Uses of Modal Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar with Examples
What is modal auxiliary verb? We can say model auxiliary verb as a helping verb. A model auxiliary verb gives more information about the main verb. One main feature of Modal Auxiliary Verbs is that they…
What is modal auxiliary verb?
We can say model auxiliary verb as a helping verb. A model auxiliary verb gives more information about the main verb. One main feature of Modal Auxiliary Verbs is that they never change the form, either while it is referring to singular or plural nouns. Like they can, he can, she can or I can.
Model auxiliary verbs list
- Had batter, would rather, shall, Should, will, would, may, might, can, could, must.
Use to, ought to, Has to, have to, had to.
- Be supposed to( is supposed to, are supposed to, was supposed to)
- Be able to ( is able to, are able to, was able to)
- Be about to ( is about to, am about to) etc modal auxiliary after that base form.
If s, es, ed, ing, to etc still stay with the verb but we can’t tell them base form.
Model verbs in a sentence and there uses
| Model | Example | Uses |
| Can | Can you take a CNG, She can find any street. | Suggestion, Request |
| Be able to | He is able to find any street in London. | Ability |
| Can’t | That story can’t be true. | Certain that something that impossible |
| Could | I could play tennis when I was younger, Could you take me to victorias station, You could take a taxi. | Ability, request, suggestion. |
| May | It may be quicker to travel by train, May I come in? | Possibility, Formal request/permission |
| Might | It might be quicker to travel by train. | Possibility |
| Must | You must be back at 10 o’clock, Look at the snow, It must be cold outside. | Obligation, Certainty that something is true. |
| Must not | You mustn’t drive without a license. | Prohibition |
| Need to | You need to study a lot. | Obligation |
| Need not | You needn’t have a University degree. | Lack of obligation |
| Have to | You have to be back at 10 o’clock. | Obligation |
| Don’t have to | You don’t have to call a taxi. | Lack of obligation |
| Should | You should drive more carefully. | Opinion/advice |
| Ought to | You ought to drive more carefully. | Opinion/advice |
Exercises of Model auxiliary verbs
1. Froza A/(_had_) batter B/(_changed_) her C/(_study_habit_) if she D/(_hopes_) to be E/(_admitted_) to a good university.
2. To check acidity, one had better _____ litmus paper.
a. using
b. useful
b. useful
c. usable
d. use
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d. use
3. the skiers would rather _____ through the mountains than go by bus.
a. to travel on train
b. traveled by train
b. traveled by train
c. travel by train
d. travelling by train
d. travelling by train
4. if you don’t mind, I would rather not _____.
a. to go
b. going
b. going
c. gone
d. go
d. go
5. Travelers _____ their reservation well in advance if they want to visit the st.nartins island.
a. had better to get
b. had to better get
b. had to better get
c. had better get
d. had batter got.
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d. had batter got.
6. All citizens ____ their taxes.
a. must be paid
b. should be paid
b. should be paid
c. would be paid
d. have to pay
d. have to pay
7. I would ____ accept the offer.
a. heard
b. hearing
b. hearing
c. hear
d. have heard
d. have heard
8. Look at those black clouds. It ____ rain.
a. would
b. is going to
b. is going to
c. will
d. need
d. need
9. I don’t think I ____ be able to go.
a. shall
b. can
b. can
c. should
d. could
d. could
10. I think all drivers ____ seat belts.
a. should were
b. could better to were
b. could better to were
c. had better wear
d. had better to were
d. had better to were
11. After working all day, you ____ been tired.
a. might
b. must have
b. must have
c. have got
d. must
d. must
12. You ___ help me if you don’t have time. I can do the job myself.
a. don’t
b. don’t have to
b. don’t have to
c. aren’t
c. aren’t going to
c. aren’t going to
Answer: 1.b 2.d 3.c 4.d 5.c 6.d 7.d 8.b 9.a 10.c 11.b 12.b
