CHAPTER 10.

MODAL VERBS

There are nine modal verbs in English: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. Two of these, will and would, have already been discussed in detail. 1. Formation of t ! modal "on#u$ation% All of the modal verbs are used as auxiliaries, and all of them form conjugations in the same way. Thus, the other modal auxiliaries form conjugations in the same way as will and would. For instance, the conjugation of the modal auxiliary "ould with the verb to wor& is formed as follows: Con#u$ation% of t ! modal au'iliar( Could wit t ! )!r* To +or& Sim,l! I could wor you could wor he could wor she could wor it could wor we could wor they could wor P!rf!"t I could have wor ed you could have wor ed he could have wor ed she could have wor ed it could have wor ed we could have wor ed they could have wor ed Continuou% I could be wor ing you could be wor ing he could be wor ing she could be wor ing it could be wor ing we could be wor ing they could be wor ing P!rf!"t Continuou% I could have been wor ing you could have been wor ing he could have been wor ing she could have been wor ing it could have been wor ing we could have been wor ing they could have been wor ing

The formation of conjugations using the modal auxiliaries can be summari!ed as follows: Con#u$ation "im#le $ontinuous &erfect &erfect $ontinuous Au'iliar( modal auxiliary modal auxiliary % be modal auxiliary % have modal auxiliary % have been V!r* Form bare infinitive #resent #artici#le #ast #artici#le #resent #artici#le

'erbs in the "im#le conjugation with a modal auxiliary generally refer to #resent or future time( whereas verbs in the &erfect conjugation with a modal auxiliary generally refer to #ast time. 'erbs in the $ontinuous conjugation with a modal auxiliary generally refer to continuous, ongoing actions in #resent or future time( whereas verbs in the &erfect $ontinuous conjugation with a modal auxiliary generally refer to continuous, ongoing actions in #ast time. The word order for )uestions and negative statements in the conjugations with the modal auxiliaries is similar to that in other English conjugations.

a. -u!%tion% To form a )uestion, the first auxiliary is #laced before the subject. For exam#le: Affirmati)! Stat!m!nt "he can wor . +e would be wor ing. They should have wor ed. I could have been wor ing. -u!%tion $an she wor * ,ould he be wor ing* "hould they have wor ed* $ould I have been wor ing*

*. .!$ati)! %tat!m!nt% To form a negative statement, the word not is #laced after the first auxiliary. It should be noted that the auxiliary "an, followed by not, is written as a single word. For exam#le: Affirmati)! Stat!m!nt "he can wor . +e would be wor ing. They should have wor ed. I could have been wor ing. .!$ati)! Stat!m!nt "he cannot wor . +e would not be wor ing. They should not have wor ed. I could not have been wor ing.

In s#o en English, the following contractions may be used: +it out Contra"tion% cannot could not might not must not shall not should not will not would not +it Contra"tion% can-t couldn-t mightn-t mustn-t shan-t shouldn-t won-t wouldn-t

+owever, it should be noted that the contractions mi$ tn/t and % an/t are rarely used in modern American English. ". .!$ati)! 0u!%tion% To form a negative )uestion, the first auxiliary is #laced before the subject, and the word not is #laced after the subject. +owever, when contractions are used, the contracted form of not follows immediately after the auxiliary. For exam#le: +it out Contra"tion% $an she not wor * ,ould he not be wor ing* "hould they not have wor ed* $ould I not have been wor ing* +it Contra"tion% $an-t she wor * ,ouldn-t he be wor ing* "houldn-t they have wor ed* $ouldn-t I have been wor ing*

d. Ta$ 0u!%tion% Tag )uestions are formed using the first auxiliary. In the following exam#les, the negative tag )uestions are underlined.

Affirmati)! Stat!m!nt "he can wor . +e would be wor ing. They should have wor ed. I could have been wor ing.

Affirmati)! Stat!m!nt wit Ta$ -u!%tion "he can wor , can-t she* +e would be wor ing, wouldn-t he* They should have wor ed, shouldn-t they* I could have been wor ing, couldn-t I*

1. R!lation% i,% amon$ t ! modal au'iliari!% .ust as would can be used as the #ast of will( "ould can be used as the #ast of "an( mi$ t can be used as the #ast of ma(( and % ould can be used as the #ast of % all. The auxiliary mu%t can refer either to the #resent or to the #ast. These relationshi#s among the modal auxiliaries can be summari!ed as follows: Pr!%!nt can may must shall will Pa%t could might must should would

The following exam#les illustrate these relationshi#s: T!n%! of V!r* in Main Clau%! "im#le &resent "im#le &ast "im#le &resent "im#le &ast "im#le &resent "im#le &ast "im#le &resent "im#le &ast Com,l!t! S!nt!n"! I t in& I can do it. I t ou$ t I could do it. +e ,r!di"t% it may rain. +e ,r!di"t!d it might rain. "he &now% she must be there. "he &n!w she must be there. I wond!r what we shall do tomorrow. I wond!r!d what we should do the next day.

