Class 9 eng grammar Modals

                                  MODALS

Defination: Verbs such as must, may, ought to, should, will, etc. that are used to express necessity, possibility, permission, intention, etc. are called modal verbs. They are auxiliary verbs and so they are also called modal auxiliary verbs. 

Ability and possibility- 

Can, could, able to 

These words can be used to show ability or possibility.

Can is used in present and future tense. 

Example: 1) She can drive a car. (ability, present tense)

2) The dam can break any time.(possibility, future tense) 

Could is used in past, present and future time. 

Example: 1) The car could break any time.(possibility, future tense)

2) I could mimic bird sounds when I  was younger.(ability, past tense)

Able to 

Example: 1) You will be able to speak perfect English very soon.(possibility, future tense)

2)I have been able to swim since I was five.(ability, present tense)

May, might, could 

We use may or might to show probability or possibility. 

May indicates a good possibility .

Might indicates a weak possibility.

Could suggests possibility.

Example: 1) He may be at the canteen.

2) She might be in the library.

3) He could be at school office.

Must and will can also be used to indicate certainty or likelihood.

Must expresses a logical certainty and is used in a context stronger than may. 

Example: 1) You must be careful when you drive a car.

2)I must deal with the situation. 

Will is used when we are one hundred percent sure.

Example: 1) They will take the bus to the South next week.

2) She will be happy with her results. 

Permissions- 

Can, could,may 

We use can, may and could to ask for and give permissions.

May is used in a formal context like between teachers/authority figures and students.

Can is used between friends in an informal context.

Could is a polite way of asking for permission.

Example: 1) May I submit my work, ma'am?

2)Can I use your pen?

3)Prachi, could you please bring it tomorrow? 

Requests-

Can, could, will, would 

Can, could, will and would are used to make requests. Would and could are more polite than can and will.

Example: 1)Would you please take this to the room?

2) Prashansha, is not feeling well. Can you please inform ma'am?

3)Could you take her to the medical room, please?

4) Will you help her to walk to that room?

Suggestion- 

Can, could, shall, should

Can is used to give polite suggestion.

Could and should are used to make polite suggestions.Should is used when suggestion is very strong and is almost like an advice.

Shall is used with I and we while making suggestions.

Examples: 1) Shall we visit Margo this weekend?

2)You should wear a helmet.

3) You can write a story.

4) She could go to the school office and ask for help to find it.

Wish- May

The modal may can be used to make a wish.

Example:1) May god bless you!

2) May your today and everyday be bright!

Necessity, compulsion, obligation- 

Should, must, ought to, have/has to, need to

Should is used to show obligation and it is used to sat something is good thing to do.

Must and have to show necessity and to suggest compulsion.

Ought to suggests sense of moral duty.(Ought to and should can mean something that it is sensible to do).

Example:1)You must fulfil your duty.

2)Since you have a health problem, you should visit the doctor.

3)You have to learn English.

4) You need to write articles.

5) Three minutes ought to be long enough.

Prohibition and absence of necessity-

Mustn't, ought not to, needn't, don't have to 

Mustn't and ought not to are used to show prohibition; to say that something shouldn't be done.

Mustn't is used when it is an official rule and ought not to is used when something is expected of you as courtesy.

Need not and do not have to suggest that you don't have to do so; but if you want, you can.

Example:1) You ought not to throw rubbish on the streets.

2) He mustn't know about it.

3) You needn't worry about anything.

4) You don't have to go to school tomorrow.

Could have, should have 

Could have and should have are used to talk about things which were possible in the past but didn't happen.

Example: 1) We could have left the party earlier.

2) I should have listened t what my mother said.