Modal Verbs: usage rule, examples. Modal Verbs in English

If you learn English from scratch, be prepared to get acquainted with a radically different system of verbs. The system of times of the English language and reading rules are very different from Russian. Quite often, newcomers to training, faced with the first difficulties, give up. Nevertheless, the rules of English grammar are quite understandable.

Modal verbs

A modal verb is a special unit in the English language that obeys a separate rule. In English, there are several types of verbs: regular, irregular, modal. The list of irregular verbs is separate, you need to know it by heart. Regular and irregular verbs differ from each other in the way the past tense is formed. Regular verbs form past tenses by adding the ending -ed, irregular verbs change their form completely. In addition, the verbs are divided into main and auxiliary. Basic carry a lexical function, indicate a specific action. Such verbs are translated into Russian. Auxiliary verbs exist only in tandem with the main ones, have a grammatical function. These verbs do not have a translation into Russian. Modal verbs in English have an additional function in relation to the main verbs, which equates them to auxiliary ones in function. They indicate the relation of the subject to the main action: duty, need or ability to do something. That is, I must know or can swim, I can tell and so on.

Modal verbs: rules and examples

For a comfortable command of the language you need to know the following list of modal verbs: can, must, may, need, ought to, should, have to, to be able to, manage to. As for the rules for using modal verbs, the basic principles are:

1) we do not add endings to modal verbs (except for the modal verb manage to);

2) we do not put the particle to to after modal verbs (except need, have to, ought to)

3) the main verb after the modal is put in the infinitive form (initial form)

For instance:

I need to go, it's late. I need to go, it's too late.

You have to do this task till tomorrow evening. You must complete this mission by tomorrow evening.

You ought to find another way. You should find another way.

Students must follow university rules. Students must follow the rules of the university.

My mother is very clever, she can speak five languages. My mother is very smart, she speaks five languages.

Modal verbs are similar in meaning, but there are still some differences. Let's consider in more detail.

Modal verb can / could

This modal verb translates as “I can, I can,” it can matter skill or the ability to do something. Can is the present tense form, could is the past tense form. If you use modal verbs according to the rule in the future tense, use the modal verb form to be able to - will be able to. For instance:

I can swim very well, because I had very good teacher. I can swim very well, as I had a good teacher.

I could see much better several years ago. A few years ago I saw much better.

We will be able to help you, explain the situation. We can help you, explain the situation.

The negative form of modal verbs is formed by the rules by adding the negative particle not - can not, the abbreviated form can't. For instance:

I can't find my book in this mess. I can not find my book in this mess.

Could not, the abbreviated form couldn't. For instance:

Students and pupils could be ready for this competition. Pupils and students could not prepare for this competition.

To formulate an interrogative sentence with the modal verb can / could, you need to use the reverse word order in the sentence, that is, put the modal verb in the first place, and not the subject. For instance:

Can Mike take your shirt, his is dirty? Can Mike take your shirt, its dirty?

In interrogative form, the verb could has polite overtones; you can use it to ask permission. For instance:

Could you borrow me some salt? Can you lend me some salt?

Modal Verbs to be able to / manage to

Another modal verb with the meaning "to be able to" to be able to. But if could has more general boundaries, then be able to is used in private, specific situations. For instance:

The fire spread very quickly, but everybody was able to escape. The fire spread very quickly, but everyone was able to escape.

We didn't know where is my cat, but finally we managed to find him. We did not know where my cat was, but, in the end, we were able to find it.

The past form of the verb to be able to - was / were able to . The past form of the verb manage to - managed to.

To create an interrogative sentence in the first place you need to put an auxiliary or modal verb. For instance:

Was she able to get out of the room without your help? She was able to get out of the room without your help?

Who manage to beat the best player? Who can beat the best player?

Use the not particle or auxiliary verb to form a negative sentence. For instance:

I didn't manage to do this work without instruction. I could not complete this work without instructions.

Modal verb must

The modal verb must expresses extreme obligation. If you learn English from scratch, you should know that you need to be careful with this verb, as it has an imperative meaning. When you want to give a recommendation, not a team, you should choose a different verb. For instance:

Pupils of our school must follow the Regulation. Pupils of our school must follow the Charter.

The modal verb must in negative form means "not required." Formed by adding a negative particle not for example:

Your family must not move in another town if they don't want to. Your family should not move to another city if they do not want it.

To form an interrogative sentence, put must first in the sentence.

Must the animals be kept in the cages? Should animals be kept in cages?