Each of the modal auxiliaries has more than one meaning. The meaning de#ends u#on the context in which the auxiliary is used. 2. Can and Could The modal auxiliary "an is most often used in the "im#le conjugation. The most im#ortant meaning of "an and "ould is to *! a*l! to. e.g. +e can wal thirty miles a day. ,hen she was young, she could swim across the la e. The first exam#le has the meaning, H! i% a*l! to wal& t irt( mil!% a da(. The second exam#le has the meaning, + !n % ! wa% (oun$3 % ! wa% a*l! to %wim a"ro%% t ! la&!. /i e the auxiliary would, "ould can be used in #olite re)uests and suggestions. e.g. $ould you #lease tell me how to get to Almond "treet*

0ou could try as ing the bus driver to hel# you. As indicated in the #revious cha#ter, "ould can be used in sentences ex#ressing wishes. e.g. +e wished he could visit France. I wish I could have hel#ed you. It has also been #ointed out that "ould can be used in either the main clause or the subordinate clause of a statement ex#ressing a false or im#robable condition. e.g. If he were stronger, he could hel# us #ush the car out of the snow. "he could have caught the bus if she had left right away. I would be glad if I could hel# you. If he could have solved the #roblem, he would have felt ha##ier. In informal English, "an is often used with the meaning to *! allow!d to. e.g. +e says I can ta e the day off. $an I have some more sou#* +owever, in formal English, it is considered more correct to use the auxiliary ma( in such situations. +e says I may ta e the day off. 1ay I have some more sou#* 4. Ma(3 Mi$ t and Mu%t 2ne of the meanings of ma( and mi$ t is to *! allow!d to. e.g. The members of the organi!ation agree that I may join it. The members of the organi!ation agreed that I might join it. The auxiliary mu%t is a stronger form of ma( and mi$ t. 2ne of the meanings of mu%t is to *! o*li$!d to or to a)! to. e.g. 0ou must #rovide #ro#er identification in order to cash a chec . They must wor harder if they are to succeed. It should be noted that the meaning of mu%t not is to *! o*li$!d not to. e.g. 0ou must not leave. +e must not s#ea . The first exam#le has the meaning, 5ou mu%t %ta(. The second exam#le has the meaning, H! mu%t *! %il!nt. In order to ex#ress the idea of not being obliged to do something, an ex#ression such as not to *! o*li$!d to or not to a)! to is generally used. e.g. 0ou do not have to leave. +e is not obliged to s#ea . The first exam#le has the meaning, 5ou ma( %ta(3 if (ou wi% . The second exam#le has the meaning, H! ma( *! %il!nt3 if ! wi% !%. /i e "ould and would, mi$ t can be used in #olite re)uests and suggestions. The auxiliaries "ould, would and mi$ t can be used to ex#ress differing degrees of #oliteness: D!$r!! of Polit!n!%% somewhat #olite Au'iliar( could

)uite #olite very #olite Thus, mi$ t ex#resses the highest degree of #oliteness. e.g. 1ight I observe what you are doing* 1ight I offer some advice*

would might

Ma(, mi$ t and mu%t are also used to ex#ress differing degrees of #robability: D!$r!! of Pro*a*ilit( somewhat #robable highly #robable Au'iliar( may, might must

For instance, ma( and mi$ t are often used in the "im#le conjugation to ex#ress the idea that an event is somewhat #robable. e.g. 0ou might be right. It may snow later this afternoon. "imilarly, mu%t can be used in the "im#le conjugation to ex#ress the idea that an event is highly #robable. e.g. +e must be mista en. In the following exam#les, the &erfect conjugations with ma(, mi$ t and mu%t are used to ex#ress differing degrees of #robability relating to #ast events. 3u#ert might have ta en the money, but it seems unli ely. It is #ossible he may have called while we were out. It must have rained last night, because the streets are wet.

