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What is modals in English grammar ?

Dear student
 
Modals are words such as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would and ought to. They are used for the following purposes.
 
1. Obligation: When you want to say that a person is obligated to do something, use the modals must and should.
 
Eg: You must listen to your elders.
You should finish your homework on time.
 
Other words you can use for obligation is 'ought to'.
 
 
2. Ability: When you wish to mention that a person has the ability to do something, we use the modals can and could.
 
Eg: You can dance, can't you?
 
 
3. Permission: Words such as can, could, may and might are also used for asking permission. The word shall is used in offering permission.
 
Eg: Could I see your noted please?
You shall go to the school trip.
 
 
Regards  

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Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.

Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

  • They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
  • They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
  • They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
 
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