Rules for Modals
1. Should
a) is used as a past equivalent of 'shall'
the first
For e-g. I expected that I should(would is more common to use) get
position in my class.
b) to express duty or obligation
e.g. We should follow the rules and order.
e-g. We should listen to our elders.
C) is used to refer to a possible event or situation
hesitate to call.
e.g. In case you should need any help, here's my number. Do not
d) the perfect infinitive structure is used to showa past obligation that was not
fulfilled
e.g. I should have finished this book by Sunday.
2. Would
a) is used as a past equivalent of 'will'
month.
e.g. He promised me that he wouldget those new pair of sneakers next
b) toask for someone's permission (more polite than 'will'; invitations or
offers
e.g. Would you lend me your dress for the ball?
e.g. Would you like a sandwich?
c) is used for talking about the result of an event that you imagine
e.g. If youaccepted his offer, he would be happy.
d) With 'wish'
e.g. Iwish she would
come to my party.
e) the perfect infinitive structure is used to describe a
possible action or event
that did not in fact happen because something else did not
happen first
e.g. If Rahul hadn't called me yesterday, I would have missed today's lecture.
3. Must
a) toexpress obligation and necessity
e.g. Tomorrow (at 8 a.nm.) is your exam; you must wake up early tomorrow.
b) to show logical certainty.
e.g. Icannot see Rakesh anywhere. He must have left already.
4. Ought to
a) to show moral obligation or desirability
e.g. We ought to love our countrymen.
b) toshow probability
e.g. He ought to be home by seven o'clock.
5. Used to
a) is used to show a discontinued habit
e.g. When I was a child, Iused to bite my nails.
6. NEED - Used to Show Necessity or Obligation. (Semi-Modal)
Rules for Modals
1.Should
a) is as a past equivalent of 'shall'
used
Or e-g. Iexpected that I should (would is more common to use) get the first
position in my class.
b) to express duty or obligation
e.g.We should follow the rules and order.
e.g. We should listen to our elders.
c) is used to refer to apossible event or situation
call.
e.g. In case youshould need any help, here's my number. Do not hesitate to
d) the perfect infinitive structure is used to show a past obligation that was not
fulfilled
e.g. I should have finished this book by Sunday.
2. Would
a) is used as a past equivalent of will'
e.g. He promised me that he would get those new pair of sneakers next month.
b) to ask for someone's permission (more polite than 'will); invitations or
offers
e.g. Would you lend me your dress for the ball?
e.g. Would you like a sandwich?
c) isused for talking about the result of an event that you imagine
e.g. If you accepted his offer, he would be happy.
d) Withwish'
e.g. Iwish she would come to my party.
e) the pertect infinitive structure is used to describe a possible action or event
that did not in fact happen because something else did not happen irst
e.g. If Rahul hadn't called me yesterday, Iwould have missed today's lecture.
3. Must
a) to express obligation and necessity
e.g. Tomorrow (at 8 a.m.) is your exam; you must wake up early tomorrow.
b) to show logical certainty.
e.g. Icannot see Rakesh anywhere. He must have left already.
4. Ought to
a) toshow moral obligation or desirability
e.g. We ought to love our countrymen.
b) toshow probability
e.g. He ought to be home by seven o'clock.
5. Used to
a) is used to showa discontinued habit
e.g. When I was a child, I used to bite my nails.
6. NEED - Used to Show Necessity or Obligation. (Semi-Modal)
I. Without do
" used in negative, interrogative and sentences that have 'hardly:scarcely/
only'.
An infinitive without to follows the word "need."
e-g. Ineed not go to his wedding.
II. With do
"Need is used with a "to-infinitive" and has the regular forms needs and
needed as a finite verb
e.g. Ido not need to do this today.
Perfect structures of need (with and without 'do'): FOR PAST
Need not have - it means that someone did it, but it was not necessary.
e.g. You needn't have washed the dishes. I would've put them in the
dishwasher.
Didn't need to - to say that something was not necessary under circumstances
where it was not done
e.g. We had plenty of petrol in the tank so I didn't need to fill it up.
Modal Verbs Chart
TO EXPRESS POWER
Can TOEXPRESS THE SENSE OF "TO
GIVE PERMISSION"
POSSIBILITY"
TOEXPRESS HABITS AND
NATURE
PAST TENSE FORM OF CAN
Could TO EXPRESS PAST ABILITY AND
CAPACITY
TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF
POLITE REQUEST
TOEXPRESS PRESENT
POSSIBILITY IN THE PRESENT
UNREAL SITUATION BY
THREATSEXPRESSING
SENTENCES
TO EXPRESS THE SENSEOF "TO
TAKE OR GIVE PERMISSION"
May TO EXPRESS THE SENSEOF
POSSIBILITY
TO EXPRESS WISH, PRAY, BLESS
ANDCURSE
TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF
UNCERTAINTY OR SURPRISE
USED AS THE PAST TENSE FORM
OF MAY
Might TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF
LESS POSSIBILITY
TO EXPRESS THE SENSE
OF POLITE REQUEST AND
PERMISSION
AN
TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF
ACTION, ABUSINESS AND AN
EVENT
Shall
USED IN THE QUESTION TAG OF
LET US OR LET's STARTING
USED WITH THE SUBJECT OF
FIRST PERSON TO EXPRESS
DETERMINATION, PROMISE,
Will THREATENING, AND
WILLINGNESS.
TOEXPRESS THE SENSE OF
REQUEST, INSTRUCTION,
ORDERS AND INEVITABILITY.
AST TENSE FORM OF VWILL
Would TO EXPRESS PAST HABIT,
PROBABILITY,WISH,
DETERMINATION, PAST
WILLINGNESS, CHOICE, AND A
SENSE OF REFUSAL.
USED AS A PAST TENSE FORM
OF SHALL
Should
TO EXPRESS PAST DUTY, SENSE
OF "TO GIVE",SUPPOSITION,
POSSIBILITY, PURPOSE AND
RESULT
USED AFTER LEST TO EXPRESS
NEGATIVE PURPOSE.
TO EXPRESS FORMAL NOTICES
OR INSTRUCTION.
TO EXPRESS MORAL OBLIGATION,
STRONG POSSIBILITY, ADVICE.
LOGICAL NECESSITY,
Ought To
TO EXPRESS COMPULSION AND
STRONG MORAL OBLIGATION
Must TO EXPRESS FIXED
DETERMINATION, DUTY,
CERTAINTY, STRONG
LIKELIHOOD, AND A SENSE OF
INEVITABILITY.
TO EXPRESS PAST HABITS AND
SITUATION
Used To
