3.2 Modal auxiliaries
There are other auxiliary verbs which play an important part in English. These are the modal auxiliaries (sometimes just called modal verbs). Using these verbs allows us to change a verb from a simple statement of fact (this happened) to indicate how likely we think it is, or whether it is a good idea or not.
Activity 4 Spotlight on modal auxiliaries
Timing: This activity should take around 10 minutes
Watch the video below, which gives an overview of what you can do with these verbs.
Download this video clip.Video player: Video 1 Exploring modal auxiliaries
Transcript: Video 1 Exploring modal auxiliaries
NARRATOR
In this video, we'll shine a spotlight on an important set of verbs. We call these verbs the modal auxiliaries, and they include words like must, can, should, and might.
Like be, have, and do, they can be combined with other verbs to form a multi word verb. You can use them to make significant differences in meaning. Instead of simply using a verb to say that something happened or didn't happen, you can use model auxiliaries to convey lots of different meanings. We'll take a look at just some of them now.
One of the most common uses of modal auxiliaries is to use these words to express your ability or lack of it to do things. So you might say, she can speak Russian very well or you can't see them from here.
You can also use will to make it clear that you are referring to the future, often in promises and predictions. It will probably rain this afternoon. I'll make dinner tonight. Will you be there on Saturday?
You can also make it clear that you are not being definite in what you say. For example, I might go to the beach tomorrow. It could rain later. You may be right.
You can also make it clear that something is a good or bad idea. You should take plenty of sun cream. We shouldn't worry too much.
You can give permission to do things, say they are obligatory or even forbidden. She can take the spare cups and saucers. You must tidy the room after you finish. They mustn't use up all the milk. Other modal auxiliaries of this kind are words like need and needn't.
Finally, you can also use modal auxiliary verbs to make deductions about things. They can't be at home-- I've called them three times and there's no answer. He should be there by now it-- only takes an hour. A pay rise? You must be joking. In other words, you can't be serious.
As you can see, these little words offer powerful ways to express your meaning or your opinions and even make your authority clear. Keep an eye out or an ear out for these modal auxiliary verbs and see if you can spot the different jobs they do.
Video 1 Exploring modal auxiliaries
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While watching, fill in the modal verbs used in some of the examples (if you like, you can think of some possibilities before watching, then check to see if you were right:
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Discussion
- I might go to the beach tomorrow.
- You should take plenty of suncream.
- They mustn’t use up all the milk.
- He should be there by now – it only takes an hour.
- They can’t be at home – I’ve called them three times and there’s no answer.
Notice that auxiliaries, when used in the negative, take the negative morpheme -n’t directly instead of using auxiliary do:
| Negative | |
| I can hear you. | I can’t hear you. |
| They live here. | They don’t live here. |