What is Modals in English Grammar? Important Topics of English Grammar

Modals are the verbs in English grammar that show necessity, intent, possibility, or ability. Because they are a type of auxiliary verb which is a helper verb, they are used jointly in a sentence with the main verb. Familiar examples include must, can and should.

When you use Modal verbs in a sentence, it becomes very tricky, because it’s very hard to understand where to use them and how to use them. The nice part is that they are easy once you understand how they work. In this article, we will tell you everything that you need to know about modal verbs- what is modals in English grammar and how to use them.

What is Modals in English Grammar?

What is modals in English grammar? Models are the verbs that are used to indicate particular hypothetical situations, like requests, advice, or capability. They are used with a main verb to transform its meaning a little. Because they are auxiliary verbs, they can not certainly be used on their own.

Assume the variation between these 2 examples:

# I dance every Monday.

# I can dance every Monday.

The 1st example is a straightforward factual message. The person participates in a dancing activity each week on Monday.

The 2nd example uses ‘can’ the modal verb. Did you see how the meaning is shifted a little? The person doesn’t dance every Monday; they are telling they are capable of dancing, every Monday if they wish to. It is hypothetical.

Modals are very popular in English, and you have perhaps seen them 100 times without really realizing their name. The most often used ones are- must, would, could, may, can, might, should and will

Modal Verbs in English Grammar

There are more modal verbs in English grammar, the most common ones have already been mentioned above. A few modals are rarely used and outdated such as ought to and shall, and some are more colloquial like have to, got to or need to. A few indicate very distinct situations that do not come up frequently, such as ‘dare’, for instance, “I dare say.” The word ‘used to’, for example, “I used to be a Math teacher, too,” also acts like modals.

Modal Verbs Examples

Given below are a few special conditions where you can use modal verbs, each of the conditions is explained with the help of examples:

Likelihood

Some aspects seem likely, but we do not know for sure. In these conditions, you should use the modal verbs like must and should to indicate likelihood without certainty.

Examples-

# His teachers must be so proud.

# My sister should be awake by now.

Possibility

In conditions when something is possible but not sure, use the modal verbs like might, could or may.

Examples-

# Might we go to the park this morning, Mother?

# He may become the oldest pro basketball player ever.

Ability

The modal verb can indicate whether or not the subject can do anything, like demonstrate an ability or perform an action. Similarly, the negative form, can’t or cannot, indicates that the subject is not able to do something.

Example-

# He can speak four languages, but none of them well.

# People can lead a cow to water, but they can not make it drink.

Asking Permission

If you need to ask approval to do something, begin your question with could, can, or may. Usually, in more polite and formal usage, maybe better for approval; if you ask “can I go outside?” it can be misunderstood as, “do I have the ability to go outside?” (Though, in modern habits can and may are both adequate choices when describing permission or possibility.)

Examples-

# Can I come late tomorrow?

# Could I dance too?

Request

Likewise, if you need to ask somebody else to do something, begin your question with could, would, will, or can.

Example-

# Would you get that book off the bottom shelf?

# Will you keep your voice down?

Advice/ Suggestion

What if you like to propose something, but not order it? If you are giving advice or suggestions without commending someone around, you can use the modal verb like should.

# He should try the pork.

# That girl should wear less makeup.

Command

Whereas, if you want to order someone, use the modal verbs like need to, must, or have to.

# You must wear warm clothes when you go outside.

# You need to be at my place before 10:00 am.

Necessity or Obligation

Modal verbs can convey a crucial action, like a requirement, an obligation, or duty. Similarly, the negative form conveys that an action is not important. Use the similar modal verbs as with commands: need to,  must, or have to.

Examples-

# They have to wait for our guests of honour to arrive before we open.

# You need to come even if you don’t want to.

Habit

To indicate habitual or an ongoing action like something the subject does often. You can use the modal verb like will for the future and present tense and would for the past tense. The phrase ‘used to’ is also adequate if you are speaking about a habit that doesn’t exist any longer.

Examples-

# When he lived alone, he would wake up all night with music.

# He will arrive late and leave early for every meeting.

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Modal Auxiliary Verbs

There are in total 9 modal auxiliary verbs: might, shall, must, should, may, can, would, could, will. There are furthermore quasi-modal auxiliary verbs: has to, ought to, need to. Why only quasi? As the 9 modals stand before the base form: I could go, I shall go, etc., but with has/ought/need we have to put in a to: it has to be April, I ought to go, it needs to be done.

