Module for Modal Auxiliary ( and ‘Quasi-Modal’) Verbs
Objective:
Review of and practice with modals verb forms to make suggestions,
offer advice, and discuss necessity:
can/could, should, ought to, have to
Directions:
Read the explanations of Modal Verb Forms and complete exercises 1--5.
MODAL VERB FORMS
Previously, in the module on Verb Tenses, we saw that the verbs “signal” three
kinds of time in English: past, present, or future. Another kind of verb form called a
modal auxiliary verb expresses several “moods” or aspects of verbs. For instance, a modal
expresses:
Possibility >> I might go to the movie after work if I have time.
Advice >>>> You should apply for a scholarship.
Requests >>> Can I help you?
Permission >> May I leave early today?
Ability >>>>> She can type 75 words per minute.
Probability >> It must be raining. Everyone is coming to class wet and cold.
Modals differ from verb tenses because they do not change to agree with the subject
of the sentence. In general, modals imply a time (past, present, or future) rather than
actually changing to show the time.
Usually, when we want to express an attitude or feeling in the present or future time
with the modals, we use modal verb forms. When we want to express an attitude or
feeling in the past with the modals, we use the modal perfect form. Let's look at these
two types of modal verb phrases.
A modal verb phrase can have two forms: simple or continuous. The simple modal
verb phrase consists of a modal followed by the base form of the main verb. The modal
continuous verb phrase consists of a modal followed by the base form of the auxiliary
be and the -ing form of the main verb. For example:
They might finish soon.
(base)
They might be finishing soon.
(base) (-ing)
The differences between a simple modal verb and a continuous modal verb are
essentially the same as the differences between the simple present tense and the present
continuous tense. When it is part of a verb phrase, the –ing form of a verb indicates an
action in progress.
NOTE: Sometimes, one modal expresses more than one mood or aspect. For
example, the word “could” has several different meanings depending on how the
writer uses it. See the charts below. Look for the word “could.” How many different
ways do English speakers use that word? __________________
The following charts give the various meanings of the modals as they are used in the
simple and continuous forms.
Logical Probability
Modal
Meaning
Example
could
possibility
That could be Alice. Go and check.
She could be looking for the doorbell.
might
possibility
That might be Alice. Go and check.
She might be looking for the doorbell.
may
greater possibility
That may be Alice. She is due about now.
She may be waiting for us.
should
probability
That should be Alice. She usually gets home
about now.
She should be getting very hungry.
must
certainty
That must be Alice. I recognize her knock.
She must be getting very hungry.
Requests and Permission
Modal
Meaning
Example
will
informal request
Hey Bubba, will you help me?
can
informal request
Say Jack, can you help me?
can
informal permission
Can I go now?
would
formal request
Pardon me, sir, would you help me?
could
formal request
Excuse me, sir, could you help me?
may
formal permission
May I leave now?
[ scroll down ]
Advice
Modal
Meaning
Example
might
weak
advice/suggestion
You seem sick. You might see a doctor if
you have time.
could
weak
advice/suggestion
You look tired. You could check with a
doctor.
should
general advice
What a bad cold! You should see a doctor.
(or) You should be seeing a doctor.
ought to
general advice
You look terrible. You ought to see a doctor. (or) You ought to be seeing a doctor.
had better
strong advice (bad
outcome if not
followed)
You had better see a doctor, or you may get
worse.
must
very strong advice
You have malaria. You must see a doctor.
have to
very strong advice
You have to see a doctor, or else you will
die.
[ scroll down]
Ability and Potentiality
Modal
Meaning
Example
can
present ability
I can play piano.
can
potentiality (possibility)
English verbs can be mastered.
could
past ability
I could ride a bike when I was young.
Time Relationship
Modal
Meaning
Example
will
later than the present time
I will do it tomorrow.
I will be doing it tomorrow.
would
later than a past time
Yesterday, I said that I would do it.
I said that I would be doing it.
Exercise 1
Complete the following paragraph about a trip that you might take in the future. Put an
appropriate modal in each blank space. More than one modal might fit into each space.
