Modal auxillary and their uses.what are modal auxillaries and what are their uses?

                  MODAL AUXILLARY VERBS

 Modals are helping verbs

 Used with the base form of the verb, modals create verbal phrases.

 Modals do not change form.

 Modals never end in “s” even in 3rd person singular

 Use “not” to make modal verbs negative.

 Don’t use double modals.

 Modals lack past tense forms, except could and would which serve as the past of can and will.

 

Can 

 

present ability – I can ride a bike. 

opportunity – She can help you learn to ride a bike, when she is finished studying. 

permission – Can I try to ride the bike now?

possibility and conditional – Anyone can learn to ride a bike, if they are not afraid to try. 

request – Can you teach me to ride a bike? 

willingness – I can teach you.

Could 

past ability – I could ride a bike when I was younger.

conditional – He could learn to ride a two wheeler, if his father removes the training wheels.

possibility – Bill could be the best bike rider with some more practice.

suggestion – Mark could ride his bike to campus, instead of driving his car.

request – Could I use your bike?

May 

polite request or permission – May I borrow your bike?

possibility – He may be able to help you assemble the bike tomorrow.

Might 

possibility, but not certainty – I might be able to let you borrow the bike, after I put air in the tires.

conditional – This bike might be a good choice for cross country riding, if the seat is comfortable.

suggestion – You might want to lower the seat, so that your legs reach the pedals.

Must 

strong obligation – You must return the bike, if you use it. 

necessity – I must ride my bike to get my exercise.

 Substitute must with “have to” – You have to return the bike, if you use it.

 

Shall 

 

formal invitation and future action. – Shall we go bike riding together tomorrow?

Should 

mild obligation, recommendation, advice – You should wear a helmet when you ride a bike.

expectation – He should finish the race around noon.

 Substitute should with “ought to” – You ought to wear a helmet when you ride a bike.

Will 

future intent – I will go riding on Saturday.

promise – We will definitely make time to ride together next weekend. 

prediction – The weatherman, however, reports that the winds will be strong. 

voluntary action – I will go anyway.

Would 

conditional – I would ride the bike at night, if it had a light.

past of will – He would ride .

Use the base form of the word with the modal. Modals do not change form. 

 He could ride for long distances. (correct) He could rode for long distances. (incorrect) 

Modals never end in “s” even in the third person singular. 

 She should peddle slower. (correct) She shoulds peddles slower. ( incorrect) 

Combine the base form of the verb with the modals – not with the infinitive “to.” 

 He should ride with traffic. (correct) He should to ride with traffic. (incorrect)

Use “not” to make modal verbs negative. 

 I cannot ride a bike.

 I could not ride a bike because I was afraid of falling.

 I may not be riding next weekend because I have to work extra hours.

 She might not have a new bike, but it gets her where she needs to go.

 Bike riders under 17 years of age must not ride without helmets in Pennsylvania.

 Riders shall not break the traffic rules that apply to cars.

 When using hand signals to indicate turning, riders should not use their right arm.

 He will not go riding when it rains.

 The bike club would not participate in the race because they objected to the high entrance fee.

To form questions: 

 Can I teach you how to ride a bike?

 Should we ask your mother first?

 Might it help if I let her know that you’ll be wearing a helmet?

 Will you let me take the training wheels off?

Do not use double modals. 

 He could can fix the flat tire.

 I will might enter the bicycle challenge marathon.

Practice: Circle the best modal. 

 He can/ would ride his bike when his car broke down.

 Bob should not/ may not ride down the middle of the busy road.

 Might you/ could you repair my broken wheel?

 My mother always said, “You could/should wear a helmet to protect your head.”

 May/ can I borrow your bike?

 I must/ can return the bike to the rental shop by 5 o’clock this evening.

 Shall/ should we take a tire patch kit with us to make repairs?