Modal Verbs

Lesson 1 Modal Verbs

 

 Essential Question

How do we show shades of meaning using helping verbs?


Grammar in the World

  

image from Canva/Mizzou Academy

Each of these sentences asks a very similar question:

➤ What will you do after school today?
➤ What can you do after school today?
➤ What might you do after school today?
➤ What should you do after school today?
➤ What could you do after school today?
➤ What must you do after school today?

Even though these questions are similar, you might answer them in any number of ways. How you answer depends on one particular verb in each sentence. The verbs in bold, that help the main verb, are called modals.

  • What will you do after school today? I will eat a snack. 
  • What can you do after school today? I can ride my bike on the trail. 
  • What might you do after school today? I might play video games.
  • What should you do after school today? I should do my laundry.
  • What could you do after school today? I could do my homework.
  • What must you do after school today? I must take my dog for a walk. 

In this module, you’ll learn about modal verbs and how they influence meaning.

 

What Do I Know?

Niagra Falls Links to an external site.

image source Links to an external site. 

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time. It is also helpful to see how each skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

 

Learn About Modal Verbs

You use modal verbs every day without realizing it. There are two important things to remember about modal verbs. First, they cannot function on their own; they are helping verbs, and always are paired with another verb. Second, they are powerful words that show intention; they express likelihood, obligation, permission, and request (among other things). It is difficult to communicate well without modal verbs.

Click on each tab to learn some of the ways we can use modal verbs.

 

Helpful tips for using modal verbs.

  1. These verbs agree with any subject in person, tense, and number. You don’t add -s or change the tense of modal verbs. 
          • Incorrect: A fish cans swim.
          • Correct: A fish swims.
          • Correct: I can swim. You can swim. A fish can swim.

          • Incorrect: The family should visits.
          • Correct: The family visits.
          • Correct: You should visit. We should visit. They all should visit.

          • Incorrect: He coulds have eaten more.
          • Correct: He eats more. 
          • Correct: I could have eaten more. She could have eaten more. The whole tourist group could have eaten more.

      1. Modal verbs can be used in the affirmative, negative, or as questions.
          • Can we go to New York this weekend?
          • We can go to New York this weekend.
          • We cannot/ can't go to New York this weekend.

          • Will we see bald eagles near Niagara Falls?
          • We will (or, may) see bald eagles near Niagara Falls.
          • We probably will not/ won't (or may not) see bald eagles near Niagara Falls.


      1. Modal verbs never have the word “to” in front of them. 
          • Incorrect: I will to visit Niagara Falls. 
          • Correct: I want to visit Niagara Falls. (Want is not a modal verb.)
          • Correct: I will visit Niagara Falls. (Will is a modal verb)

 

          • Incorrect: She could to hike near the water all day.
          • Correct: She loves to hike near the water all day. (Loves is not a modal verb.)
          • Correct: She could hike near the water all day. (Could is a modal verb.)

      1. Some verbs function like modal verbs. Need to, have to, ought to, and have got to often function as modals.
          • You have got to see this cool waterfall!
          • I need to take pictures to show my friends.
          • We ought to tour the Falls in a boat.
          • You have to bring your rain jacket if you’re going to stay outside.

 

      1. Sometimes, the way you speak a sentence determines what the modal means. 

For instance, how would you read this sentence out loud: You should wear a sweater.

          • if you are a parent talking to a child?
          • if you are a friend making a suggestion?

 

Or, how would you read this sentence out loud: We may go home tomorrow.

          • if you hoped to leave the next day?
          • if you doubted you would you leave the next day?
          • if you were sharing approval for your family to leave the next day?

 

Do I Get It?

 Use the interactive exercise below to test your knowledge of modal verbs: