Modal verbs are easy to Learn, Here all about modal verbs,continuous modals verbs and perfect modal verbs with their usage in sentences with examples to have a better English.
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are a type of verb used to indicate style; a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality such as a likelihood, ability, permission, request, capacity, suggestion, order, obligation, or advice.
Why is it called modal verbs?
It called modal verbs because modals words like might, may, can, could, will, would, must, and should are helping verbs that add shades of meaning or “flavor” to the verbs that follow them.
How to use modal verbs?
Modal verbs are used along with the main verb to show whether we think something is certain, probable, or possible (or not), to talk about ability, request permission requests and offers, etc.
Modal verbs always accompany the base (infinitive) form of another verb having semantic content. In English, the modal verbs commonly used are can, could, will, would, may, might, must, should, shall and ought to.
1. Can
"Can" is used to denote the ability of the subject to perform an action or to request permission to perform an action.
- This baby can crawl.
- This baby cannot crawl.
- Can this baby crawl?
2. Could
"Could" is the past tense of "can". Used to denote the ability of the subject to perform an action or an offer made by the subject to perform an action.
- I could read the signs because they were in Chinese.
- I couldn't read the signs because they were in Chinese.
- Could I read the signs?
3. Will
"Will" is used to denote the surety of an action taking place or the assurance of the subject to perform a particular action in the future.
- He will go to the beach later today.
- He will not go to the beach later today.
- Will he go to the beach later today?
4. Would
Would is used to show politeness when requesting or asking if an action can be done by the subject.
- She would touch me because I’m a handsome.
- She wouldn't touch me because I’m not handsome.
- Would she touch me?
5. May
May is used to denote the probability of an action taking place or to request permission to perform an action. It is quite formal.
- They may walk their dogs this afternoon.
- They may not walk their dogs this afternoon.
- May they walk their dogs this afternoon?
6. Might
Might is used to denote the probability of an action taking place or to make suggestions. Used instead of "may" in some cases.
- These eggs might break when they hit the ground.
- These eggs might not break unless they land on something soft.
- Might these eggs break?
7. Must
Must is used to express deductions and conclusions to denote the necessity of an action to be done by the subject.
- They must attend this important meeting.
- They must not attend this not important meeting.
- Must they attend this important meeting?
8. Should
Should is used to denote the necessity of an action to a recommendation to someone or a new idea.
- She should be careful from that boy, because he is a playboy.
- She shouldn't be careful from that boy, because he is a gay.
- Should she be careful from that boy?
9. Shall
- Excuse me, I shall go now.
- Excuse me, I shall not go now.
- Excuse me, shall I go now.
10. Ought to
Ought to is a semi-modal verb because it is in some ways like a modal verb and in some ways like a main verb. For example, unlike modal verbs, it is followed by to, but like modal verbs, it does not change form for person:
- I ought to phone my parents.
- I ought to not phone my parents.
- Ought I phone my parents?
Continuous modal verbs
All the modals can be used in the continuous (progressive) tense when they stress the idea that something is in progress (happening) at present (or in the future with "will").
As with all of the continuous tenses, the idea of the "ing" is to emphasize the action of the verb and its being in progress; the function of the modal is to influence the meaning of the verb.
The form of continuous modals is:
1. Should, would, could, might + be + verb + ing
Expresses the action's being in progress at the time when the person is speaking.
- You should be paying attention to me now and not thinking about your girlfriend.
- She would be regretting this decision.
- If today were Saturday, I could be working in my garden now.
- My son might be sleeping right now because he is in Japan.
2. Can, must, may, will, shall + be + verb + ing
Expresses the action's being in progress at the time when the person is speaking.
- Her eyes can be stinging from the smoke.
- The young girls must be thinking about their spring dance.
- My wife may be working in her office now.
- We will be taking an exam on Monday morning at 11:00 A.M.
- It's 3:00 a.m. right now, so my sister must be sleeping.
- He shall be demonstrating proper first aid for sprains.
3. Modal verb + have been + verb + ing
Expresses an ongoing action which finished or lasts from the past up to now:
- They should have been taking a test but instead they skipped school and went to a shop.
- I could have been relaxing at home if I didn't have to work today.
- I must have been working so late last night.
- He would have been working at that company if he hadn't been laid off.
- He might have been thinking it was earlier. Now he realizes he's late for a meeting.
Perfect modal verbs
Perfect modals verbs take a modal verb (could, should, must, might/may) and pairs it with a perfect tense phrase (have + past participle), which is how it gets its name.
The form of continuous modals is: Modal verb + have + past participle:
1. Could have
"Could have" is used to Possibility to do something, gone unfulfilled:
- The boy could have done the dishes himself, but his father decided to help.
- You could have called me.
- You could not have come earlier.
2. Should have
"Should have" is denote past obligation, something that you had to do in the past for the result to be favourable now:
- The girl should not have spun around so many times. She fell down.
- I should have left my house earlier.
- I shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday. I'm sorry.
3. Would have
"Would have" is used for the desire to do something, but impossibility to do it for external causes:
- If we had arrived earlier, we would have caught our flight.
- If I had brought my umbrella, I wouldn't have gotten wet in the rain.
- If I had gotten two more points, I would have passed.
4. May have
"May have" is used to denote possibility in the past, but a distant past. They usually describe something about which you are not quite certain:
- They may have arrived hours ago.
- My grandfather may have used this camera when he was a young man, but I'm not sure.
- This sad experience may not have done me good.
5. Might have
"Might have" is used to denote past possibility, they usually describe something about which you are not quite certain:
- It’s ten o'clock. They might have arrived now.
- Her mother might have put mustard on her sandwich. She hopes not.
- I might not have been so angry but I was having a bad day.
6. Must have
"Must have" is used to denotes past probability, something of which you are nearly certain but of which you are not quite sure:
- You must have practiced a lot because you're very bad in English.
- He must have been having a bad day because he’s not usually like that.
- She must not have heard me properly because I didn’t say that.
See: Adding S After He, She and It
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