Modals

MODAL VERBS are a small group of verbs that are used with other verbs to change their meaning in the sentence in various ways .

MODAL VERBS are used with other verbs (in front of a verb ) to express the speaker’s opinion at the time of speaking. They express the speaker’s attitude towards an event, a situation or  the person they are speaking to.

We use MODAL VERBS, not  for situations / things   that have definitely happened, BUT  to talk about things we expect, which are possible, which we think are necessary, which we are not sure about,  etc…

The English MODAL VERBS are :
„  CAN / COULD,
„   MAY / MIGHT,
„  SHALL/SHOULD,
„  WILL/WOULD,
„  MUST,  HAVE to,  MUSTN’T
„  OUGHT to ,
„  USED to,
„  DARE to
„  NEED to.

Differences from other English verbs:

*they have no infinitive form or participles

*they do not need auxiliary DO  =
questions and negatives are made without  do, does, did:
EX: Question – Can we go now?
Negative – I can’t ride a bike.

*they have no s  in the 3rd person singular:
EX: Mary can swim very well and  Tânia  should learn it before her trip to Brazil.

*they do not normally stand alone. They are nearly always used in front of a verb. The main verb is always an

Infinitive without to:
EX: -Yes, I can pass you the salt.
EX: -Jane might arrive before dinner, but I doubt it.

*A few modals are followed by to:
EX: -Perhaps you ought to see a doctor.
EX:- How dare you to say that to your teacher?

*when necessary , we use other verbs/ words:
Ex – It can rain tomorrow . = It is possible… It is likely…  etc