Modals

One kind of helping verb is called a modal. A modal adds information, such as possibility, necessity, or requests, to the verb that follows. The modals are underlined in the sentences below:

1. Ellen can do the job.

2. I will worry about that later.

3. You should rest before the party.

4. Dennis might change that carpeting.

There are nine basic modals, listed below.

Quick tip

One kind of helping verb is called a modal. The basic modals of English are:

Answers

Answers

To enhance your understanding

Here are the modals again:

can         could

may        might

shall       should

will         would

must

Historically, those modals on the left have been considered present tense forms while those on the right have been considered past tense forms. Note that three of the past tense forms end in the consonant d; think of it as a reminder of the past tense suffix-ed, as in the verb stayed.

To further enhance your understanding

Some expressions are similar to modals but consist of more than one word. They are called phrasal modals or periphrastic modals. Here are some examples, underlined in the following sentences:

5. I am able to go.

 6. I ought to go.

7. I am going to go.

8. I would like to go.

9. I have to go.

10. I need to go.

Notice that many of the phrasal modals have the same meaning as one of the one-word modals; for example:, am able to= can, ought to= should, am going to= will.

11. I am able to go=I can go.

12. I ought to go=I should go.

13. I am going to go= I will go.

Note also that phrasal verbs end in to, which is followed by the base form of the verb.

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

قسم شؤون المعارف يطلق دورة (صفات الشيعة) لعدد من ملاكات العتبة العباسية المقدسة

الهيأة العليا لإحياء التراث تبحث تعزيز التعاون المشترك مع مركز الإمام الباقر (عليه السلام) في إيران

جامعة الكفيل تكرِّم طلبتها المتميزين من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة

فريق طبي في مستشفى الكفيل يجري عملية ناجحة لطفل يعاني من تشوّه ولاديّ بالنخاع الشوكي

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

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كنز غذائي على طبقك.. ماذا تفعل السبانخ بجسمك؟

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

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ألتمان: الذكاء الاصطناعي سيتجاوز البشر في 2026 !

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Grammatical Relations Subjects and objects

Form, meaning, and use Conclusion

Grammar as a system of rules

Analyzing Grammar Grammatical form Form, meaning, and use

Implied subjects: commands

Indirect objects

Direct objects

Subjects

SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS

Tense

Progressive be

Perfect have