Modals

 Modals: 

Modals

Introducing Modals: 

Read the story of Helen Keller below. Notice the underlined words when you finish reading, discuss the questions that follow. 

 

The story of Helen Keller, the girl who could not see, hear or speak.  

I’d like you to know the story of Helen Keller, we could neither see nor hear from the time she was a baby. Yet the brilliant girl was able to overcome all those difficulties, to graduate from college with honors and become a useful citizen.  

I must say there was nothing wrong with Helen Keller when she was born. Her father and mother were very proud of their pretty baby, who tried to say “pa-pa” and “ma-ma”. 

For nineteen months Helen grew bigger and stronger. She was able to walk when she was a year old; she could say a few words. But one day the child fell ill. She must have been very ill. For days she had been suffering from high fever and soon the parents learned that their darling would never be able to see and hear. When Helen was 6 years old, her parents took her to famous doctors to find out If they could do something to make her hear and see again, doctors could do nothing. The child was hopelessly deaf. Dr. Bell said that Keller should write to the Perkins institutions for the Blind and asked if they would send someone to help the child.  

1. What meaning do the underlined words convey? 

2. Can you understand what mood/emotion is expressed by each of these words? 

3. Can you change the forms of these words? 

You might have noticed that the underlined words such as can, could, may might, must, ought to shall, should, will and would, do not change form for different subjects. These are special verbs which have irregular forms in English. They are different from normal verbs like ‘work, play, visit. They give additional information' about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions. They are known as modals (also called modals verbs, modal auxiliary, modals auxiliar). In the story, the underlined words that you have come across are example of modals. 

Some characteristics of modal verbs: 

• Thye never change their form. You can’t add ‘s’, ‘ed’, ‘Ing’. 

• They are always followed by an infinitive without ‘to’ (except in phrases like ought to). 

• They are used to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability.  

Read the dialogue below. How many modals can you find? Do they have the characteristic discussed above? 

Dialogue: Asking the Way.  

A: Excuse me. Can you tell me where Panthapath is, please?  

B: take the second turn on the left and then ask again. 

A: is it far? 

B: no, you can walk it in ten minutes.  

A: thank you very much.  

B: it’s a pleasure.  

A: Excuse me, please. Could you tell how to get to the Novo Theatre?  

B: Sure, go straight, take the first right turn and then the second left. You can’t miss it.  

A: Thank you. 

B: That’s ok.  

 

So, what different models are there in English?  By now you should be able to make a list of the modal verbs. Here is one: 

Can, could, may, might, Wii, would, shall, should, must.  

Also, you must have noticed some verbs of expressions such as dare, ought to, had better, and need not in the above story or dialogues. They often behave like modal auxiliaries and may be added to the list of modals.  

Remember, modal verbs are used to express functions such as: 

1. Permission 

2. Ability 

3. Obligation 

4. Prohibition 

5. Lack of necessity 

6. Advice 

7. Possibility 

8. Probability 

 

Uses of Modals; 

Uses of can and could 

The modal auxiliary can is used 

• To express ability (in the sense of being able to do something): He can speak Spanish but he can’t write it very well.  

• To express permission (in the sense of being allowed or permitted to do something): Can I talk to my friends in the library waiting room?  

• To express possibility (in the sense that something may happen) Bangladeshi cricketers can do better if they play more international matches.  

The modal auxiliary could is used.  

• To express an ability in the past: 

I could run five miles when I was young. 

• To ask for permission: Could I borrow your laptop for an hour. ?  

• To express possibility or ability within a condition:  If he studied harder, he could pass the exam. 

Uses of my and might:  

Might is the past tense of may when used in the context of granting or seeking permission. Also note that might is considerably more uncertain more than may. Example: 

• May I leave class early? 

• If I finish all my work, I might leave early.  

 

Uses of should, must and have to: 

Must is the most commonly used modal to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although people often use the form ‘have to’.  

One may use must not to prohibit actions, but this sounds very strong or rude. It is better to use softer modals verbs such as should not or ought not to discourage something rather than prohibit.  

• This must be the right address! (certainty) 

• Students must pass an admission to study at this school. (necessity) 

• You must take some medicine for that cough. (Strong recommendation)  

• Jenny, you must not play in the street! (prohibition) 

 

Must not vs. Do not have to:  

Must suggest that you are prohibited from doing something. Do not have to suggest that someone is not required to do something.  

Examples: 

• You must not eat that. (It is forbitten, it is not allowed.)  

• You don’t have to eat that. (You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.  

Should is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.  

Example; 

• When you go to Agra, you should see the Taj. (recommendation) 

• You should focus more on study and less on games. (advice) 

• It really should be in the class by 9:00 am. (obligation) 

• By now, they should already be in Dhaka. (expectation)  

Have to is used to express certainty, necessity and obligation.  

• This answer has to be correct. (certainty) 

• The milk has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. (necessity) 

• They have to leave early. (obligation) 

Ought to is used to advise or make recommendation. Ought to also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that something is desirable. Ought not (without ‘to’) to be used to advise against doing something.  

• You ought to stop smoking. (recommendation) 

• Robi ought to get the promotion. (It is expected because he deserves it.) 

• This piece of land ought to increase in value. (probability) 

• You ought not waste your time. (Advice against doing something) 

 

Uses of shall, will and would: 

In certain contexts, will and would are interchangeable, but there are differences. Notice that the contracted form ‘ll is very frequently used for will.  

Will can be used to express willingness: 

• I'll wash the dishes if you dry them up 

• We're going to the movies. Will you join us? 

It can also express intention (especially in the first person): 

I’ll do my exercises later on.  

It can express prediction: 

• Specific: the meeting will be over soon.  

• Timeless: Too much rain will destroy crops. 

• Habitual: he will eat bananas in the morning.  

Would can also be used to express willingness: 

• Would you please take off your coat? 

 

Look at the table and see the meaning, function and uses of modals 

 

Modals	Meaning	Expressing	Example
Must	To have to	Strong obligation	I must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
	To be very probable	Logical conclusion (deduction)	He must be very tired after such enormous work
Must not	Not to be allowed to	prohibition	You must not smoke in the hospital
Can	To be able to	ability	I can swim
	To be allowed to	permission	Can I use your phone please?
	It is possible	possibility	Smoking can cause cancer!
could	To be able to	Ability In the past	When I was younger, I could stay up all night and not get tired.
	To be allowed to	More polite permission	Excuse me, could I just say something?
	It is possible	possibility	It could rain tomorrow!
may	To be allowed to	permission	May I use your phone, please?
	It is possible, probable	Possibility, probability	It may rain tomorrow!
might	It is possible	Weak possibility	I might come and visit.
	probable	probability	You might be in America next year if I can save enough money.
need	necessary	necessity	Need I say more?
Need not	Not necessary	Lack of necessity/absences of obligation	I need not buy any tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge.
Should/ought to	Used to say or ask what the correct or best thing to do	Moderate obligation	I should/ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
	To suggest an action or to show that it is necessary	advice	You should/ought to revise your lessons.