English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 32: Modals
Unit 12: Auxiliary phrases
Part II: Kinds of phrases
One kind of helping verb is called a modal. A modal adds information, such as possibility, necessity, or requests, to the verb that follows. The modals are underlined in the sentences below:
1. Ellen can do the job.
2. I will worry about that later.
3. You should rest before the party.
4. Dennis might change that carpeting.
There are nine basic modals, listed below. (They were group (a) of Quick tip 3 1.1.)
Quick tip 32.1
One kind of helping verb is called a modal. The basic modals of English are:
Test yourself 32.1
Underline the modal in each of the sentences below.
Sample: William should tell you the story.
Getting started (answers on p.164)
1. They must delay the invasion.
2. You will find courage in your heart.
3. Mr. Knight might go with you.
4. You should be proud of yourself.
5. Tomorrow we may go to the movies.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. I could dance up a storm.
7. Lauren can name that tune in 10 seconds.
8. Ashley would win that race.
9. He shall travel to the countryside this weekend.
10. Jerry must renew his passport this month.
Test yourself 32.2
Underline the modal and put a squiggly line under the main verb in each of the sentences below.
Getting started (answers on p.164)
1. The curtains might hide the view.
2. Paul could work on the problem.
3. She can leave this afternoon.
4. You must go to the emergency room immediately.
5. The children will enjoy these gifts.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. We should proceed with caution.
7. You may be right.
8. One would think so.
9. Mrs. Randall will give you an answer tomorrow.
10. His father can postpone his retirement until next year.
To enhance your understanding
Here are the modals again:
can could
may might
shall should
will would
must
Historically, those modals on the left have been considered present tense forms while those on the right have been considered past tense forms. (For more on tenses, see Lesson 37.) Note that three of the past tense forms end in the consonant d; think of it as a reminder of the past tense suffix -ed, as in the verb stayed.
To further enhance your understanding
Some expressions are similar to modals but consist of more than one word. They are called phrasal modals or periphrastic modals. Here are some examples, underlined in the following sentences:
5. I am able to go.
6. I ought to go.
7. I am going to go.
8. I would like to go.
9. I have to go.
10. I need to go.
Notice that many of the phrasal modals have the same meaning as one of the one-word modals; for example:, am able to = can, ought to = should, am going to = will.
11. I am able to go = I can go.
12. I ought to go = I should go.
13. I am going to go = I will go.
Note also that phrasal verbs end in to, which is followed by the base form of the verb.