Modal Auxiliaries - Helping verbs

-Anjoe-

-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Will

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• Will is used to show a strong determination.

“I will work hard and pass the examination with top scores”.

“We will build the house within one year”.

• Will is used for commanding someone to do something.

“Will you switch off the TV?; it’s annoying.”

• Will is used in questions with a sense of request.

“Will you please give me fifty rupees?”

-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Would

• Would is used in the subordinate clause if the main clause is in past tense. (Past form of ‘will’)

“She asked him whether he would marry her”.

• Would is used to show a past habitual action

In my childhood I would usually watch the Cartoon Network Channel.

• Would is used in earnest requests.

“Would you mind giving me a glass of water?”

-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Would

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• Would is used to show preference

“I would rather study English than Hindi”.

“I would rather you studied Mathematics than Hindi”.

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Shall

Shall is mainly used with first person I and We.

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“I shall write the exam”.

“We shall go there tomorrow”.

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Shall is also used to show command and promise.

“You shall not come late”.�“They shall pay the fine”.

“He shall love her”.

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-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Should

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• If main clause is in past form then in the subordinate clause the past form of shall ‘should’ is used.

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“He told me that he should buy a house”.

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• Should is used to show duty and obligation.

“We should obey the law”.

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Should

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• Should is used to show duty that was to be done in the past but was not done.

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“You should have given the exam”

(However, you did not give the exam)

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Can

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• Can is used to show ability or capacity.

“I can solve this problem.”

“This box can contain fifty mangoes”.

• Can is used to give permission.

“You can take my pen”.

• Can is used to show possibility.

“The coming bus can be very rush”.

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-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Could

• If the main clause is in past tense, then in the subordinate clause the past form of can, ‘could’ is used.

“She asked me if I could speak English well.”

Could is used to show abilities that we possessed in the past.

“I could study well when I was in hostel”.

• Could is used to show humble requests.

“Could you please show me the shortest way to the bus station”.

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-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

May

• ‘May’ is used to seek permission.

“May I come in sir?”

‘May’ can be used to give permission.

“You may use my iPad”.

• ‘May’ is used to talk about things that are going to happen.

“It may rain today”.

“I may be late today”

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-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Might

• If the main clause is in past tense, then in the subordinate clause the past form of may, might is used.

“Sunil said that he might reach there tomorrow.”

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• ‘Might’ is used to talk about things that have a remote possibility (less chance) to happen.

“It might rain today”. (chance is less)

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-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Must

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• Must is used to talk about duties that must be done.

“ You must improve your vocabulary.”

• ‘ To show possibility must, is used.

“ He must be a thief”.

• Must is used to talk about things that could have happened in the past.

“He has got first rank he must have studied well”.

-Anjoe-

Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Must

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• ‘Must’ does not have a past form. Therefore, had to is used.

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“Ramu and Deepu had to obey their supervisors when they were in the army”.

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Used to

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• ‘Used to’ is used for a past habitual action or a discontinued habit.

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“I used to live there when I was a boy”.

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Ought to

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• ‘Ought to’ is used to show a moral responsibility for doing something.

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“The rich ought to help the poor”.

“We ought to respect our constitution”

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Need

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• Need and dare are can be used as main verbs and auxiliary verbs. ‘Need’ is mainly used as modal auxiliary in a negative sense.

“You need not go there”.

“They need not give bribery”

• In the positive sense, ‘need’ is used as main verb

“I need your help”.

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Uses of modal Auxiliaries

Dare

• When ‘dare’ is used as a modal of auxiliary in a negative sense, the meaning of dare is ‘lack of courage’.

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“He dare not write the civil service exam”.

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• When ‘dare’ is used as a main verb, the meaning of dare is ‘to challenge’.

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“I dare you shoot me”.

-Anjoe-

Practice Questions

1. Children ______ afraid of the dark.

(a) were (b) are (c) has (d) is

2. Employment opportunities __ becoming rare these days.

(a) were (b) have (c) are (d) is

3. All his___ money spent on the house.

1. were (b) have (c) has (d) was

4. He looks as if he ___ rich.

(a) is (b) was (c) were (d) might have been

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-Anjoe-

Answers

1. Children ______ afraid of the dark.

(a) were (b) are (c) has (d) is

2. Employment opportunities __ becoming rare these days.

(a) were (b) have (c) are (d) is

3. All his___ money spent on the house.

1. were (b) have (c) has (d) was

4. He looks as if he ___ rich.

1. is (b) was (c) were (d) might have been

(When a sentence starts with as if then ‘were’ is used)

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-Anjoe-

Practice Questions

5. A group of men ___ standing near the shop.

(a) are (b) were (c) have been (d) is

6. He ____ be very rich because he always travels in first class.

(a) must (b) will (c) can (d) would

7. There ____ plenty of opportunities for the talented people.

(a) are (b) is (c) has (d) have

8. The police ____ looking for the escaped prisoner.

(a) is (b) are (c) has been (d) was

9. Mathematics ____ his main subject.

(a) is (b) are (c) were (d) shall be

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-Anjoe-

Answers

5. A group of men ____ standing near the shop.

(a) are (b) were (c) have been (d) is

6. He ____ be very rich because he always travels in first class.

(a) must (b) will (c) can (d) would

7. There ___ plenty of opportunities for the talented people.

(a) are (b) is (c) has (d) have

8. The police ___ looking for the escaped prisoner.

(a) is (b) are (c) has been (d) was

9. Mathematics ____ his main subject.

(a) is (b) are (c) were (d) shall be

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-Anjoe-

Practice Questions

10. Meenu asked me whether I ___ speak English fluently.

(a) can (b) have (c) could (d) am

11. ____ you switch off the radio ?

(a) Would (b) should (c) will (d) could

12. This tank ____ contain 1000 liters of water.

(a) Has (b) can (c) is (d) was

13. My teacher asked me whether I ____solve the problem.

(a) Can (b) could (c) have (d) was

14. The interrogative sentence of 'She went there' is

(a) She did go there? (b) Did she went there ?

(c) Does she go there? (d) Did she go there?

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-Anjoe-

Answers

10. Meenu asked me if I ____ I speak English fluently.

(a) can (b) have (c) could (d) am

11. _____ you switch off the radio ?

(a) would (b) should (c) will (d) could

12. This tank ____ contain 1000 liters of water.

(a) has (b) can (c) is (d) was

13. My teacher asked me whether I ____ solve the problem.

(a) Can (b) could (c) have (d) was

14. The interrogative sentence of 'She went there' is

(a) She did go there? (b) Did she went there ?

(c) Does she go there? (d) Did she go there?

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-Anjoe-

Practice Question

15. Lal has got the Ist Rank in the Journalism course, he ____ studied well.

(a) Must (b) may (c) must have (d) might

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-Anjoe-

Answer

15. Lal has got the 1st Rank in the Journalism course, he ____ studied well.

(a) must (b) may (c) must have (d) might

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-Anjoe-

-Anjoe-

Thank you.

-Anjoe-