Hawaii is a beautiful state. If you go there, you ______can___ see many
interesting things. There are five major islands that you ______should_____ visit,
and you ____might_____ want to visit all of them if you have the time. You
___should_____ spend some time in Honolulu, the capital and largest city.
Although Waikiki Beach is beautiful, you ___ought to______ be careful because it
is so crowded there that you __might_________ become the victim of a thief. You
______may______ prefer the quiet beaches on the island of Kauai. On the big
island of Hawaii, you _____might_________ see active volcanoes. On Maui you
___should______ not forget to drive up to the top of a volcano and walk into the
crater. You __can_____ find hotels to fit every budget. The friendly Hawaiian
people welcome tourists year round.
Exercise 2
Complete the following short dialogues with a sentence that uses the modal in
parentheses. The first one has been done as an example.
Mary: There's a good Star Wars movie at the Retro Theater. Do you want to go?
John: (have to) I would really like to go, but I have to study for a chemistry test.
Bill: (can) _Can you give me a ride there?
Sue: I'll be glad to take you there.
Jim: I have two tests tomorrow.
Jackie: (should) __You should study very hard
Judy: Where's Elvis tonight?
Glenn: (might) He might be asleep.________________________________________
Pam: It's 11:00. What's taking Mr. Wright so long?
Lynn: (shouldn’t) _We shouldn’t wait any longer for him.
Teacher: Can everyone see the board?
Student: (can’t) __Everyone can’t see it.__________
Donna: Don's been absent for two weeks.
Ann: (must) He must be sick. He ought to see a doctor
Teresa: I've had a headache since last week.
Mike: (ought to) _You ought to see a doctor.
Vicki: I'm looking for someone to play tennis.
Andy: (can) _Can I play with you?
Mr. President: I have too much popcorn. I’ll never be able to finish it.
Michelle: (may) May I have some?
The modal auxiliary verbs should/shouldn’t, ought to/ought not to, had better/had
better not are often used to give advice. The most famous American “advice giver” was
Pauline Phillips, who wrote a newspaper column from 1956-2002 under the pen name
of Abigail Van Buren. Her column was called “Dear Abby.” Click on the link below to
read more about “Abby,” who recently died at the age of 94. You will find out about her
life, see pictures of her, and read samples of the letters she received and answered. The
writers often used their own pen names in order to conceal their identity. “Abby”
addressed her responses to them by writing, for example:
Dear Up in Arms... or Dear Sam in Cal (ifornia)...
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/17/words-of-wisdom-the-best-ofdear-abby.html
Exercise 3
Read the following “Dear Abby” letter. Write a short letter of advice in response to
“Helpless in Houston.” Use a variety of modals to make suggestions and give advice.
Dear Abby,
I have recently arrived in Houston. Only two months ago, I left my
beautiful country and family. Now, I am alone in a big American city. People in
Houston look friendly, but no one wants to make friends with me. I take the bus
to work, but it often makes me late. I stay at home most of the time on
weekends. I am very unhappy here. American life is busy, and it takes money to
do everything. I want to go home. Are things going to get any better? What
should I do?
Sincerely,
Dear “Helpless,”
Helpless in Houston
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Sincerely,
Modal Perfect Verbs
We have already seen that two modals (could and would) can have some connection
with the past time. However, most modals must be used in a special form in order to
express an attitude or feeling about the past. Earlier, we saw that in English, we use the
past or the perfect form of a verb in order to refer to an earlier time. We can use the
perfect form of a modal verb phrase in order to make the modal refer to an earlier or
past time.
We know that a modal verb phrase looks like this:
modal + base form
We also know that a perfect verb looks like this:
have, has, had + past
participle
If we combine these two types of verb phrases, we get the modal perfect:
modal + have + past participle
I didn’t study for the test. I should have known
better.
Allen could have helped us, but he didn't.
They’re late. They might have had a flat tire.
The modal perfect also has a continuous form, which is made by adding the past
participle form of be + -ing to the modal perfect verb phrase:
modal + have + been + -ing
(base) (past part.)
I should have been packing for the trip.
Allen could have been finishing his work.
They might have been having fun, anyway.
