get there on time.

In informal conversation, must usually carries a stronger connotation than have to and often indicates a sense of urgency.

I have to speak to Robert. I was hoping we could get together for lunch.

I must speak to Robert immediately. His brother was in a car accident.

The past tense of have to is had to.

I have to leave by tomorrow morning.

I had to leave by this morning.

Have to and must, when in the negative, express lack of necessity or prohibition. Do not have to indicates that something is unnecessary, while must not indicates that something is not allowed.

Tomorrow is Christmas, and we do not have to go to work.

You must not tamper with that device.

Exercise 6.6 Complete each sentence with either must not (mustn’t) or do/does not have to (don’t/doesn’t have to).

Example He’s already finished painting the kitchen, so I do not have to paint anymore.

1. I’ve already finished all my reading for tomorrow, so I ... study tonight. I will go to the movies instead.

2. I ... forget to take my key with me before leaving. I could get locked out of my apartment.

3. The second part of the exam is optional. She ... take it, but she probably should.

4. Polar bears are beautiful animals. We ... allow them to become extinct.

5. If you get bitten by a snake, you ... panic, because it will accelerate your pulse and your blood circulation. This will cause the venom to travel faster through your body.

6. This is a one-time opportunity to get the job you’ve always dreamed of. You ... let it pass you by. Accept the offer.

7. Dolphins ... see in order to avoid obstacles like fishing boats. Even in complete darkness, they would be able to navigate around them.

8. When crossing borders in Europe, one ... declare merchandise anymore. The new border regulations set by the European Union are looser.

9. We ... go see that play if you don’t want to, but from what I understand, it’s really good.

10. You ... play with matches. Look around you, Peter, this house is entirely made out of wood.

11. A person ... own a three-story house or a minivan to be happy.

12. She really doesn’t feel well. We ... wait until she has a fever to call the doctor. We ... wait any longer to take her to the hospital.

13. In order to make friends, you ... be rude.

14. You ... be a genius to learn English.

15. You ... lend me their new album. I was able to buy it in advance four weeks ago, so I’ve already heard it several times.

Be supposed to and be to express expectation. They suggest that someone is expecting something about a scheduled situation, the fulfillment of conditions, or the use of proper procedures.

If used in conversation, be to is usually stronger in meaning and more clear-cut than be supposed to.

The plane is supposed to take off in an hour.

The plane is to take off at ten in the morning.

In the first example, the speaker expects the flight to take off in an hour, because that’s when it is scheduled to depart. The second sentence is similar in meaning to the first sentence, but it states a fact. The speaker knows with certainty when the plane will be taking off.

Be to and be supposed to can also express expectation about behavior.

I am supposed to go to this meeting. My director told me he would be pleased to see me there.

I am to be at this meeting. My director told us it is mandatory.

Exercise 6.7 Rewrite each sentence, beginning with You are (not) to.

Example Do not enter private property.

You are not to enter private property.

1. Keep off the grass.

2. No eating or drinking inside.

3. Move to the rear of the plane.

4. Do not feed the monkeys.

5. No smoking.

6. No visitors allowed on board.

7. No littering.

8. Do not use the elevator in case of fire.

Used to expresses a habitual action in the past, one that is no longer performed or repeated. Used to can be used interchangeably with would in this sense. However, since would also has other meanings, it requires an indication of past time to make sense. Compare the following sets of examples.

I used to go surfing every summer.

When I was a teenager, I would go surfing every summer.

I used to run five miles every morning.

Before I broke my knee, I would run five miles every morning.