Modal Verbs - 020924

Brayan Eliud Álvarez GonzálezDiana Camila Ruiz PérezMonica González DelgadoSofía Gutierrez Ojeda

Definition

Characteristics

Uses

Common mistakes

Types

Modal auxiliaries

Semi-modal verbs

Semi-modal verbs

Dare

Prove What you learned!

Need

Ought to

Used to

Modal Verbs

Ability, Conditionals

Possibility and Criticism

Obligation

Suggestion

Ability in the past

References

Be able to

Have to

examples:

• I must book the tickets.
• You must prepare your presentation.
• I must go to the party, so everyone knows me. (I believe it)
• You mustn't forget your parent signature for the trip.

MUST

Obligation

• Expresses something that has to be done.
• Shows that the obligation affects yourself or you believe it. (Intern)
• Politeness

1. Incorrect tense formation:

• Incorrect: He will can go.
• Correct: He will be able to go.

2. Adding 's' for third person singular:

• Incorrect: She cans swim.
• Correct: She can swim.

3. Misuse of 'to' after modal verbs:

• Incorrect: I must to leave.
• Correct: I must leave.

When using modal verbs in English

Common grammar mistakes

4. Formation of negatives:

• Incorrect: I don't can swim.
• Correct: I cannot swim.

5. Incorrect use of modals for ability:

• Incorrect: She might can attend.
• Correct: She might be able to attend.

6. Negatives and opposites

• Incorrect: He mustn't to go to the doctor.
• Correct: You mustn't touch that hot stove.

7. Past modals with of instead of have:

• Incorrect: He must of gone.
• Correct: He must have gone.

8. Can't vs mustn't:

• Can't implies something is not possible. E.g, You can't stand in front of that yellow line.
• Mustn't implies something is forbidden. E.g, You mustn't bring a calculator into the exam room.

Need

As main verb:

As modal verb:

It conveys the same meaning: obligation

Need we come to school tomorrow?

Do we need to come to school tomorrow?

We needn't keep the bread in the frigde. It won't expire.

You didn't need to buy me roses. I don't even like them. (past)

Bozorovna Usmonova, R. (s. f.). SEMANTIC FEATURES OF MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/semantic-features-of-modal-verbs-in-english-grammar/viewer

Brandon. (2018) Conditional sentences with modal verbs. ABA Journal. https://blog.abaenglish.com/conditional-sentences-with-modal-verbs/

British Council. (s/f) Cómo y cuándo usar el verbo “can”. British Council. https://www.britishcouncil.es/blog/verbo-can

Dare. (2024). En Gramática - Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/dare

Depraetere, I. (2017). On the pragmatics of modal verbs. Selected papers on theoretical and applied linguistics, 22, 14-26. doi:https://doi.org/10.26262/istal.v22i0.5969

Farlex International. (2016). Complete English Grammar Rules: Examples, Exceptions, Exercises, and Everything You Need to Master Proper Grammar. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

LanGeek. (s/f)«Dare and Need» in English Grammar. Langeek. https://langeek.co/en/grammar/course/30/dare-need/intermediate

LondonEye English School. (2022) Modal Verbs (B2) - LondonEye English School. https://londoneyepad.com/academia-de-ingles-en-cordoba/gramatica-inglesa/modal-verbs-b2/

Need. (2024). En Gramática - Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/need

Oxford University Press ELT. (2024). Common mistakes to avoid when using modal verbs in English. Learning English With Oxford. https://learningenglishwithoxford.com/2024/04/12/common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-using-modal-verbs-in-english/

Have to

• It is similar to must and need.
• It expresses obligation.

We don't have to be late. We could grab a cab instead of the subway.

Do we have to be late? I mean, we could grab a cab instead of the subway.

Modal verbs are a category of auxiliary verbs that are used to express different nuances of meaning, such as posibility, ability, necessity, permission, and other aspects that modify the nature of the action described by the main verb.By using a modal verb, the speaker can express not just what is happening, but also how they feel about it. Therefore, modals are crucial to communicate intentions and emotions effectively.

What is a modal verb?

Used to:

Be Used to:

It expresses a past habit.

It means to be accustomed to.

Did you use to play on the streets when you were little?

I was used to waking up late on the weekends. Sadly, I can't anymore.

He used to play the piano.

Now I am used to barely sleep at all.

main verb

modal verb

What are they?

• They are verbs that can behave either as modals or main verbs depending on how they are written.
• They are verbs that express modality; however, their structure in the sentence is different

Examples: - Can you drive? (Do you know how to drive?) -I can play on my xbox console, but I cannot play on my computer. - You can't make the football team if you dont play well.

CAN

Ability & Conditionals

• Describes an ability that we have
• Things we know
• Works as conditional when you warn someone

Examples:

• I might lose my flight because of the traffic. (possibility)
• You might have tidied your room. (criticism)

MIGHT

Possibility & Criticism

• The use of might as possibility expresses something that rarely happens and something that allows permisison.
• In the case of criticism : might + aux. verb HAVE+verb p. p.

DARE

As a main verb:

As a modal verb:

It means to challenge someone or be brave or rude enough to do something.

It means to be brave enough or rude to do something.

I dare you to ask her out.

If you dare speak to the teacher like that, he'll make you leave.

How dare you speak to me like that?

At the end, he didn't dare to do it.

examples: You must watch Friends, it is a great show. You must exercise 3 times a week. There should be more hospitals in my neighbourhood. You might want to leave or he will see you.

MUST, SHOULD & MIGHT

Suggestion

• MUST: In this context it gives advise to friends or someone closer to you.
• SHOULD: It suggests or asks for an opinion.
• MIGHT: it represents a smooth suggetion, it is polite and sometimes it uses auxiliary verbs: like, prefer, want.

Ought to

• Similar to should.
• It expresses something is viewed as correct, probable, preferable or necessary.
• It only expresses modality. Cannot be used as a main verb.

Pads and tampons ought to be free, or at least tax-free.

Ought they (to) read their whole presentation?

People say women ought not to walk the streets alone at night because it's dangerous.

be able to

• Expresses ability.
• Similar to "can" or "could".

She was able to drink milk when she was little, but now she gets diarrhea everytime she tries it.

She could drink milk when she was little, but now she gets diarrhea everytime she tries it.

My dog is not able to climb the stairs. He is too dumb.

My dog can't climb the stairs. He is too dumb.

- No Conjugation or Inflection: Modal verbs do not change form based on the subject or tense.

Characteristics:

- Accompany a Main Verb: Modal verbs are always followed by the base form of the main verb (the infinitive without "to").

- Express modality: Such as ability, possibility, necessity, permission, or obligation. The specific meaning depends on the context.

examples:

• My grandfather could run a marathon. (past)
• Could you turn off the lights?
• Addison couldn't fix her marriage.

COULD

Ability in the past

• Ability we had in the past.
• Past form of can.
• We use its negative form for things that happen just once.