What is a Modal Verb ?

Before having insight on Modal Auxiliary Verb, let’s dive deeper and understand the meaning of the word  Modal.

Modal  is a word that has been derived from Latin language that means- MOOD.

In Medieval Latin, it was called Modalis-means- pertaining to the mode. Then in Old Latin, it was known as Modus- means- extent /quantity .In Late Latin finally, it came to be known as Modal- means Mood.

To sum up, with the late Latin meaning of Modals, we can clearly say that Modal  Auxiliary shows the mood of the speaker while giving words to his emotions.  

Now, Let’s go back a little and have a look at the kinds of verbs first. 

Verb

There are basically 3 kinds of verbs:-

Action Verbs

Linking Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verb is again subdivided in 3 parts:-

Primary Auxiliary- To be, To have, Todo

Modal Auxiliary – can, could, may, might, will, shall, would should, must, ought to,

Semi Auxiliary- need,  dare, use to

Now to return as mentioned earlier Modal Auxiliary verbs are the verbs that show the mood of the speaker like it shows the capabilities, abilities, possibilities, intention, and nature of the speaker. 

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What are the semi Modals?

Now question may arise in your mind ,

       ” What is a Semi-modal ?

Need, Dare, and Use to are counted in Semi Modal actually. They are called Semi Modal because these are the verbs that work not only as helping verbs but Main Verbs as well.

   Eg.  You need not waste your

           time here anymore. ( Modal Aux.)

           You don’t need to wate your

            time here anymore. ( Main Verb)

            He dare not touch 

            my laptop.( Modal Aux.)

           He does not dare to touch 

            my laptop. ( Main Verb)

Now before proceeding ahead and learning the different usage of Modals,

we must keep in mind the basic points to remember

and mistakes that we need to avoid while learning the correct usage of Modals.

COMMON POINTS TO REMEMBER WHILE USING MODAL AUXILIARY

 a. When you have a verb directly after modal        auxiliary, always use v1-

      ( Sub + Modal + v1 )

 eg.

     I can to play Tennis. ( wrong )

     I can play tennis. (right)

  b. In Passive voice, always use-

               ( Be+v3 )

 eg.

        The rules of the road must

        followed by everyone. ( wrong)

        The rules of the road must be

        followed by everyone. (right)

 c. If we have ‘perfect infinitive’ after modal, always use v3

            ( would have/should have/

             could have/must have+ v3 )

Note:

The perfect infinitive is structured by prefixing the 

infinitive of the auxiliary verb HAVE  to the past 

participle such as- to have lived, to have taught, 

could have taught, should have taught,

Might have stayed.

  eg.

           You must have attend

           the party. ( wrong )

           You must have attended

           the party yesterday. ( right )

  d. Modal always take Bare Infinitive so

      never  use ‘to’ after a modal.

            ( except semi modal ‘use to’)

 eg.

      I can to break it. ( wrong)

      I can break it. ( right)

      I use have a cup of tea

      twice a day. (wrong)

      I use to have a cup of day

      twice a day. ( right)

  e. In negative sentences, use

      directly NOT after modal auxiliary.

      (Remember it never takes any tense     

        helping verb except Semi modal )

eg.

         Antima does not can lift this

         heavy bag. ( wrong )

         Antima can not lift this

         heavy bag. ( right )