Modals

Modal Verbs or Modals

Modal verbs are a kind of auxiliary verb. Can, may, might, will, would, shall, should and must are called modal verbs. Modal verbs are used before ordinary verbs and express meanings such as permission, request, possibility, certainty, and necessity. Modal auxiliary verbs never change form, but they have a different form for past tense.

1. Use of ‘Can’

Can is a modal auxiliary verb. It is used in present tense. Can expresses ability, capacity, permission, request, possibility etc..
Ability/ Capacity
He can swim across any river.
Mr. James can teach English Grammar to any class.
A poet can compose poems.
He can climb any mountain as he is a very good mountaineer.
Deepak can beat most other wrestlers.
Fire can burn anything.

He can speak English fluently.

They can work continuously for six hours.

The Headmaster can grant you scholarship.
I can lend you one hundred rupees.
Permission/Request
Can I use your pen? Yes, you can. No, you can’t.
Can you lend me your shirt? Yes, I can. No, I can’t.
Strong Probability

The Ram CharitManas can be found in every Hindu family.
He can be a highly qualified man.
Note:

Cannot is used for prohibition
You cannot do what you like.
You can’t touch my body.

2. Use of ‘Could’

Could is past form of 'Can'

It is used to express ability, capacity, permission, polite request.

Jerry could chop trees when he was only six years old. (Ability)
Rustam could defeat any wrestler. (Power)
Vivekanand could speak in English continuously for many hours. (Capability)
It could be true. (Strong probability)

Could you lend me one hundred rupees? (Polite Request)
Could you tell me the way to the secretariat?
Could you give me your book?
Could have (Past Tense)
I could have learnt this poem easily.
He could have swum in the river.

You could have told me about it. (but you didn't)

He could have bought it yesterday. ( but he didn't)

We could have worked much harder. ( but we didn't)

3. Use of ‘May’

May is used in present and future tense. It is used to express:
Permission
May I come in, sir? Yes, you may.

May I use your car? 
Possibility
The train may be late.
There are dark clouds in the sky. It may rain today.

The match may be postponed.

She may be in the library.
Blessing
May you live long.
May you pass with flying colors.
Curse
Durvasa Muni said, “May Dushyant forget you.”
Wish
May you prosper in life!

May God bless you!

May you have the best of luck!

Offer

May I help you?

May I bring water for you?

4. Use of Might

Might is an modal auxiliary verb and it is simple past form of may.

It is used in present and future tense also.  

Past Tense
I am afraid the news might be true.
He asked me if he might borrow money from me.

He might have missed the train. (Perhaps he missed the train)

He might have gone there. (Perhaps he has gone there)
Future possibility

He might come tomorrow.

The train might be late.

She might be ill.

They might sell their house as they have no money.

Guess
It might be your father.
Hanuman might win first prize

5. Use of ‘shall and Will’

Will and Shall are modal auxiliary verbs. 'Shall' is used with I and We. 

Will is used with other subjects.  Both are used in future tense. 

(a) We shall go to see our parents tomorrow.

(b) I shall take medicine regularly.

(c) Ramesh will go to Udaipur tomorrow.

(d) My brother will take exercise regularly from tomorrow.

(e) I will not give up smoking in any condition.

(f) I will help the poor and the needy.

(g) Duryodhan said, “I will not give an inch of land to the Pandavas.”

(h) If you don’t return my money, I will beat you.

Will is used to express future intention, promise, request and prediction.

Future Intention

From Delhi we will go to Kashmir.

I will go for riding on Sunday.

It is very cold so I will stay at home.

I will kill him for this.

Promise

I will certainly attend the meeting.

I will help you.

I will stop smoking.

Request

Will you close the window, please?

Will you have some more tea?

Will you type this letter for me?

Prediction

It will rain tonight.

Tomorrow will be cloudy, with some rain

6. Use of ‘Should’

Should is past form of 'Shall'
Duty and Moral responsibility
We should help the poor and the needy.
We should respect the elders.
We should pray to God daily.
Advice
You should work hard to improve your division.
You should call for help when you are in trouble.
You should go for a walk daily.
Suggestion
You should invest your money in the N.S.C.
You should do your home-work regularly.
With lest, should is used
Read carefully lest you should fail.
Walk carefully lest you should stumble.

7. Use of ‘Would’

Would is past tense form of will.

Past Tense
We would read the Ram CharitManas every evening last month.
Sameem would go to mosque every Friday when he was here.
We would fly kites all day long when we were young.
More Politeness
Would you please lend me your pen?
Would you please sing a song?
Would you mind opening the window?

Will you come this way? (firm request)

Would you come this way? (Softer Request)
Preference
Would rather
He would rather have tea than coffee.
I would rather die than beg.
Conditional Sentences
If I were rich, I would buy an aeroplane.
If I were rich, I would help the poor and the needy.

If I were king, I would make you my queen.

Probability

What is her age?

She would be sixteen.

That would be her mother.

Willingness and determination

He would have her own way. (Determination)

I would try my best to help him. (willingness)

8. Use of ‘Must’

Must is a modal auxiliary verb. It expresses strong obligation, order, advice and duties. Its past form is must have.
Command
You must obey the order of your superiors.
You must pay your fees today.
Obligation  
We must defend our country.
We must respect our national flag.
Certainty
We must have caught the train for Delhi.
The student must have completed their homework. 
Necessity
He must work hard if he wants to get first division.
You must take the patient to the doctor as his condition is serious.
I must finish the work today.
Negative Command
Visitors must not disturb the animals in the zoo.
You must not talk unnecessarily with the patient.
He must avoid the company of bad boys.
Strong Likelihood
He has a big bungalow and two cars. He must be a rich man.
The officer must have left for office as it is 10 a.m.

9. Use of ‘Need’

Need is a marginal modal verb.

It is use in present, past and future tenses. It has various forms like need, needs, needed, needing and need to.

Negative and Interrogative Sentences

I need your help.

Children need milk.

He needs some rest.

You need not go there.

You need not make haste as the train is late by half an hour.

Need I go to my village?

You needn’t worry about anything.

10. Use of ‘Used To’

Used to is a marginal modal verb. It is used to express past habit.
We used to fly kites when we were young.
I used to play cricket, now i don't. 

He used to live in Bombay, when he was a boy.

While at college, I used to smoke. 

Use of Should have, Would have and Could have

Could have, would have, and should have are past modals.

Past Tense
Should have
We should have gone there before long.
We should have helped the sick and the poor.

You should have gone by taxi.

I should have phoned mother this morning, but I forget. 

Could have

You could have told me about it. (but you didn't)

He could have bought it yesterday.

We could have worked harder.

Would have

If he had written to me, I would have helped him.

If I had gone to Agra, I would have seen the Taj Mahal.