This presentation describes the use and pattern of the Modal Auxiliary Verbs.

1. MODALS & AUXILIARIES The ‘Modal Auxiliary verbs’ or ‘Modal Verbs’ are also known as ‘Helping Verbs’. As the last name suggests, they help the main verb of the sentence. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 1

2. MODALS & AUXILIARIES The Auxiliary verbs and Modals help the main verb of the sentence. These are further divided into: Basic Auxiliaries Modals 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 2

3. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Basic Auxiliaries: Be Have Do Am Is Was Were Has Had Does Did 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 3

4. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Let us take a few examples: Rajesh can sing. They may attend the party tonight. May I use your telephone please? Sheila says she will help me. You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 4

5. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Before we begin our discussion on Modals & Auxiliaries, we must keep in mind the following points: Modal verbs take the same form in all persons. There is no –s ending in the third person singular. For example: NOT Rajesh can sing. Rajesh cans sing. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 5

6. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 2. The affirmative is formed by putting the modal verb between the subject and the main verb. For example: 3. The negative is formed by putting n’t/not after the main verb. For example: You should visit your grandmother. Rajesh can’t sing. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 6

7. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 4. Questions can be formed by inverting the subject and the modal verb. For example: Note: We do not use ‘do’ in questions and negatives. Rajesh can sing. Can Rajesh sing? 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 7

8. MODALS & AUXILIARIES For example: We cannot say, OR Does Rajesh can sing? Rajesh doesn’t can sing. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 8

9. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 5. We can use the structure: modal verb + be + … -ing. For example: Its getting dark. You should be leaving now. I might be going to Washington next week. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 9

10. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Modal Verbs for Ability: Can, could, be able to We use can to talk about ability, or to say that something is possible. Its negative is can’t or cannot. For example: Shilpa can drive. Can you swim? They can’t attend the meeting. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 10

11. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Note: Sometimes we can also use be able to instead of can, but the use of can is more common for our daily conversations. For example: Shilpa is able to drive a car. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 11

12. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 2. We use could to say that someone had the ability to do something in a general sense, in the past. For example: We can also use was/were able to in the sentences given above. I could talk when I was two years old. My grandfather could play football in his youth. I was able to talk when I was two years old. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 12

13. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 3. When we talk about a specific situation of the past, in which someone had the ability to perform an action, then we use was/were able to. In such particular situations of the past, displaying ability, could is not possible. Even though the ship was hit by an iceberg, the captain was able to bring the ship to land. The Principal was very busy, but still the students were able to meet him. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 13

14. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Note: In the situations that we just saw, it is also possible to use managed to or succeeded in instead of was/were able to. But with succeeded in, the –ing form will be added to the main verb. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 14

15. MODALS & AUXILIARIES For example: The Principal was very busy, but still the students managed to meet him. The Principal was very busy, but still the students succeeded in meeting him. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 15

16. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 4. When we use verbs of ‘perception’ and ‘thinking’ like see, hear, smell, taste, feel and understand, remember etc., we can use could. Could is used with these verbs even if the past situation is a specific situation. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 16

17. MODALS & AUXILIARIES For example: We could smell the aroma of delicious food from my aunt’s kitchen. Harish could hear a noise outside his window. The Manager could remember the names of all the employees. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 17

18. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 5. For negatives, we only use couldn’t or could not for ability in both general or specific situation. For example: My grandmother couldn’t write. The Manager couldn’t remember all the names. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 18

19. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 6. We use could have + past participle to indicate that someone did have the ability or opportunity to perform an action in the past, but he/she did not do it. For example: Meera could have helped me with the project, but she didn’t. Ramesh could have told Kamala everything, but he chose not to do so. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 19

20. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 7. Can has no infinitive (to), -ingform or participles. Therefore, if need arises, we use be able to instead of can. For example: In the future, people will be able to live on Mars. (Not: …people will can live on Mars.) 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 20

21. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Modal Verbs for Permission: Can, could, may, might, be allowed to Generally, we use can, could or may to ask permission. For example: Can I borrow your pen? 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 21

22. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Note: May is generally used in formal situations. Could I attend your lecture? May we make a suggestion? 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 22

23. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Note:Can is used by a more authoritative person, and could is more polite and less direct as compared to can. Might is sometimes used to replace may For example: Might we make a suggestion? 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 23

24. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 2. While giving permission to some one, can and may are used, but NOTcould and might. For example: Ques: Ans.: Can I borrow your bicycle? ‘ Yes, of course you can.’ 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 24

25. MODALS & AUXILIARIES The same statement can also be written as Ques: Ans.: You can borrow my bicycle. Could I make a suggestion? Yes, you may. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 25

26. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 3. In a conversation, when a reference is made to a law or a rule, i.e. for those things which are already permitted or not permitted, then we use the modals can’t or be (not) allowed to. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 26

27. MODALS & AUXILIARIES For example: In this example, the speaker is not the one to give/not give permission, but he/she is referring to a law/rule made by a third party. You can’t /aren’t allowed to drink alcohol in Gujarat. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 27

28. MODALS & AUXILIARIES For example: In India girls can get married/ are allowed to get married at the age of 18. The students can’t / are not allowed to park their vehicles inside the College ground. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 28

29. MODALS & AUXILIARIES 4. While referring to permission, which one had got in the past time, we use modals could and was/were allowed to. For example: When I was 10 I could go to school on my bicycle. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 29

30. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Was/Were allowed to can also be used in the example that we just saw. When I was10, I was allowed to go to school on my bicycle. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 30

31. MODALS & AUXILIARIES Note: However, when we want to say that someone had permission to do something, and he/she did it in a particular past situation, then we must use was/ were allowed to. (couldcannot be used). We cannot say The players were allowed to take rest yesterday. The players could take rest yesterday. 3/18/2011 Presented by Prof. Harbhadrasinh Sarvaiya 31

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