Modals
Modals
Modals, also known as modal auxiliaries or modal verbs, are a type of auxiliary verb used to define the main verb (distinguishing between statements, commands, suppositions, questions, etc.). Generally, modal verbs express degrees of certainty, ability, necessity, or possibility.
However, modal verbs do not follow the rules of normal verbs. For instance, they have no tenses, they do not take an -s in third person, and they can form questions and negatives without the use of do. Therefore, the rules on how to use modal verbs take a little bit of explaining, especially with respect to their use in documents written by ESL writers.
In the English language, there are ten modal verbs:
can and could
may and might
shall and should
will and would
must and ought
However, there is a group of other verbs that shares some of the features of modals, and these are known as semi-modals:
need
dare
When writing a statement that uses modal verbs, the same basic structure should always be followed:
Subject + Modal + Main Verb
Example: We might drive.
When using modal verbs, main verbs must always follow in their base forms. The exception to this is ought. When this modal verb is used, it should be followed by an infinitive:
We ought to drive.
When forming questions, the previous word order changes to the following:
Modal + Subject + Main Verb
Example: Can we drive?
However, if you are phrasing a question that contains an interrogative (where, what, why, etc.), then the structure needs to be slightly different:
Interrogative + Modal + Subject + Main Verb
Example: Why must we drive?
With modal verbs, the negative is simply formed by adding not after the modal verb:
You must not touch that.
We can't find the car keys.
Can: This modal verb is used in a sentence or clause to indicate a possibility, offer, or ability:
My sister can play the flute. (Ability)
I can collect the parcel for you. (Offer)
It can be extremely noisy at the zoo. (Possibility)
When used in questions, the modal can is used either to request permission or to ask about the possibilities:
Can we visit the park this afternoon? (Request permission)
Who can hear that music? (Ask about the possibilities)
Could: This modal verb highlights the ability or possibility to do something in the past or an option in the present or future:
When he was young, Daniel could ride a bike. (Past ability)
You could have gotten lost. (Past possibility)
We could go for a walk. (Option)
The use of could also emphasizes future possibilities, although in this case, either could or might can be used as they are synonymous:
It could/might be sunny next week.
That soup could/might be ready now.
In addition, in questions that have simple answers, the use of could hypothesizes about present possibilities:
Could it be she forgot?
Could he be a doctor?
What could she have forgotten?
Could is also often used instead of can in order to make a request, as could is considered to be the more polite form of the two:
Could/Can you move aside, please?
Could/Can you hand me that document?
The conditional can also be formed through the use of the modal could. The conditional is made up of an if clause and a result clause. It is in the latter that could is placed. When used like this, could illustrates theoretical situations that did not come to pass because a necessary condition was not met:
If we had had some paint, we could have decorated this room.
If there hadn't been so much traffic, Max could have arrived sooner.
I could have caught the ball if the sun hadn't been in my eyes.
When used to describe an uncertain future action, these two modal verbs are identical in their usage:
Going to the woods at night may/might be a bad idea.
I may/might buy an ice cream later.
We may/might go to Portugal on vacation.
May and can are synonymous when used to provide instruction or permission:
You can/may leave in ten minutes.
You can/may go to the park with your friends.
In addition, for requests, you can also use can and may interchangeably, though may is considered the more polite form. It is also possible to use might in these cases as well, although it is not normally used:
Can/May/Might I have some more pie, please?
Can/May/Might I open the door to let some air in?
These modal verbs are used to create the future tense by combining shall/will + the main verb to indicate an action or intention that will occur in the future. However, while the two are interchangeable, shall is rarely used:
Dean will/shall meet Harry at two o'clock tomorrow.
I will/shall build that shed.
They will/shall pick the children up from school.
When used in questions with interrogatives (who, where, why, etc.), shall and will are used to ask about options:
Who will/shall sit at the head of the table?
Where will/shall I find the bananas?
What game will/shall we watch?
However, when used in questions that have yes or no responses, will and shall have different meanings. Will is used to ask for a favor or for information and knowledge about something or someone:
Will you walk the dog for me? (Favor)
Will you change the channel on the television? (Favor)
Will Lewis ever visit Greece again? (Information)
Will that plant ever flower? (Information)
Shall asks about a preference. However, should can also be used in these cases, and indeed is the modal verb generally used except in the first person singular or plural, where shall makes a frequent appearance.
Shall/Should I bring you a chair?
Should they wait outside?
Shall/Should we tell him to bring coffee to the meeting?
Both should and ought are modals used to indicate obligations:
You ought to/should finish that assignment.
I ought to/should be going now, it’s getting late.
They ought to/should report their findings straight away.
When used as part of a question, should is used to ask whether an obligation exists, but ought is rarely used with the main verb in a question:
Should I visit my Grandfather?
Should they be fishing there?
Must is another modal verb that indicates obligation, but it can also be used to indicate an assumption or probability:
Ben must arrive at his interview on time.
It must have rained earlier.
They must have done that work last month.
In questions that have interrogatives, must can be used as a replacement for should, though should is much more commonly used in these types of questions:
Where should/must we park the car?
Why should/must we listen to you?
Must can also be used to form rhetorical questions:
Must you make that tapping noise?
Must she have the music turned up so loud?
When it is used in statements, like is used after the modal would in order to form a polite way of stating a preference:
I would like to have some more vegetables.
We would like to lodge a complaint.
If would is used in questions, the formation would + subject + like creates a polite way to indicate that a choice needs to be made:
Would you like a table by the door or by the window?
What time would Mary like her appointment for?
Also, would can be used to explain an action as the result of a real or hypothetical condition:
I would ride my bike, but someone stole it last week.
Anna would be very surprised if they won the quiz.
If I hadn’t had a date that night, I would have come to your party.
Would is often used to describe past habitual actions, as well:
When I was young, I would play cricket every day.
When we were abroad, we would try all sorts of exotic food.
One of the most common problems among ESL writers using modal verbs is using an infinitive instead of a base verb after a modal:
Incorrect: We should to meet up later.
Correct: We should meet up later.
Incorrect: You must not to go to the park this evening.
Correct: You must not go to the park this evening.
Another very common mistake is using a participle instead of the base form of the main verb:
Incorrect: Adam could heard the shouting.
Correct: Adam could hear the shouting.
Incorrect: I could moving to France.
Correct: I could move to France.
Yet another frequent mistake is using either two modal verbs or leaving out the modal verb entirely in a sentence or clause:
Incorrect: I should must get some milk on the way home
Incorrect: I get some milk on the way home.
Correct: I should get some milk on the way home.
Finally, many ESL writers will use the wrong word order in questions with modal verbs:
Incorrect: Where I should go to catch the train?
Correct: Where should I go to catch the train?
Modals are often extremely difficult for ESL writers. The differences between should and could or any of the others are obvious to a native speaker, but to someone new to the English language, they can be confusing. Attempt to determine the level of probability or necessity the author intended to imply with the words he or she chose to use and edit accordingly. You may need to query the author, and if you do, make sure that you thoroughly explain the word choices the author has available.
Last Updated: 09/29/2022