Modal Verbs in English Grammar

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Questions and Answers

What are modal verbs?

Special kinds of helping verbs

What does a modal verb help express in a sentence?

  • The object of the sentence
  • The mood or attitude of the subject (correct)
  • The location of the action
  • The tense of the verb

What are some examples of modal verbs?

  • run, jump, eat, sleep
  • can, will, should, may (correct)
  • is, am, are, was, were
  • go, went, gone, going

What does the modal verb "can" indicate?

<p>Permission (A), Possibility (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the modal verb "should" indicate?

<p>Advice (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Modal verbs can be made negative by adding the word "not".

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Modal verbs do not need a main verb in a sentence.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What form of the verb is used after a modal verb?

<p>The root form</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the modal verb 'will' indicate?

<p>futurity (A), willingness or choice (B), condition (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main use of the modal verb 'shall'?

<p>used in the same way as will but is often used in ceremonies when protocol is an important factor (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does modal verb 'may' indicate?

<p>probability (A), request (B), wish (C), permission (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After a modal verb, what form of the verb is generally used?

<p>The root form of the verb is generally used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do modal verbs become 'negative'?

<p>Modal verbs become negative by adding the word 'not'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Modal Verbs

Special helping verbs that express the mood of the subject, also indicating possibility, persuasion, ability, willingness, etc.

Modal verb: Can

Indicates ability.

Modal verb: Will

Expresses futurity, willingness, or condition.

Modal verb: Would

Shows willingness, polite requests, future intention from the past, or past habitual action.

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Modal verb: Shall

Suggests in questions or certain ceremonies.

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Modal verb: Should

Indicates advice or suggestion.

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Modal verb: May

Indicates permission, probability, wish, or request.

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Modal verb: Might

Expresses less probability.

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Modal verb: Must

Expresses strong obligation or necessity, or logical conclusions.

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Verbs after modal verbs

Use the base form of the verb, not the 'ing' or past tense.

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Negative Modal Verbs

Add 'not' after the modal verb to make it negative.

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Quote from Linda Ward

If you think you can’t, you won’t. If you think you can, you will.

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Key Function of Modal Verbs

Express the mood or attitude of a subject in a sentence

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Use of Base Form

After a Modal Verb, use the bare infinitive.

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Example of 'Can'

Shows subject's ability to do something.

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Example of 'Will'

Expresses future actions.

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Example of 'Should'

Used to give advice or suggest actions.

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Conditional Verbs (hint)

Words showing possible action, reaction, or attitude

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What are modal verbs?

Special helping verbs that modify the main verb, indicating possibility, ability, permission, willingness, etc.

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What do modal verbs express?

They show the mood, attitude, or likelihood of the subject's actions.

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What follows a modal verb?

Always use the base form of the verb (e.g., 'go', 'play', 'eat').

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How do you make a modal verb negative?

Add 'not' after the modal verb (e.g., 'cannot', 'will not', 'should not').

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'Can'

Indicates ability, permission, or possibility.

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'Will'

Indicates futurity, willingness, or a condition.

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'Would'

Expresses willingness or polite requests, future intention from the past, or past habit.

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'Shall'

Used for suggestions and in formal contexts, usually with 'I' or 'We'.

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'Should'

Indicates advice, obligation, or suggestion.

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'May'

Expresses permission, possibility, or a wish/request.

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'Might'

Expresses weaker possibility or less certainty than 'may'.

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'Must'

Expresses strong obligation, necessity, or logical conclusions.

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Key Function

Express the speaker's attitude or likelihood of actions.

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Example sentence: 'Can'

‘Can you play the piano?’ This sentence asks about someone's ability to play the piano.

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Example sentence: 'Will'

'I will go to the store later.' This sentence expresses a future action.

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Example sentence: 'Should'

'You should study for the test.' This sentence suggests a necessary action.

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Study Notes

  • Modal verbs are helping verbs that express the mood of the subject.
  • They indicate possibility, persuasion, ability, willingness, etc.
  • They are used to change the meaning of the main verb.

Examples of Modal Verbs

  • CAN:
    • Ability
    • Permission/request
    • Possibility
  • WILL:
    • Futurity
    • Willingness/choice
    • Condition
  • WOULD:
    • Willingness (in a potential way)
    • Polite question/request
    • Future intention (from a past point of view)
    • Past habitual action
  • SHALL:
    • Suggestion (in a yes-no question)
    • Used similarly to "will" in ceremonies where protocol is important.
  • SHOULD:
    • Advice
    • Suggestion
  • MAY:
    • Permission
    • Probability
    • Wish/desire
    • Request
  • MIGHT:
    • Used to express less probability
  • MUST:
    • Express a strong obligation or necessity
    • Used in making inferences or logical conclusions

Usage After Modal Verbs

  • After a modal verb, the root form of the main verb is typically used.

Negating Modal Verbs

  • Modal verbs are negated by adding "not" after the modal verb.

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