Modal Verbs

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DEFINITION OF MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs are a part of helping (auxiliary) verbs that help English speakers to express probability, ability, obligation, advice, offer, permission, habits, etc.
Examples:
• We can play football.
• We could play football.
• We may play football.
• We might play football.
• We must play football.
• We shall play football.
• We should play football.
• We will play football.
• We would play football.
OBSERVING
Read the conversations below.
Dialog 1
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James : Hi John… Would you like me to help you with your new assignment?
John : Hi James. Sure. That would be great.
James : What can I do for you?
John : I need your help to lend me your laptop for an hour.
James : Sure.
John : Thanks James.
Dialog 2
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Dina: Rima, where are you going?
Rima: I am going to meet Mrs. Henny, but I don’t know where she is.
Dina: I know where she is. Should I go with you?
Rima: Yes. Thank you for your help.

GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF OFFERING (HELP)

In this session, we can focus on using modals to offer help and respond them.

Modal verb can be used to make offers. This short explanation on modal verbs for making offers shows you how to use "would" and "can". Study it carefully.

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The following video can help you understand more about offering service/help to others.

LIST AND FUNCTION OF MODAL VERBS

⏩ Below are some modal verbs and their common meanings:

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The other modals verbs along with their meanings and examples will be described in the list below.

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For more explanation, watch the following video.

How to use the modal verbs in sentence?

Look at the patterns below.

Pattern

(+) Subject + modal + verb1 + object

(-) Subject + modal + not + verb1 + object

(?) Modal + subject + verb1 + object?

Example:

1. (+) I can help you.

(-) I cannot help you.

(?) Can I help you?

2. (+) You may go now.

(-) You may not go now.

(?) May you go now?

3. (+) Susan will tell a story.

(-) Susan will not tell a story.

(?) Will Susan tell a story?

4. (+) We shall buy a new uniform.

(-) We shall not buy a new uniform.

(?) Shall we buy a new uniform?

Apart from the examples above, you can watch the following animated videos for examples of using modal verbs.

After you watched the video, how many sentences did you find using modal verbs?

Sentences for all subjects with modal verbs are the same, which means you don't need to add –s at the end of the third-person singular pronoun.

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In conclusion, what to keep in mind when using modals:

Explanation	Sample sentences
Do not use modals for things which happen definitely.	The sun rises in the east. - A modal verb can't be used in this sentences.
They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing".	Students can travel for free.
They have no -s in the 3rd person singular.	He can play football.
Questions are formed without do/does/did.	Can he speak English?