Quick Notes

Quick Notes

English Chapter 3: Reading Skills
3.6 Modals
 

A modal verb is a type of verb that is used to indicate modality – that is likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestions, order, obligation, or advice.
12.1  Modals
 
  • Modal verbs are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, permission, possibility, and so on.

  • The verb that comes after a modal is always in the base form.

  • Examples:

I will share the notes with all of you. 

 /
I will shares the notes with all of you.  X
 

  • The negative of a modal is formed just like any other verb. Add ‘not’ after the modal. The negative can also be written in a contracted form.

  • Examples:
must not \(\rightarrow\) mustn’t
will not \(\rightarrow\) won’t
should \(\rightarrow\) shouldn’t
 
  • Notes:

The contraction for ‘may not’ (mayn’t) and ‘might not’ (mightn’t) are used in spoken usage, and only in informal writing.

You do not pronounce the letter ‘t’ in ‘must’ when the modals is in the negative and in a contracted form. Thus, you read ‘mustn’t’ as ‘MA-ZENT’

Modal Verb

Uses & Examples

Can

To show ability (able to do something).

To ask for permission.

(a) I can speak five languages.

(b) Can I join you for lunch?

Could

To show ability in the past.

To request or ask for permission.

To give suggestions or future possibilities.

(a) Zac could sing when he was nine years old.

(b) Could we have some coffee?

(c) We could go to the new café.

May

To ask for and give permission.

To express the possibility of something happening in the future.

(a) May I use your laptop?

(b) I may attend the meeting tomorrow.

Might

To express the possibility of something happening in the future.

However, ‘might’ is less dure than ‘may’

(a) The sky is quite cloudy. It might rain later.

(b) The clouds are dark. It may rain later.

Must/Have to

To show necessity (there is no choice). It is compulsory.

The phrase ‘have to’ is used in the same way as ‘must’.

(a) You must read a lot in order to do well in essay writing.

(b) To do well in essay writing you have to read a lot.

Should

To give advice.

To express an obligation or a duty to do something.

(a) You should pay attention to the lecturer.

(b) Children should not eat a lot of sweets.

Would

To show actions that did regularly in the past but not now.

To have a polite request.

(a) I would always take two eggs for breakfast but I don’t do it now.

(b) I would like to add two teaspoons of sugar if it’s no problem.

Will

To state that one will do something.

To make a request.

(a) I will call the management later.

(b) Will you help me carry this luggage?
 
  This is how modals are used in the passage.  
     
 
Adam   :   To do well in writing essays, you must read a lot and practice writing a lot of essays. Every night, I read two articles in the newspapers. I've learnt a lot of words. Then, I make sure I do all my homework. I can write better essays now.
Camelia   :   You should pay attention to the teacher in class, especially during Mathematics lessons. Listen carefully to the teacher and understand the concepts. Then you can do most of the homework.
Teo   :   I cannot remember the facts in the history books. So, what I do is, make a mind map for every event to help me remember the facts better. 
Rose   :   I may attend a workshop on learning strategies. Then, I will share the notes with all of you.