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Modal verbs take no -s in the third person singular:
He might be at the office.
Modal verbs form their negative and interrogative like other auxiliaries and not with do:
I cant swim. Can you swim?
The following contracted negative forms are often used in spoken and in informal written language:
cannot » cant could not » couldnt
might not » mightnt will not » wont
shall not » shant would not » wouldnt
should not » shouldnt must not » mustnt
Modal verbs have no proper past tense; however, could, would, might and should may be used to refer to past time:
I could swim when I was five.
Modal verbs have no infinitive, -ing or past participle forms and cannot be followed by other modal verbs. When necessary, modal idioms or other
expressions are used instead of them: If you want to be a sailor, you must can swim.
If you want to be a sailor, you must be able to swim.
I have canned swim since the age of five.
I have been able to swim since the age of five. b. SEMI-MODAL VERBS
The semi-modal verbs or marginal modals are: dare, need, used to and ought to. They behave similarly to modal verbs but also share some
characteristics with main verbs:
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How dare she criticise us?
as a modal verb, the interrogative formed without do
He didnt dare to look back.
as a main verb, followed by a to-infinitive and the negative formed with do
Need you make so much noise?
as a modal verb, the interrogative formed without do
You neednt have been so rude.
as a modal verb, the perfect infinitive used to refer to past time
Do you need to use the hairdryer?
as a main verb, followed by a to-infinitive and the interrogative formed with do
They used to live by the sea.
unlike a modal verb, followed by a to-infinitive
You ought to know that by now.
unlike a modal verb, followed by a to-infinitive
c. OTHER MODAL EXPRESSIONS
Besides modal verbs and semi-modal verbs, there are other expressions which can express modal meanings. Some of these are formed with be:
be able to be allowed to
be about to be bound to
be going to be likely to
be obliged to be supposed to
etc. Other expressions that carry modal meanings are: be to, had better, have
got to, would rather. Sumber: http:www.grammaring.comtypes-of-modals
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MODAL VERBS MEANING 3.
We often use modal verbs or other modal expressions when we want to express an opinion or attitude about a possible fact or to control a possible action. All
modal expressions are about the speaker’s or writer’s view of the world.
Tabel 2 Meaning Modality in a sentence
He is HHe is her brother, She told
me. I know this fact for certain. I am not expressing
an opinion about it. I am stating it as a fact.
He must be her brother. They look
so much alike. I am expressing an opinion about a fact
because of the evidence that I have.
Jan always goes with us.
I’m not expressing an attitude or opinion about this action.
OK. Jan can go if she’s finished.
I’m controlling a possible action. I’m giving Jan permission.
We can divide most modal words and expressions into two types of meaning: The speaker or writer decides how certain something is, either in the present,
future or past. They predict or speculate about a fact. We see this type of meaning when we talk about degrees of certainty, possibility, likelihood,
doubt:
Paula can’t be home yet. It’s impossible. She left 10 minutes after us
[The speaker hears the phone ring and predicts who is ringing.]
There’s the phone. That’ll be Mum. I may go. I haven’t decided yet.
The speaker or writer wants to control or ‘direct’ the action. They give and refuse permission. They talk about obligation and necessity. They talk about
how they would like the world to be: [parent says to child]
You can come if you’re good. He should take more care.
Tell Jen she needn’t bother about the washing up. You mustn’t worry so much about her.
You may go now. formal
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Often the same modal verb is used to express different meanings.
Tabel 3 Modality in the sentence
Meaning Which
Verb? Example
really certain
Will My birthday will be on a Monday this year.
won’t I won’t have a party.
shall I shall have plenty to tell you when I see you.
shan’t I shan’t ask you to come again.
must The cakes must be ready soon. They’ve been in the
oven for an hour. can’t
You can’t be hungry. You had a huge lunch.
very likely should
The traffic isn’t heavy. We should be there in an hour.
ought to The traffic isn’t heavy. We ought to be there in an
hour. possible
may She may be a friend of Richard’s.
might She might be a friend of Richard’s.
could She could be a friend of Richard’s.
strong obligation
must You must arrive at 6 to pick up the tickets.
have to I have to go up to the hospital twice a week.
need to We need to win this game to get into the final.
weak obligation
should Children should look after their parents in old age.
ought to Children ought to look after their parents in old age.
no obligation
needn’t I needn’t do it now. I’ll do it later.
don’t need to
I don’t need to do it now. I’ll do it later.
don’t have to
I don’t have to do it now. I’ll do it later.
permission can Can we go out now?
You can go now if you’ve finished.
may You may go now if you’ve finished.
May I borrow a chair?
could Could we borrow the car?
