English Grammar, First Year Classes & Topics

Modals

Modal verb

Themodal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will,would.

‘Can’has the meaning of ability. It has a sense of permission, and also indicatespossibility.

e.g:  I can speak French. (ability)

e.g.  Can I use your telephone (permission)

e.g.  He can be home now (possibility)

‘Could’ is used for ability in the past & polite request.

e.g: I could run 20 kms when I was young. ( ability in the past)

e.g: Could I stay here tonight? ( polite request)

‘Could’ and ‘might’ indicate remote possibility.

e.g:   He could be home now or He might be homenow.

‘May’is used to express wish and hope.

e.g:May you live long! (wish)

‘Should’expresses desirability or duty.

e.g:We should help the poor.

‘Must’indicates an obligation.

e.g:We must obey our parents.

‘Would’indicates willingness.

e.g: Wouldyou help us?

‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.

e.g:You shall not go to bed now.

e.g:We must obey our parents.

‘Would’indicates willingness.

e.g: Would you help us?

‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.

e.g:You shall not go to bed now.

‘Must’indicates an obligation.

e.g:We must obey our parents.

‘Would’indicates willingness.

e.g: Would you help us?

‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.

e.g:You shall not go to bed now.