By:

Erika Guadalupe Umbral Hernández

The verbs can, could, may, might, must, needn´t, ought to, should, shall, will are Modal auxiliary verbs.

This small group of verbs give additional information about the mood of the main verb that follows it.

They help to incorporate or add the level of necessity, obligation, requirement, recommendation , certainty, and possibility.

Definition

They are before other verbs.

She can swim

They have the same form in all persons.Modal Verbs do not take “- s “ in third person.

I will call you tomorrow

She will call you tomorrow

They are followed by the root form of another verb

She must study for her exams

NOT studies

They do not for all the tenses

Definition

We make the negative form of modal verbs by putting NOT after the modal verb,

or we use contractions.

For example:

Cannot------------Can´t

Could not --------Couldn´t

Might not---------Mightn´t

Must not----------Mustn´t

Need--------------Needn´t You Musn´t park here

Should-------------Shouldn´

won't is the contracted form of will no

Shan't is the contracted form of Shall not

May doesn´t have contracted form . The correct form is May not Ought to lose the “to” in negative form. We say Ought not

Negative Form

When we form questions the modal verbs are before the subject follow the main verb Modal verbs form questions without the auxiliary verb do/ does.

Can you help me, Dad?

Modal Subject Main

Verb Verb

Interrogative Form

Can

We use Can to express:

Ability Betty can Speak French Permission Can I go out, Mom? Request Can I have some more cake, please?

We use Can´t when we think that something is impossible

You´ve just had dinner. You can´t be hungry already

( It is impossible that you´re hungry )

Bonjour monsieur

Could

It is the past tense of can, but also it has future meanings

Past ability: It could swim fast when I was young future meaning: It could rain this afternoon (it is possible that there will be)

Could has the same uses that Can to express

Ability Whe I was young ,I could see better Permission Could I go to the party on Sunday? Request Could you help me, pelase?

May

The modal Verb May is more formal than Can. We use it to ask permission to do something when we do not know the other person very well.

May I show you something, Sir? Formal

Can I show you something, Dad? Informal

Must

. It shows that it is necessary for someone to do something

I must pass the entrance examination to study in this school

Also we use must to make a deduction from information that we know it is true

.Certainly: You have been travelling all day, You must be tired

Must

Besides we use must to express an obligation

You must be here before midnight.

On the other hand Mustn´t shows that it is wrong to do something. It expresses prohibition.

You musn´t go on. Wait your turn.

Should

This modal verb is used to express advice or recomendation.

You should focus more on your family and less on work

When you go to Mexico city, You should, visit public square.

Should Vs Must:

Should gives definite advince. Must however shows a strong necessity.

You should stop smoking = it would be a good idea You must stop smoking= it´s necessary to do it

Might

We use might to make a deduction when we don´t know to have enough information to be sure. It is possible that there will be true.

Might is considerated the past tense of may , but it is used in present or future statements.

Possibility: Where is my purse? It might be in the living room.

Ought to

It is considerated the synonymuos of should It is used to advise or make recomendations You ought to to go with someone to the party

The negative form Ought not is used to advince against doing something

They ought not carry so much cash while travelling.

Needn´t

This modal verb shows that it isn´t necessary to do something. It express a lack of necessity.

You needn´t buy more bread. We have a lot.

Whe we want to know if its necesary to do something, we ask questions with must, the negative answer is needn´t not musn´t

Must I clean all the house? No , you needn´t.

Not musn´t

Shall

The use of shall as a form of will in modern English is decreasing. It is more common to hear it in the United Kingdom. It is usually used in the United States within formal situations.

It is more common to use shall only with I or We

We use Shall to express an offer

Shall I help you clean the house?

Shall We dance?

Will

We use will to ask someone to do something for us (request).

Willl you help me fix the car, please?

When we make a voluntarie promise to do something

I’ll call you tomorrow

Salir