examples of models and their uses
Modals are verbs used to express the mood or attitude of the speaker. They are also called mdal auxiliaries.
Examples of modals and their uses are-
A) Asking for and giving permission: May, Can and Could
May I go to the medical room ?
Can I borrow your pen ?
Could I use your phone ?
- can - informal
- may - formal
- could - very polite
- The choice depends on the situaion and the speaker's relation to the listener.
Asking for things : Can, Could, May, Will
Can I have those pillow covers, please?
Could you pass on the salt, please ?
May is also possible, but being very formal it is not preferred. However, we can use will if we like :
Will you pass on the salt, please ?
B) Possibility, Ability : Can, Could, Be able to, Was able to (in a particular situation)
Can : He can easily stand on his head.
We could buy tickets in advance.
2. Can has only two forms- can(present) and can- (past)
She can do this exercise in five minutes.(present)
She could do this exercise in five minutes.(past)
Be able to : He will be able to help you this time.
My father was able to lift the heavy box and carry it upstairs.
- could.......general ability or permission to do something.
- was able to ......... ability in a particular situation.
C) To make suggestions : Could - What shall we do this evening ? We could play carrom,we could even go to see a movie.
D) Possibility : May, Might, Could
He may be in his office, He might be playing tennis, He could be in his office.
- might is used to suggest possibility.But might suggests a lesser possibility than may.
- may.......a good possibility
- might........ a weak possibility
E) Necessity, Compulsion : Must, Have to, Have got to, Had to , Had got to.
You must put in real hard work if you want to do well.(can be used in present and future)
You have to put in real hard work if you want to do well.(present)
I had to withdraw money from the bank.(past)
- must......... the speaker insists something is done
- have to/had to ..........external compulsion, some kind of a rule, the demand of the situation.
- have got to/ had got to.......... can replace have to/ had to
F) mustn't.................. prohibition (don't do!!)
don't/doesn't have to ............... no need (no need to do ,but do it if you like.)
G) Suggestion, Advice, Duty: Should, Ought to
You are putting on weight. You should do regular exercise.
Ought to conveys the same sence as should . But it carries with it a sense of moral duty:
You ought to take care of your old parents.(It's your moral duty to................)
You ought to abide by the laws of the land .
- should - suggestion, advice (general,mild)
- ought to......... moral obligation to do something.
- should have - something that it was right to do but was not done.
H) Promise: Will(promise), Shall(assurance)
We will come to your birthday party.
You shall get here all the comforts of a home.
I) Request : Can, Could, Will, Would
- can,could - commonly used to make requests
- could, would - more polite than can and will
J) Prohibition : Mustn't - You mustn't walk along the corridors when classes are going on.
Ought not to - You ought not to tease animals.
- must not......... prohibition to do something
- ought not to........... doing something won't be right
K) Wish : May - May you be happy ! , May you be blessed with a long life !
L) Absence of necessity: Needn't have, Didn't need to
I needn't have brought my umbrella.
I didn't need to bring my umbrella.
M) Dare - Dare means not to be afraid to do something. It is mostly used in negative sentences and in questions.
I daren't go into a lion's den.
Dare you swim across this flooded river ? No, I daren't.
I hope this helps you Experts n friends thumbs up please !!