Modals
ICSE Class 7 · English · Chapter 4
What this chapter covers
- Modals: meaning and use
- Can, could, may, might
- Shall, should, will, would
- Must, ought to, have to
- Need and dare
- Permission, ability, obligation, possibility
Key points
- Modal verbs are helping verbs that show ability, permission, obligation, possibility, advice and other attitudes towards an action.
- Modals take the base form of the verb, never add -s, have no -ing form, and never stand in pairs; ought is the only one followed by to.
- Can shows present ability and informal permission; could shows past ability, polite requests and possibility.
- May gives formal permission, shows possibility and expresses wishes; might shows a weaker possibility.
- Shall makes offers and suggestions and appears in formal rules; should gives advice and shows expectation.
- Will shows the future, willingness and promises; would makes polite requests, states preferences and describes past habits.
- Must shows strong obligation and confident guesses; must not forbids; had to is its past.
- Have to shows obligation from outside; don't have to means "not necessary", which is different from mustn't.
- Ought to shows moral duty or advice, close to should.
- Need and dare act as modals in negatives and questions, and as main verbs elsewhere.
- Choose the modal that suits the situation: formal and polite modals for elders, letters and notices; simpler ones among friends.
Questions answered
Name four features that make modals different from ordinary verbs.
Modals are followed by the base form without to (except ought to); they never take -s with he, she or it; they have no -ing or past participle form; and two modals cannot stand together. They also make negatives and questions without do.
Correct the sentence: "She can speaks three languages."
"She can speak three languages." A modal is followed by the base form of the verb.
Which is more polite, "Can you help me?" or "Could you help me?" Why?
"Could you help me?" is more polite, because could makes a request sound gentler and less direct.
Fill in the blank with may or might: "Take your raincoat; it ___ rain, though the sky looks clear."
Might, because the clear sky makes rain only a slight possibility.
Explain the difference between "You mustn't come" and "You don't have to come".
"You mustn't come" forbids the person from coming. "You don't have to come" says that coming is not necessary, but the person may come if they wish.
Rewrite in the past: "We must finish the chart today."
"We had to finish the chart yesterday" (or "that day"). Must has no past form, so had to is used.
Is need a modal or a main verb in "He needs to rest"? Give a reason.
It is a main verb. It takes -s with he and is followed by to, which a modal would not do.
Name the function of the modal in each sentence: (a) "May you win the race!" (b) "You ought to thank him." (c) "Shall I switch on the fan?"
(a) A wish or blessing. (b) Advice or moral duty. (c) An offer.