Catatan R.E: Modal Auxiliary Verbs

What are modal auxiliary verbs?

They are auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the sentence. Modals add special meaning to the verbs they are used with. These meanings include: ability, permission, obligation, possibility. Modals present difficulties for readers and writers because the same form may have more than one meaning. It is important to understand the meaning of the paragraph in which the modal occurs to understand which meaning the modal expresses.

How do we use modals?

Form: S + Modal + V

Example: Mary could play the piano

They do not accept conjugation

They do not need other auxiliary verbs

He can ski. ~~He cans ski~~ or ~~He can skis~~ (There is no “s” in singular)

Would you like to come with me? ~~Do you would like to come with me?~~ (There is no “do / does” in the question)

They can’t be serious. ~~They don’t can be serious~~ (There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative)

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / ~~caning~~ to must /~~musting~~

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses

Can is completed with be able to

Example : They can play the piano They will be able to play the piano in the future

Must is completed with have to

Example : You must come early You had to come early yesterday

What do they express?

They can have more than one meaning depending on the situations.

1. Single Concept Modal: they have one meaning

2. Double Concept Modal: they have two meanings

3. Modals in past: They are used to express a situation in the past

They are modals referred to actions that happened in the past

Modal + Have + verb in past participle

Example:

It must have been a difficult decision

They should have invited her to their wedding

Here is a list of Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Patterns, Functions and Examples
I. Ability:

Can and be able to are often used to describe the ability to do something. But be able to is used in situations where can does not have the necessary grammatical form.

Example: I would like to be able to swim. Not being able to swim is annoying.

But there is a difference between be able to and can.

Be able to =manage to do something, and something that needs a lot of effort or endeavor. It is very challenging and difficult. And the speaker wants to emphasize that they succeeded in doing that.

Example: They were able to climb the mountain. (The mountain is very high but they had climbed over the mount).

Example: They could climb the mountain. (Perhaps they are good climber but We don’t know whether they succeed or not).

II. Certainty and Uncertainty:

1/Must and can’t:

These are used to make deductions, when we are more or less certain about something, especially with the very to be.

Example:

You must be tired after a long journey like that (I suppose you are).

That can’t be Sarah. She‘s in Brazil. (I am sure it is impossible).

2/May, might, and could:

There all express uncertainty or possibility. They are usually stressed in speech. Might is less likely than may. Could is not used with not in this context.

Example: It may not rain .I might go out. I don’t know. I could get wet!

3/Be bound to:

This refers to the future, whereas must refers to the present.

Example:

You ‘re bound to see Paula if you go there (I am sure you will)

You must see Paula if you go there (An obligation)

III. Obligation:

1/Must and have to:

Have to describe obligations made by someone else, while must is used to describe a personal.

Example:

You must start working hard (I say so).

You have to run faster to catch up with your opponents. (It is objective motivate)

Sorry, I must/have to leave now. (No difference)

2/Mustn’t and don’t have to:

Mustn’t describes something that is not allowed. Don’t have to describe something which is not necessary.

Example: You mustn’t leave any bags here (It‘s against the regulation)

You don’t have to apply yet (It‘s not necessary)

3/Should and ought to:

These have the same meaning. They describe what is a good idea and can be used to give advice, or polite instructions.

Example:

I think you should see a doctor. You ought not to continue.

You should sow the cabbage seeds before the rainy season comes.

4/Should as expectation:

Should can also describe actions we expect to happen.

Example: Brenda should be home by now. (She is expected to be)

5/Had better:

This refers to present or future time, and gives advice about how to stop something going wrong

Example:

I think you’d better leave now (Before it is too late)

You ’d better not dive. (It might be very dangerous)

Past Modal Verb:

I/Ability:

1/Could: Could describes past ability

Example: When I were young, I could run very fast.

2/Could and was able to: Was able to describes the ability to successfully complete an action.

Example:

Mary was able to help us (She actually help us).

Mary could help us ( But perhaps she didn’t).

II/Certainty and uncertainty

1/Must have and can’t have: These are used to make deductions about past actions.

Example:

The “have” form does not change.

I must have left my wallet in the car. (I am sure I did)

Ex: Jim can't have noticed you. (I am sure he didn't).

2/May ha, might have and could have: These expression possibility or uncertainty about past actions. The "have" form does not change.

Example:

Jean might have miss the train. (Perhaps she did).

He may not have received the letter. (Perhaps he didn’t).

You could have been killed. It was a possibility.

3/Was/were to have: This describes something which was supposed to happen but didn’t. It is formal in use. The “have” form does not change.

Example:

He was to have left yesterday.

He was supposed to leave but he didn’t

1/Had to: Had to is generally used as the past form of must.

Example: Sorry I’m late, I had to take the children to school.

2/Should have and ought to have: These express the speaker’s feeling that mistake was made.

Example:

The have form does not change.

You should have post the letter yesterday

3/Needn’t have and didn’t have to: Needn’t have describes an action which happened but was unnecessary. The have form does not change.

Example:

I needn’t have bought some sugar.

I didn’t need to buy more sugar.

I didn’t because we had enough.

IV. Indirect speech:

1/Must, shall and should:

Must is reported as had to or must. Shall with future reference is reported as would. Other uses of shall are reported as should

"You must go". He told me I had to go

He told me I must go.

"I shall be there". He told us he would be there.

"Shall I help?" He asked if he should help.

Exercise!

Choose the correct modal verb.