6. S ould In 4ritish English, the "im#le conjugation with the auxiliary % ould is often used in subordinate clauses stating conditions. This construction is usually used to refer to events that may occur by chance. e.g. If I should see him, I will tell him what I thin . S ould is also used with the meaning ou$ t to. This is the most common use of % ould in American English. e.g. 0ou should ta e an umbrella with you, in case it starts to rain. I should answer his letter as soon as #ossible. Ou$ t is said to be a d!f!"ti)! verb, since it has no infinitive, or #resent or #ast #artici#le. It does not modify, but has the same form, regardless of the subject. Ou$ t can be used only in combination with other verbs. 5nli e the modal auxiliaries, which are followed by the bare infinitive, ou$ t is followed by the infinitive of whatever verb it accom#anies. In each of the following exam#les, ou$ t is underlined, and the infinitive which follows it is #rinted in bold ty#e. e.g. 0ou ought to ta&! an umbrella with you. +e ought to %to, smo ing. They ought to dri)! more carefully.

7. E',r!%%ion% w i" ar! %(non(mou% wit t ! modal au'iliari!% The modal verbs can be used only as auxiliaries( they cannot be used on their own. They are defective, since they have no infinitive, or #resent or #ast #artici#le. It should be noted that in addition to the modal auxiliaries will and "an, there are two other English verbs, to will and to "an, which are conjugated regularly. The verb to will has the meaning to dir!"t on!/% will,ow!r toward %om!t in$, or to *!0u!at *( m!an% of a will. The verb to "an has the meaning to ,ut into a "an. 4ecause the modal auxiliaries are defective, they cannot be combined with one another. Thus, the fact that the English future tenses are formed with the modal auxiliaries will and % all means that the other modal auxiliaries cannot be #ut into the future. ,hen it is desired to #ut the ideas ex#ressed by the modal auxiliaries into the future, synonymous ex#ressions must be used. The following are the synonymous ex#ressions most often used: Modal Au'iliar( can may must S(non(mou% E',r!%%ion be able to be allowed to have to

It should be noted that the ex#ression *! allow!d to is synonymous with ma( only when ma( is used in the sense of #ermission being granted. The following exam#les illustrate how synonymous ex#ressions may be used when it is desired to #ut the modal auxiliaries "an, ma( and mu%t into the future. Pr!%!nt I can wor . 0ou may wor . +e must wor . Futur! I will be able to wor . 0ou will be allowed to wor . +e will have to wor .

a. T ! ,ronun"iation of Ha)! To The following table illustrates how the #ronunciation of the words a)! and a% in the ex#ression a)! to differs from the usual #ronunciation of the verb to a)!. In the ex#ression a)! to, the consonant #receding the t of to is unvoiced. An imitated #ronunciation of a% and a)! is indicated in the right6hand column. 8%ual ,ronun"iation of Ha)! E'am,l! "he has two children. ,e have two children. 9mitat!d Pronun"iation 7ha!7 7hav7 Pronun"iation of Ha)! in t ! !',r!%%ion Ha)! To E'am,l! "he has to leave. ,e have to leave. 9mitat!d Pronun"iation 7hass7 7haff7

:. T ! u%! of au'iliari!% in ta$ 0u!%tion%3 % ort an%w!r% and !lli,%i% In English, the verbs used as auxiliaries are to *!, to do, to a)!, and the modal auxiliaries. All of these auxiliaries can be used in tag )uestions and short answers. a. .!$ati)! ta$ 0u!%tion% 8egative tag )uestions have already been discussed. An affirmative statement is often followed by a negative tag )uestion, in order to as for confirmation of the affirmative statement. In the following exam#les, the negative tag )uestions are underlined. $ontractions are usually used in negative tag )uestions. e.g. 0ou are coming with me, aren-t you* 0ou li e coffee, don-t you* For the "im#le &resent and the "im#le &ast of the verb to *!, tag )uestions are formed using the verb itself. For instance, in the following exam#les, the verbs i% and w!r! are used in negative tag )uestions. e.g. "he is very nice, isn-t she* They were ready on time, weren-t they* For the "im#le &resent and the "im#le &ast of verbs other than the verb to *!, the auxiliary to do is used in tag )uestions. For instance, in the following exam#les, the auxiliaries do!% and did are used in negative tag )uestions. e.g. +e rides a bicycle, doesn-t he* They ordered #i!!a, didn-t they* For all other tenses and conjugations, the first auxiliary is used in tag )uestions. For instance, in the following exam#les, the first auxiliaries a)!, would, % ould and "an are used in negative tag )uestions. e.g. 0ou have wor ed all night, haven-t you* +e would have hel#ed us, wouldn-t he* They should get more exercise, shouldn-t they* "he can s#ea five languages, can-t she* *. Affirmati)! ta$ 0u!%tion% A negative statement is often followed by an affirmative tag )uestion, in order to as for confirmation of the negative statement, or in order to as for more information. In the following exam#les, the affirmative tag )uestions are underlined. e.g. +e is not very tall, is he* They don-t want to wor , do they* The rules for forming affirmative tag )uestions are similar to those for forming negative tag )uestions. In the case of the "im#le &resent and "im#le &ast of the verb to *!, the verb itself is used( and in the case of all other tenses and conjugations, the first auxiliary is used. e.g. +e wasn-t much hel#, was he* They didn-t want to come with us, did they* 0ou hadn-t sle#t well, had you* "he can-t s#ea 9ree , can she* They wouldn-t mind hel#ing us, would they* ". S ort an%w!r%

