Modal Verbs. Modal verbs for BSL are Can, Must, Should, Want (these are productive requirements)

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1 Modal Verbs Modal verbs for BSL are Can, Must, Should, Want (these are productive requirements) What is a model verb? _modal_verbs What are Modal Verbs? Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences: 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person. Examples: He can speak Chinese. She should be here by 9: You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past. Examples: He should not be late. They might not come to the party. 3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses. Examples: He will can go with us. Not Correct She musted study very hard. Not Correct Common Modal Verbs Can Ought to Could Shall May Should Might Will Must Would

2 A modal verb or auxiliary verb is a verb, which modifies another verb, so that the modified verb has more intention in its expression. In essence the modal verb expresses modality, the way in which something is being said. Modal verbs are common in most languages of Germanic origin, including English. Typical modal verbs in English express possibility or necessity. Verbs like may or might are used to suggest that you are possibly going to do something but haven t quite committed to the action yet. The statement, I might go to the movies is different than the statement I am going to the movies. In the former statement you are expressing the possibility of going to see a movie, and in the latter you express the decided intent of your action to see a movie. The modal verb might or in variant form may helps qualify and modify the verb go. Other examples of the modal verb in English include can, shall, will, must, and dare. You could state I m going to work, with no modification, or use modality if you were indecisive, I should go to work or needed to express the importance of working I must go to work. Each use of a modal verb changes the meaning of the sentence. If you should do something, you re expressing its importance, but perhaps a bit of reluctance. If you must do something, you re expressing that it s very important. While all these sentences seem similar, modality affects and creates shades of meaning. Sometimes a modal verb is used on its own, and the modified verb is implied rather than stated. Consider the following example: Would you like to share my candy bar? I shouldn t. Obviously, the second speaker in replying means he or she shouldn t share the candy bar. Perhaps he is on a strict diet. The verb should, expressed in the negative as should not modifies the verb share even though this is not explicitly stated. Similarly statements like I would, I could, I must, I shall, may be used without an additional verb, though that additional verb or action is implied. Modal verbs lend texture and meaning to language. They can qualify statements, express intent, express need, or suggest possible actions. As a part of the English language, and Dutch and German, they re valuable to understand since they add color and interest to statements that might otherwise seem bland or unclear.

3 English modal verbs From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The modal verbs of English are a small class of auxiliary verbs used mostly to express modality (properties such as possibility, obligation, etc.). They can be distinguished from other verbs by their defectiveness (they do not have participle or infinitive forms) and by the fact that they do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular. The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need. Verbs which share some but not all of the characteristics of the principal modals are sometimes called "semi-modals". The following verbs have all of the above properties, and can be classed as the principal modal verbs of English. They are listed here in present preterite pairs where applicable: can and could may and might shall and should will and would must (no preterite; mote is obsolete) Note that the preterite forms are not necessarily used to refer to past time, and in some cases are near synonyms to the present forms. Examples of modal verbs: You must escape; This may be difficult. He must have been given a new job. Modals can appear in tag questions and other elliptical sentences without the governed verb being expressed:...can he?; I mustn't.; Would they? Like other auxiliaries, modal verbs are negated by the addition of the word not after them. (The modification of meaning may not always correspond to simple negation, as in the case of must not.) The modal can combines with not to form the single word cannot. Most of the modals have contracted negated forms in n't which are commonly used in informal English: can't, mustn't, won't (from will), etc. The preterite (past) forms given above (could, might, should and, would, corresponding to can, may, shall and will respectively) do not always

4 simply modify the meaning of the modal to give it past time reference. The only one regularly used as an ordinary past tense is could, when referring to ability: I could swim may serve as a past form of I can swim. Conditional sentences The preterite forms of modals are used in counterfactual conditional sentences, in the apodosis (then-clause). The modal would (sometimes should as a first-person alternative) is used to produce the conditional construction which is typically used in clauses of this type: If you loved me, you would support me. It can be replaced by could (meaning "would be able to") and might (meaning "would possibly") as appropriate. Usage of specific verbs Can and could May and might Shall and should Will and would Must Ought to and had better Dare and need Used to

5 Modal Verbs Here's a list of the modal verbs in English: can could may might will would must shall should ought to Modals are different from normal verbs: 1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular. 2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?') 3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to') Probability: First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'. It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside. I don't know where John is. He could have missed the train. This bill can't be right. 200 for two cups of coffee Ability We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability. She can speak six languages. My grandfather could play golf very well I can't drive Obligation and Advice We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice. Children must do their homework. We have to wear a uniform at work. You should stop smoking.

6 Permission We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed. Could I leave early today, please? You may not use the car tonight. Can we swim in the lake? Modal Verbs Here's a list of the modal verbs in English: can could may might will would must shall should ought to Modals are different from normal verbs: 1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular. 2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?') 3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to') Probability: First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'. It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside. I don't know where John is. He could have missed the train. This bill can't be right. 200 for two cups of coffee! Ability We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability. She can speak six languages. My grandfather could play golf very well I can't drive

7 Obligation and Advice We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice. Children must do their homework. We have to wear a uniform at work. You should stop smoking. Permission We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed. Could I leave early today, please? You may not use the car tonight. Can we swim in the lake? Habits We can use 'will' and 'would' to talk about habits or things we usually do, or did in the past. When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in the restaurant next to my flat. John will always be late!