Modal verbs

Question 1

What modal verbs are there in English?

Answer 1

can (could)
may (might)
must -
shall 
should (ought to)
will (would)
need not

Question 2

What do modal verbs express?

Answer 2

They express ability, necessity, obligation, duty, request, permission, advice, desire, probability, possibility, etc. Modal verbs express the speaker’s attitude to the action indicated by the main verb.

Question 3

Modal verbs sometimes are called ‘defective verbs’. Why?

Answer 3

Because they do not have all the functions of main verbs. They can’t be used without a main verb, can’t form gerunds or participles, and do not have any endings to show person, number, or tense.

Question 4

How do you create a question with modal verbs? Do you need auxiliary verb?

Answer 4

Modal verbs form questions without the help of the other auxiliary verbs. For example: Can you do it? May I take it? Should I go there?

Question 5

Which tense doesn’t ‘have’ modal verbs?

Answer 5

Modal verbs do not have the future tense form. The future is expressed by the present tense forms with the help of the context and adverbs of time referring to the future. e.g. Can I go there tomorrow?/They should call her tomorrow.

Question 6

What are the substitutes of modal verbs?

Answer 6

“be able to, have to, have got to, had better, be to, be supposed to, be going to, used to”, the adverbs “probably, maybe”

The most important use of substitute phrases is in those cases where modal verbs can’t be used. e.g. Maria must go to the bank today. - She had to go to the bank yesterday.

Question 7

What difference is between the verb and modal verb when they are used in Present Simple?

Answer 7

You never add the -s ending to the modal verb

Question 8

What about infinitive? (verb+to)

Answer 8

You don’t use infinitive with modal verbs, except from ought TO