1 of 10

Modal Auxiliaries

GRAMMAR

2 of 10

What are modal auxiliaries?

  • Modal auxiliaries are also sometimes called modal verbs or modals. The following are modal auxiliaries:

​

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

3 of 10

Form.

  • Positive: subject + modal + bare infinitive:

​

  • I must see you tomorrow.
  • We must go now.

​

  • Bare infinitive – verb in the base form (see, go etc)

​

4 of 10

Form.

  • Negative: subject + modal + not/n't + bare infinitive:

​

  • You shouldn't go to bed so late.

​

  • They needn't come if they don't want to.

​

5 of 10

Form.

  • Question: modal + subject + bare infinitive:

​

  • Can you help me?

​

  • Will she be here soon?

6 of 10

Form

  • Short answers: subject + modal auxiliary:

​

​

  • Yes, we can. No, they won't.

7 of 10

Important points to note.

  • Modal auxiliaries always stay the same. They cannot be:

put into different tenses.

​

  • used as infinitives.

​

  • used as gerunds or present participles.

8 of 10

Modals can be followed by the infinitive in different forms:�

Active

Passive

Modal + bare infinitive

(must take)

be + past participle

(must be taken)

Modal + be + Present Participle

(must be taking)

​

Modal + have + Past participle

(must have taken)

Have been + past participle

(must have been taken)

Modal + have been + present participle

(must have been taking)

​

9 of 10

Things to note.

ought is the only modal auxiliary followed by to.

dare can be used as a modal auxiliary in the question and negative forms. It can also be used as a main verb followed by the to-infinitive.

10 of 10

Practice Questions.

  • Click here to see practice questions.