In addition, the verb must has another meaning. We say must be in the sense of "must be, probably." For instance:

You must be very hungry because you have missed the dinner. You must be very hungry because you skipped lunch.

It must be very noisy to live in the center of such big city. It must be very noisy to live in the center of such a big city.

Modal verb may / might

May and might, like all modal verbs, as a rule, complement the main verb. Translation of the verb "can, can." May is the present tense form, might is the past tense form. For instance:

I may be one of the best students in this college. I can be the best college student.

Where is my bag? It might be in your room. Where's my bag? She could be in your room.

He might be having lunch . He may have had dinner.

It is very strange explanation, but may be true. This is a very strange explanation, but it may be true.

To make a negative sentence, use the negative particle not - may not, might not.

It may not be truth! It can not be true!

An interrogative sentence is formed as a general rule: put the modal verb in the first place. For instance:

May I open the windows, it is very hot? Can I open the window, is it very hot here?

Modal verb have to

The modal verb have to has the meaning "must, should, must." It has three forms in the present, past and future tenses: have / has to, had to, will have to. For instance:

You will have to stay in this flat till next summer. You will have to stay in this apartment until next summer.

She has to cook the dinner immediately. She must make dinner urgently.

We have to go away, there is no place for us anymore. We must leave, we have no place here anymore.

My friends had to finish the work, but they failed. My friends had to do the job. but they could not.

To form a negative sentence with the modal verb have to add the auxiliary verb do / does / did and the negative particle not. For instance:

You don't have to watch the film till the end. You don’t have to watch a movie until the end.

These people didn't have to fix your car free. These people didn't have to repair your car for free.

Mary doesn't have to buy all the food for you. Marie is not required to buy food for you.

To write an interrogative sentence with modal verbs as a rule, have to put the auxiliary verb do, does or did in first place in the sentence. This is called the reverse word order in a sentence. If necessary, add a question word before the auxiliary verb. For instance:

Do you have to stay at work till the evening? Do you have to stay at work until the evening?

How long did you have to wait for her? How long did you have to wait for her?

Modal verb ought to

This modal verb is similar in meaning to the previous one, it is synonymous. The modal verb ought to has the meaning "should, should." For instance:

Girls ought to be more careful in the dark time. Girls should be careful in the dark.

In the negative sentence, we add the negative particle not to the verb. For instance:

They ought not to miss all the lessons. They should not have missed all the lessons.

To build an interrogative sentence, you should put the modal verb ought at the beginning of the sentence. For instance:

Ought I to folow his instructions? Should I follow his instructions?

Or with a question word:

When ought I to come to you ? When should I come to you?

The modal verb should

This modal verb also has the meaning of duty, translates as "should, must", has a softer and more polite meaning than must . The modal verb should is a past tense verb. For instance:

I should stay with him when he is ill. I have to stay with him while he is sick.

You should be more carefully with your health. You should take more care of your health.

It rains every day, you should have an umbrella. Every day it rains, you should carry an umbrella with you.

The negative form of the verb is formed using the negative particle not - should not, the abbreviated form - shouldn't. For instance:

You shouldn't spent so much time with this men . You should not spend so much time with this man.

The low shouldn't allow bad people do what they want. The law should not allow villains to do what they want.

Interrogative sentences with a modal verb should be formed by rearranging the sentence members. The modal verb comes first. For instance:

Should I close the door? Should I close the door?

Should these young people behave not so noisy? Should these young people not be so loud?

Options with a question word are possible:

Who should take care about your dog when you are on holydays? Who should take care of your dog while you are on vacation?

W here should I put these boxes? Where should I put these boxes?

Modal verb need

This verb is one of the most commonly used in English speech. The modal verb need translates to "need". We use it in various situations. For instance:

I need to see my doctor as soon as possible. I need to see my doctor as soon as possible.

Kate need your help, call her just now! Kate needs your help, call her right now!

The negative form of this verb can be formed in two ways. By adding the negative particle not to the modal verb - need not , in short form needn't, or by adding the auxiliary verb do / does / did and the negative particle not - don't need, doesn't need, didn't need . The meaning of the negative form is "no need", that is, there is no need, but if you want, you can do it. For instance:

You needn't read all these books, choose one. You do not need to read all these books, choose one.

I don't need to listen to you anymore, I can made decision myself. I no longer need to listen to you, I can make a decision on my own.

Using the same principle, form an interrogative sentence: in the first place put the auxiliary verb do / does / did . For instance:

Do you need to have some time to prepare? Do you need time to prepare?

Does my sister need to draw pictures? Does my sister need to draw pictures?