Centro de Competncias de Artes e Humanidades

Name: Maria Jos Leonor Pedro PereiraN: 2041012Course: English Applied LinguisticsCourse Director: Doctor Alcina SousaDate: 16th May 2015

Table of contents

i. Introductionii. Definitioniii. The uses of modal auxiliariesiv. The modal auxiliariesv. Conclusion

IntroductionThe aim of this presentation is to identify and analyze each modal verb by providing a detailed definition of all modal verbs mentioned, including also the different uses of each and various examples in order to better understand the differences between them.DefinitionA modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality, for example: permission, possibility, ability.There are two kinds of auxiliary verbs. The modal auxiliaries and the primary or non-modal auxiliaries. The modal auxiliaries verbs are: can, may, must, shall, will, need, dare, used to, and ought to. The primary auxiliaries verbs are: do, have and be. Since most auxiliary verbs can also function as lexical verbs, it will be useful to mention some of the differences in behavior in between auxiliary verbs and lexical verbs;1. In questions an auxiliary verb can move in front of the subject NP. A lexical verb cannot;2. In negative sentences, the negative particle (not or nt) is attached to an auxiliary verb but never to a lexical verb.Modal auxiliaries are distinguished from the primary auxiliaries and lexical verbs in always carrying tenses. They do not have untensed (non-finite) forms. Some modal have both a present tense form and a past tense form: PresentCan Will Shall May

PastCouldWouldShould Might

The other modals, for example must and need do not even have a past tense form but just the present tense form already given.A further peculiarity of modals is that they do not exhibit subject-verb agreement. That is they do not change their form in the present tense even with a third person singular, (so we have he can go not he cans go). Finally the verb following the modal verb in the verb group appears in its basic stem form. This applies whether the following verb is the lexical verb itself or another auxiliary verb.

The uses of modal auxiliariesCan1. Ability = be able to, be capable to, know how to;Example: He can speak English but he can`t write it very well. (He is able to speak/ capable of speaking.)2. Permission = be allowed to, be permitted to.Example: Can I smoke in here? (Am I allowed to smoke in here?)3. Theoretical possibilityExample: The road can be locked. (It is possible to block the road.) Could1. Past ability - I never could play the banjo.2. Present or future permissions Could I smoke in here?3. Present possibility- We could go to the concert. ; The road could be blocked.4. Contingent possibility or ability in unreal conditions If we had more money, we could buy a car.Note: a) Ability can bring in the implication of willingness. Example: Can/ could you do me a favor?b) Past permission is sometimes expressed by could.

May1. Permission = be allowed to (in this sense may is more formal than can.)Example: You may borrow my car if you like.

2. Possibility (usually factual)Example: The road may be blocked. (It is possible that the road is blocked)Might 1. Permission (rare)Example: Might I smoke in here.2. Possibility (theoretical and factual)Example: We might to go to the concert. / What you say might be true. Note:a) May and might are among the modal auxiliaries which involve the differences of meaning in passing from declarative to interrogative or negative;b) There is a rare use of may as a quasi-subjunctive auxiliary, eg to express wish, wish normally in positive sentences: May he never set foot in this house again

Shall1. Willingness on the part of the speaker in the second and third person. Example: He shall get his money. / You shall do exactly as you wish.2. Intention on the part of the speakerExample: We shall let you know our decision. / We shall overcome.3. Legal or quasi-legal injunctionExample: The vendor shall maintain the equipment in good repair.Note: Of these three meanings it is only the one of intention that is widely used today. Shall is, on the whole and especially outside BrE, an infrequent auxiliary with restricted use compared with should, will and would; Will is generally preferred, except in first person questions: Shall / Will I come at once?Shall asks for instructions, and will is non-volitional future (especially in AmE).

Should1. Obligation and logical necessity (=ought to)Example: You should do as he says.2. Contingent use (=would)Example: We should love to go abroad if we had the chance.3. In rather formal real conditionsExample: If you should change your mind, please let us know.

Will1. Willingness. Used in polite requests.Example: He will help you if you ask him. / will you have another cup of coffee?2. Intention Example: Ill write you as soon as I can. / He wont stay longer than two hours.3. Insistence Example: He will do it, whatever you say. (He insists on doing it) 4. Predictiona) Specific prediction: The game will be finished.b) Timeless prediction: Oil will float on water.c) Habitual prediction: He will talk for hours if you give him the chance. Would1. Willingness Would you excuse me?2. Insistence Its your own fault: you would take the baby with you.3. Characteristic activity in the past Every morning he would go for a long walk. ( it was customary.)4. Probability that would be his mother. Note: Volition with preference is expressed with would rather. Example: A- Would you like tear or would you rather have coffee? B- I think Id rather have tea.

Must1. Obligation or compulsion in the present tense. (= be obliged to.)Example: You must be back by 10 oclock.There are two negatives: (1) not be obliged to neednt , dont have toExample: You neednt / dont have to be back by 10 oclock.(2) Be obliged not to mustnt 2. Logical necessity There must be a mistake.Ought toFor obligation; logical necessity or expectationExample: You ought to start at once. / They ought to be here by now. Note: Ought to and should both denote obligation and logical necessity, but are less categorical than must and have to. Ought to is often felt to be awkward in question involving inversion, and should is preferred. Still less categorical than ought had better / best (plus bare infinitive) : A: Must you go?B: Well, I dont have to, but I think Id better (go).

Need for obligation; can be both an auxiliary and an ordinary verb; as an auxiliary it is a semi modal (has both modal and ordinary verb forms);As a modal its forms are: need or need not/needntExample: I neednt wear a coat. / Need I tell Tom? Dare Is conjugated like an ordinary verb (dare/dares) and dared in the past; In the negative and interrogative form it can be conjugated either like an ordinary verb or like an auxiliary; Example: Negative: present do/does not dare dare not past did not dare dared not Interrogative : Present do you /does he dare? dare you/he? Past - did you / did he dare? dared you/he Dare can also express indignation:Example: How dare you open my letters? (I am angry with you for opening them.);How dared he complain? (I am indignant because he complained.)Used To express a discontinued habit or a past situation which contrasts with the present Example: I used to smoke cigarettes; now I smoke a pipe To express a past routine or patternExample: Every morning Tom used to kiss Ann and set off for work The modal auxiliariesNon-negative Uncontracted negative Contracted negative

Can Cannot, can notCant

CouldCould notCouldnt

MayMay notMaynt

MightMight notMightnt

ShallShall notShant

ShouldShould notShouldnt

WillWill notWont

WouldWould notWouldnt

MustMust notMustnt

Ought to Ought not toOughtnt to

Used to Used not toUsednt to / didnt use to

NeedNeed notNeednt

DareDare notDarent

ConclusionIn a brief explanation modal verbs are those verbs which express the mode and the manner of the actions indicated by the main verbs. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, and obligation between others.

References Noel, R. (1986). Analysing Sentences: An Introduction to English Syntax, England: Longman Inc. Print form. Quirk,R., Greenbaum,S., Leeh,G.,Svartvik.J.,(1985). A comprehensive grammar of the English language, USA: Longman Inc. Print form. Randolph, Q. Sidney, G. (1973). A University Grammar of English, England: Longman Group. Print form. Thomson,A., Martinet,A.(1986). A practical English Grammar, Oxford:Oxford University. Print form.