The modal auxiliaries’ verbs task is to convey likelihood (doubt, hypothesis, futurity) and urgency (by conception, such-and-such must certainly be the condition); that is, circumstances beyond the factual here and now. This is called the irrealis. As we spend more time talking and thinking about the irrealis, modal auxiliaries verbs are very popular.

Also, a difference is to be made between deontic and epistemic modals, which differentiate between likelihood on the one hand and commitment on the other. Evaluate the following: “the implication of patience and time can’t be underestimated”. Can’t is used in its deontic (obligation) point, the importance that we must not underrate the significance of patience and time. But analyze “the significance of patience and time can’t be overestimated”.

Here, can’t is used in its epistemic (possibility) point, the importance that it is not probable to overrate the significance of patience and time, that significance being so great.

Modals in English Grammar

Models in English grammar-Modals are particular verbs that are varied from normal verbs. They are never utilized alone and are often interpreted by a principal verb. They give extra knowledge about the principal verb. They are utilized to convey ability, obligation, possibility, certainty, willingness and necessity.

Given below is the table of the Modals with their negative and positive forms:

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Modal ‘Will’

# The primary rule for the practice of the Modal ‘will’ is that it implies a pure future with 2nd and 3rd person as subjects.

# The next rule for the practice of the Modal ‘will’ is that it indicates determination, willingness, promise, intention with the 1sr person as a subject.

# The last rule for the practice of the Modal ‘will’ is that it says about the request and insistence, assumption, characteristic, assumption, invitation or habit.

Given below are a few examples of modal ‘will’:

# He will die of stress. (Pure Future)

# The President will hoist the flag. (Pure Future)

# He will meet me again. (Promise)

# He will need my help. (Willingness/ intention)

# She will accomplish her goals. (Determination)

# Youngsters will usually obey the elders. (Characteristic habit)

# She will be there in a while. (Assumption)

# Will he go with me? (Request)

# She will not listen to her teacher’s information. (Insistence)

Modal ‘Would’

The principle for the practice of Modal ‘would’ is that it implies past wish/preference, habits, an imaginary condition, politeness or request.

Given below are a few examples of Modal ‘would’:

# She would sleep late at night and go to work. (Past habits)

# My father would always play my favourite music. (Past habits)

# Would you get me the book from my shelf, please? (Polite request)

# He would like to see the landlord. (Polite request)

# I wish you were not here. (Wish)

# I would rather sleep at home than outside and party. (Preference)

# I would buy a car if I won the lottery. (Preference)

Modal ‘Shall’

# The primary rule for the practice of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it indicates a pure future with the 1st person as the subject.

# The next rule for the practice of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it is utilized to ask for requests, advice, suggestions, etc. with the 1st person in the interrogative.

# The last rule for the practice of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it is utilized to convey determination, promise, command, warning, threat, assurance, etc. with the 2nd and 3rd person as the subjects.

Given below are a few examples of Modal ‘Shall’:

# We shall go to university tomorrow. (Pure Future)

# I shall learn how to swim. (Pure Future)

# Shall I bring a glass of water for you? (Request)

# Shall I open the window? (Advice)

# Shall we go back home tomorrow? (Suggestion)

# You shall get a bonus for your accomplishment. (Promise/ Assurance)

# You shall go back home. (Command)

# We will win the tournament. (Determination)

Modal ‘Should’

# The primary rule for the practice of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is utilized to desirability, express duty, advisability or obligation.

# The next rule for the practice of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is utilized to indicate assumption, supposition, logical interference, probability or possibility.

# The last rule for the practice. of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is utilized to indicate a purpose after ‘lest’.

Given below are a few examples of Modal ‘Should’:

# We should go to college every day. (Duty)

# You shouldn’t be late for work. (Obligation/ Desirability)

# You should do yoga more frequently. (advisability)

# She should be at the headquarter by now. (Possibility)

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Conclusion

In the above article, we discussed in detail the Modal in English grammar. Hopefully, that helps you improve your English skills. For more articles related to English grammar, you should join the fluent life, where you will learn everything in the simplest way.

Also Read: Use of Modal Verbs in English Grammar: Learning Modal Auxiliary and Their Functions