Tips on Using Modals

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12 TIPS on MODAL VERB

• Grammar Rules and Tips for using Modal Verb

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Modal Verb

• Modals are type of Auxiliary verbs that expresses
  the mood or attitude of the speaker and they give
  additional information about the function of the
  main verb.
• The modal verbs are can, could, may, might,
  will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, dare
  and need to.
• RULES
• Are followed directly by bare infinitive or the
  infinitive of another verb (without 'to).
• Dont take non-finite forms (to can, musting)
• Form negative directly (can't, mustn't).
• Form inversion/interrogation without DO (can I?
  must I?).
• Dont take -s form for third-person singular
  (cans, musts).
• No co-occurrence ( She may will come tomorrow.)

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Tips on using Modal Verbs
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Tip1 Can Used to express ability or
opportunity, to request or offer permission, and
to show possibility or impossibility.

• Ability
• I can speak English
• Request
• Can you please lend me a pen?
• Permission/ OfferCan I leave now? (seeking
  Permission) / Can I help you? (Offer)
• Order/Prohibition
• You can leave now. (Order or giving Permission) /
  You cant enter the room now. (Prohibition)Possi
  bilitySmoking can cause cancer.

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Tip2 Could Used to express possibility or past
ability as well as to make suggestions and
requests.

• Possibility (followed by be)
• This news could be true.
• Request
• Could you tell me the way to airport please?
• PermissionCould I use your phone?
• Past Ability (Could have indicates the
  action did not take place in the past)
• You could have have drowned in the sea. (but you
  didnt drown)Conditional of CanIf I had
  more time, I could travel around the world.

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Tip3 WillUsed to make predictions and with
promises or voluntary actions that take place in
the future.

• Future Tense Auxiliary (followed by be)
• Tomorrow I will be in Chennai.
• Invitation/Offers
• Will you like to join us for coffee?
• PromiseI will call you everyday.
• PredictionHe thinks it will rain tomorrow.
• Belief (Will have to)We will have to take the
  train as we are running 15 minutes late.
• Conditionals (will with If and Wont with
  Unless)Ill give her a call if I can find her
  number.

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Tip4 WouldUsed to express habit, wish and
create the past form of the modal verb "will and
conditional tense.

• Polite Request
• Would you please help me open the door?
• Wish
• I would like eat rice for dinner.
• Past of WillI knew that she would be very
  successful in her career.
• HabitThey would always have picnics at the
  beach.
• Conditionals (would have in past conditionals to
  talk about something that did not happen)He
  would have been very angry if he had seen you.

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Tip5 ShallUsed to indicate future action or
suggestion and is most commonly used in sentences
with "I" or "we.

• Future Action
• I shall be there by 800.Suggestion
• Shall we move into the living room?
• Promising/VolunteeringI shall make the travel
  arrangements.
• PredestinationMan shall explore the distant
  regions of the universe.

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Tip6 ShouldUsed to make recommendations, give
advice, express obligation as well as
expectation.

• Duty/Obligation
• We should return the books before the library
  closes. Recommendation
• People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat
  foods.
• ExpectationSunil should be in New Delhi by
  now. 
• Past Obligation (Should have)You should have
  stood by your brother during his difficult
  times.
• Deduction
• Jerome has practiced all week. He should be ready
  for his match today.

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Tip7 MayUsed to express possibility, give or
seek permission in present or future.

• Possibility
• The chairman may come to visit our office
  tomorrow. Wish/Prayer
• May God bless you!
• PurposeShe works hard so that she may pass.
• Seek PermissionMay I make a phone call?
• Give PermissionYou may make a phone call.

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Tip8 MightUsed to express possibility and is
also often used in conditional sentences.

• Possibility
• I might see you tomorrow. Remote or Slight
  Possibility
• We might win a lottery but I doubt it.
• Conditional of MayIf I entered the contest,
  I might actually win.
• SuggestionYou might try the cheesecake.

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Tip9 MustUsed to express certainty, necessity
, obligation, prohibition or strong
recommendation.

