Modal Verbs
Modal Verbs:
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that indicate modality, or the speaker’s attitude towards the action or state described by the main verb.
Common modal verbs :
Modal verbs are used to express:
Can: ability, possibility, or permission
Could: past ability, possibility, or polite request
May: possibility or permission
Might: possibility or uncertainty
Must: obligation or strong necessity
Should: advice or recommendation
Would: hypothetical situations, politeness, or habits in the past
We use modal verbs to add nuance and meaning to the sentence, such as indicating the level of certainty, obligation, or permission associated with the main verb.
Modal verbs can also affect the tense and mood of the sentence.
It’s important to note that modal verbs do not have a separate third-person singular form
(e.g., he can instead of he cans),
They are always followed by the base form of the main verb
(e.g., I can swim, not I can to swim).
Auxiliary Verbs: should and would
Auxiliary Verbs: shall and will