Modals

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All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.

Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.

The modal verbs are:-

CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / SHALL / SHOULD / OUGHT TO / WILL / WOULD

|Modal |Example |Uses |

|Can |They can control their own budgets. |Ability / Possibility |

| |We can’t fix it. |Inability / Impossibility |

| |Can I smoke here? |Asking for permission |

| |Can you help me? |Request |

|Could |Could I borrow your dictionary? |Asking for permission. |

| |Could you say it again more slowly? |Request |

| |We could try to fix it ourselves. |Suggestion |

| |I think we could have another Gulf War. |Future possibility |

| |He gave up his old job so he could work for us. |Ability in the past |

|May |May I have another cup of coffee? |Asking for permission |

| |China may become a major economic power. |Future possibility...