• Necessity/ Obligation
• You must follow the instructions.Strong
  Possibility
• You havent eaten all day. You must be hungry.
• DeterminationI must help him.
• DeductionHe owns a big house. He must be rich.
  
• CertaintyThis must be the right address!

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Tip10 Ought ToUsed to express correct action
and strong sense of moral duty, advice,
recommendations, assumption or expectation

• Moral Duty/ Obligation
• You ought to to serve your motherland.Advice/Rec
  ommendation
• You ought to stop smoking.
• ProbabilityThis gold price ought to rise in
  value.
• Expectation/DeserveRahul ought to get the
  promotion.

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Tip11 Need Need NotUsed commonly in
questions and negatives to express necessity.

• Negative
• He need not wait any longer. Questions (usually
  used in questions without not)
• Need he wait any longer?
• No, he need not. (need not is used when the
  answer is negative)
• Yes, he need must. (must is used when the
  answer is affirmative)
• With Minimizing Adverbs( hardly, only, barely)
  He need only say what he wants and it will be
  granted.
• Need Not have (when an action was not
  necessary but was performed in past) He need not
  have lost his temper.

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Tip12 Dare Dare NotUsed commonly in
questions and negatives to express shock or
outrage

• Negative
• He dare not/darent do such a thing. Questions
  (usually used in questions without not)
• How dare you contradict me?
• Perhaps/Possibility I dare say he will agree
  to our proposal.
• Note (When Dare is used as auxiliary verb,
  -s is not taken in the third person singular.)
  He dares not abuse his rivals.

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Spot the Errors
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Spot the Error

• She cans help you this afternoon.
• I can be able to come with you for the trip next
  week.
• Yesterday, I can lift the couch by myself.
• I think he could not come with us to the party.
• You wont get in if you not have a ticket.

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Spot the Error

• She cans help you this afternoon.
• She can help you this afternoon.
• I can be able to come with you for the trip next
  week.
• I will (Ill) be able to come with you for the
  trip next week.
• Yesterday, I can lift the couch by myself.
  Yesterday, I was able to lift the couch by
  myself.
• I think he could not come with us to the party.
  I think he might not come with us to the party.
• You wont get in if you not have a ticket.
• You wont get in unless you have a ticket.

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Spot the Error

• If I had the money I will buy a new car.
• Peter will not eat broccoli when he was a kid.
• He needs not wait here. We will call him once the
  doctor is ready.
• Could we begin the meeting now?
• Might you live long!

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Spot the Error

• If I had the money I will buy a new car.
• If I had the money I'd(would) buy a new car.
• Peter will not eat broccoli when he was a kid.
• Peter wouldnt eat broccoli when he was a kid.
• He needs not wait here. We will call him once the
  doctor is ready.
• He need not wait here. We will call him once the
  doctor is ready.
• Could we begin the meeting now?
• Shall we begin the meeting now?
• Might you live long!
• May you live long!

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Spot the Error

• Julie said she may come for dinner.
• Did I not tell you that I shall qualify?
• You might not trespass.
• She ought to not take such risks while skiing.
• Need not I come again?

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Spot the Error

• Julie said she may come for dinner.
• Julie said she might come for dinner.
• Did I not tell you that I shall qualify?Did I
  not tell you that I would qualify?
• You might not trespass.
• You must not trespass.
• She ought to not take such risks while skiing.
• She ought not take such risks while skiing.
• Need not I come again?
• Need I come again?

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Spot the Error

• He dares not accept the challenge.
• Any child will grow up to become Prime Minister
  of the country.
• Do I help you?
• I willing make dinner tonight.
• I shall inviting them.

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Spot the Error

• He dares not accept the challenge.
• He dare not accept the challenge.
• Any child will grow up to become Prime Minister
  of the country.
• Any child can grow up to become Prime Minister of
  the country.
• Do I help you?
• Shall I help you?
• I willing make dinner tonight.
• I will make dinner tonight/ I will be making
  dinner tonight.
• I shall inviting them.
• I shall invite them.

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