Modal auxiliaries

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4

MODALS

Let's teach you

all about

modal auxiliary 

verbs...

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.

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 (hoeft niet):

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 (aanbeveling, advies): 

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.

Can 

Use:

1.  for ability:

     I can speak 5 languages. She can't sing.

2. for informal permission:

    Can I sit here? Can we leave now?

3. for requests or suggestions

    Can I have the bill? You can sit wherever you like.

Could

Use:

1. past ability:

     I could run ten kilometres when I was younger.

2.  for permission ( formal - polite):

      Could you repeat that again? Could I please go to the toilet?

3. for possibility: 

     This holiday could be really good. 

     You could go to to school when the lockdown is finished.

May

Use: 

1. for formal permission.

    May I come in? May I go to the toilet Miss?

2. to suggest a possibility

     It may rain this evening. They may be late.

Might

Use:

1. for an uncertain possibility

    It might be bad weather tomorrow. 

   Our teacher might come to  the party tonight.

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

You ...... be quiet in that teacher's class. He is deaf.

1. must
2. can
3. do not have to
4. could

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

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

Miss Arends, .............. I ask a question?

1. shall
2. must
3. should
4. may

............. you show me your passport please?

1. Must
2. Shall
3. Could
4. Have to

It ............. rain tomorrow so we’d better plan an indoor dinner.

1. can
2. might
3. must
4. should

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

1. Yes
2. No

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