Modal auxiliaries

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Modal auxiliary verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs are

auxiliary verbs that are used to show a(n):

 ability, certainty, possibility, probability or obligation (=necessity). 

Unlike most verbs, there is only one form of these verbs.

Write down some modal auxiliary verbs!

Must (expressing obligation)

Only 1 form: Must (e.g. no past tense, no perfect tense);

Use:

a)  When something is obliged (personally or from a source outside) or not allowed:

( My mother told me that ) I must wear sunscreen or I will get a sunburn. (personal obligation and an obligation from a source outside)

You must not park your bike in front of the school. (it is forbidden)

Must

b) to make deductions (= conclusies) when we are more or less certain about something:

You must be very tired, you worked so hard. (conclusie)

I must have left my notebook at home. (I do not know for sure)

Must vs Have to 

Must does not have a past or a perfect form so,

 If you need a past or a perfect form you use: 

Have to:  which can be used in all tenses:

Have to

has to  

had to

have had to

Must vs have to

Use: 

a)  An obligation made by someone else: 

You have to turn left here. 

You have to do your homework.

b) In the past:

I had to wear sunscreen last summer.

I had to park my bike at the back of the school.

must not vs do not have to

Must not: something is not allowed:

You must not leave your bag near the staircase in the hall.

Do not have to: something is not necessary:

You do not have to do your homework for tomorrow.

Should

a. expresses an obligation:  

You should work hard for your test. (zou moeten)

b. gives a recommendation: 

You should stop eating fast food. (zou eigenlijk moeten)

c. gives an opinion: 

Parents should not let their children play aggressive games. 

(zouden eigenlijk niet moeten)

 

Shall (present tense of should)

Use:

1. to make a suggestion:

    Shall we dance? Shall I go now?

2. for obligation in very formal situations:

    You shall obey the rules. Students shall not enter here.

    There shall be no food and drink on the premises.

and now for the really fun part......

We ................ leave now or we will be late for class.

1. would
2. should
3. will
4. might

................. we meet tomorrow morning and cycle to school together?

1. Shall
2. Would
3. Should
4. Must

I .............. like a cup of tea, please.

1. will
2. would
3. should
4. have to

I ................ probably spend the holidays with my family next summer.

1. should
2. will
3. would
4. have to

You do not ...... be quiet in that teacher's class. He is deaf.

1. must
2. will
3. have to
4. would

Sarah is such a talented singer. She ................ practise a lot.

1. must
2. may
3. can
4. would

The teacher says the pupils ............. take the test on Friday the 23rd.

1. will
2. should
3. must
4. have to

So, do you undersstand what the modal auxiliaries are all about?

1. Yes
2. No

If your answer was NO ask your teacher for some extra help, explanations and exercises!