MODAL AUXILIARY VERB MODAL VERBS SEMI MODAL VERBS

Tables of Content
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.
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 )
Thus13 are the modals total in number-
10 Modals +3 Semi Modals
LIST OF MODALS
MODALS
Can
Could
May
Might
Will
Shall
Would
Should
Must
Ought to
SEMI MODALS
Need
Dare
Use to
QUIZ MODAL AUXILIARY
Learn with Video and Check your Understanding
Modal is a word derived from a Latin word means
Modal auxiliary verbs show
There are basically ____ kinds of verbs
The other name of the helping verb is
To be, to have, to do -are parts of
Semi Auxiliary is a part of ______ verbs
Need, Dare and Use to are parts of
After Modal Auxilary Verbs , We use
Which is the correct sentence ?
Modal Auxiliary always takes
Tap the correct sentences
There are ____kinds of Semi-modals
Share if you find informative !
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)