"ometimes it is #ossible to re#ly to a )uestion by means of a short answer, consisting of a subject, followed by the verb or first auxiliary used in the )uestion. The rules for forming affirmative and negative short answers are similar to those for forming affirmative and negative tag )uestions. Thus, in the case of the "im#le &resent and "im#le &ast of the verb to *!, the verb itself is used( and in the case of all other tenses and conjugations, the first auxiliary is used. The following are exam#les of )uestions with affirmative and negative short answers. The verbs and auxiliaries are underlined. $ontractions are usually used in negative short answers. -u!%tion Is he ready* ,ere you finished* :o you now them* :id we win* +as he left* ,ill they need hel#* $ould you hel# me* Affirmati)! S ort An%w!r 0es, he is. 0es, I was. 0es, I do. 0es, we did. 0es, he has. 0es, they will. 0es, I could. .!$ati)! S ort An%w!r 8o, he isn-t. 8o, I wasn-t. 8o, I don-t. 8o, we didn-t. 8o, he hasn-t. 8o, they won-t. 8o, I couldn-t.

It should be noted that the form of the verb in a short answer is not always the same as the form of the verb in the )uestion, since the verb of a short answer must agree with its subject. In the following exam#les, the verbs are underlined, and their subjects are #rinted in bold ty#e. e.g. Are (ou ready* 0es, 9 am. ,ere (ou excited* 0es, 9 was. d. Elli,%i% In English, words can sometimes be omitted from a sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence. The words which are omitted are said to be 7understood7. This ty#e of short form is usually referred to as !lli,%i%. "hort answers are one ind of elli#sis. For instance, in the exam#le: $an you s#ea "#anish* 0es, I can. the short answer 5!%3 9 "an3 means 5!%3 9 "an %,!a& S,ani% . The words %,!a& S,ani% are understood. Another ind of elli#sis uses the words and %o, followed by the verb or first auxiliary, followed by the subject. For instance, the sentence: +e can s#ea "#anish, and I can s#ea "#anish too. would normally be shortened to: +e can s#ea "#anish, and so can I. 2ther exam#les of this ty#e of elli#sis are given below. The verbs and auxiliaries are underlined. ,ithout Elli#sis: "he is tired, and I am tired too. ,ith Elli#sis: "he is tired, and so am I. ,ithout Elli#sis: They li e ice cream, and we li e ice cream too. ,ith Elli#sis: They li e ice cream, and so do we.

,ithout Elli#sis: +e wrote a letter, and I wrote a letter too. ,ith Elli#sis: +e wrote a letter, and so did I. ,ithout Elli#sis: 0ou had wor ed all night, and I had wor ed all night too. ,ith Elli#sis: 0ou had wor ed all night, and so had I. ,ithout Elli#sis: 0ou should get more slee#, and we should get more slee# too. ,ith Elli#sis: 0ou should get more slee#, and so should we. As illustrated above, the rules for forming the construction with and %o are similar to the rules for forming tag )uestions and short answers. Thus, in the case of the "im#le &resent and "im#le &ast of the verb to *!, the verb itself is used( in the case of the "im#le &resent and "im#le &ast of verbs other than the verb to *!, the auxiliary to do is used( and in the case of all other tenses and conjugations, the first auxiliary is used. The construction using the words and %o is used to ex#ress an affirmative idea, following an affirmative statement. In contrast, a similar construction, using the words and n!it !r, is used to ex#ress a negative idea, following a negative statement. For instance, the sentence: +e cannot s#ea :anish, and I cannot s#ea :anish either. would normally be shortened to: +e cannot s#ea :anish, and neither can I. 2ther exam#les of this ty#e of elli#sis are given below. The verbs and auxiliaries are underlined. ,ithout Elli#sis: "he is not ready, and you are not ready either. ,ith Elli#sis: "he is not ready, and neither are you. ,ithout Elli#sis: They do not own a car, and he does not own a car either. ,ith Elli#sis: They do not own a car, and neither does he. ,ithout Elli#sis: ,e have not forgotten, and she has not forgotten either. ,ith Elli#sis: ,e have not forgotten, and neither has she. ,ithout Elli#sis: They couldn-t find it, and we couldn-t find it either. ,ith Elli#sis: They couldn-t find it, and neither could we.