[ scroll down ]
The following charts give the various meanings of the modal perfect verbs. Notice
that some modals have slightly different meanings when they are used in the
affirmative and negative forms.
Possibility
Modal
Meaning
Example
may
one of several past
possibilities
Clara is not here. She may have
had a flat tire.
may not
one of several past
possibilities
Clara is not here. She may not
have known about the meeting.
might
one of several past
possibilities
Jake looks tired. He might have
been up late last night.
might not
one of several past
possibilities
Jake looks tired. He might not
have gotten a good night’s sleep.
could
possibility in the past, but
not done
You had plenty of time. You
could have run those errands.
could not
past impossibility
My child is an angel. She could
not have taken your car keys.
must
only logical past possibility
You look guilty. You must have
done something wrong.
must not
only logical past possibility
You failed the test! You must not
have studied very hard.
Advisability/Obligation
Modal
Meaning
Example
should
a good idea that was not
done
Hedy failed the test. She should
have studied harder.
should not
a bad idea that was done
Now you’re in trouble. You
shouldn’t have kicked that dog.
might
an obligation that was not
fulfilled
Yesterday was Mother’s Day!
You might have at least called
her.
could
an obligation that was not
fulfilled
You were in the hospital! You
could have at least told me.
Time Relationships
Modal
Meaning
Example
will
earlier than a future time
We will have left by the time you
arrive.
will not
earlier than a future time
I will not have finished before
the deadline passes.
Past Unreal Conditions
Modal
Meaning
Example
would
an imaginary statement
about what did not happen
in the past
If I had known you were coming,
I would have bought some extra
chocolate.
would not
an imaginary statement
about what did not happen
in the past
If they had seen that truck, they
would not have crossed the
street.
Exercise 4
Complete the following paragraph by putting a modal perfect form of the given verb in
each blank space. The first one has been done as an example.
The assassination of John F. Kennedy was one of the greatest tragedies and
one of the most intriguing mysteries of recent history. President Kennedy’s
advisors told him not to go to Texas. He should have listened to them, but he
didn’t.
(should--listen)
He ___could have stayed_____ in Houston or San Antonio, where
(could--stay)
the crowds were much friendlier, but he insisted on going to Dallas. Kennedy
had received death threats from hate groups in Dallas, but he
ignored them all. Mr. Kennedy _must have been_________ a very brave
(must--be)
man. No one is sure what exactly happened that afternoon. The police
arrested Lee Harvey Oswald and said that he _____could have been ________
(could--be)
the gunman. However, other law officers said that he
____could not have worked___ alone. They believed he
(could—neg--work )
____must have had___________ help due to the number of bullets that
(must--have)
struck the president. The next day, at Dallas police headquarters,
Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby. The police __should have taken__________
(should--take)
better care of Oswald. They ____should not have allowed_____ Ruby into
(should—neg--allow )
the headquarters with a gun. Many people believed that the mafia
_______may have paid____ Ruby to kill Oswald. Others think
(may--pay)
that Oswald ________might have been___ a Russian agent. If Ruby
(might--be)
had lived, he _______could have told___ the true story of
(could--tell)
November 22, 1963.
Exercise 5
The Modal Perfect verb forms are often used to express regret or give advice about
something that happened in the past. Complete the short dialogues below with a
sentence that uses the modals in parentheses. Use the first one as an example.
Kelly: I was playing video games until 3 a.m. Now, I’m so sleepy.
Biff: (shouldn’t have)
You shouldn’t have stayed up so late.
Bruce: I was in a hurry yesterday and got a speeding ticket for $200.
Doug: (should have) Too bad! ____________________________________________
Sam: Where’s Tom? I told him last week about the meeting.
Rose: (could have) ______________________________________________________
Walt: I got an F on the test! My parents are going to be disappointed.
Mickey: (should have)___________________________________________________
Amy: If I had done the homework, I would have passed the math test.
Frank: (might have) Well, _______________________________________________
Amy: If I had passed the math test, I would have made a B in the course.
Frank: (could have) _____________________________________________________
Frank: If you had passed the math test, you wouldn’t feel bad now.
Amy: (could have) Yeah, you’re right______________________________________