The modal verbs in English are very important because they give meaning to the main verb of a sentence and indicate possibility, ability, permission, obligation or advice. The modal verbs that are most commonly used in English are can, could, may, might, must, should. These words are always the same for all subject matter and are always followed with the base verb. They do not take any form to establish the tense but the meaning can be contextually altered.
1. Can
Out of all modal verbs, "can" is very famous and widely used by speakers mainly because it serves the purpose of expressing one's ability flags on the ground or it provides permission or possibility. It states that someone is in a position to do something or a particular situation can arise.
Uses of Can
- Ability : Most often the "can" construct is used to indicate when a certain individual is able to complete certain tasks.
- Example: She can speak three languages
- Possibility : "Can" is also used to concepts that hold or are able to hold true when the primary concepts are fulfilled.
- Example: that applying for two tickets is an option to receive that discount.
- Permission : In conversation, permission can be requested or granted using the term 'can', which is less formal than 'may'.
- Example: may I leave before the official time today?
With regards to the negative form of can, "cannot" /o "can't" accepts the denial of something being allowed or being done.
- Example: I can't attend the meeting tomorrow.
2. Could
Though 'could' is a concept signifying the past time which is usually relative to the term 'can', however, it can mean, request, suggestion(s) or making predictions.
Could Uses
- Past Ability : "Could" is said of a person who was in the situation and accomplished stated ability.
- Example: when I had the age, I could run in a very quick pace.
- Possibility : This word could denote an event, or action which is not coined as occurring – more reservation as compared to can is therefore accompanied by could.
- Example: as it is left to know the rain in the evening could cover an umbrella so be prepared.
- Suggestions : Similar to play guess mister or machakella, 'could' means not a simple option but being acts of courtesy too.
- Example: this week, we could spend our time in the cinema instead.
- Polite Requests : "Could" is often used as a more polite form of `can' when making a request or asking for permission.
- Example: Could I have assistance with that?
"Could hardly" or "couldn't" is the negative form which is usually employed to indicate something that was impossible in the past or of present but in a gentle way.
- Example: I couldn't get my keys this morning.
3. May
The term "may" is used for expressing possibility and permission in most of the cases. It is a formal verb and is mostly needed in formal writings and situations which require respect.
Uses of May
- Permission : "may" is also said to ask or give permission in such circumstances which are more formal. It is more respectful and formal than "can".
- Example: May I make use of your phone.
- Possibility : `May' also tells that the event is expected to happen, however, it has a sense of uncertainty.
- Example: She may be late because of traffic.
In its negative form `may not' means that something is allowed or is expected to take place.
- Example: You may not logout of the room before the exam is over.
Whereas "May" is an English modal verb that is more often the case in the written form than in the spoken language. This is mostly the case in adherence to rule or policy.
4. Might
"Might" is frequently regarded as "may" but with less assurance. A weaker term that expresses the possibility of something occurring is this one. It indicates chances that are distributed towards the lower end of the spectrum or rather are more speculative.
Uses of Might
- To Imperative It : In an alert way one can assert the word "might" to offer some hope or even suggest that something remains in the pipeline.
- Example: "Might" level to allow will offer only limited levels hence we will utilise it often sparingly.
- Ily : To offer a command or suggest ideas that have no power to act on "may" is the remedy. For example: I might go to the party if I finish my work in a sound manner.
- Future events : Weak speculative scenarios can be employed by the word "Might." For example, with enough certainty one could be rest assured "Might" will rest assured something will come through; "They might not come if it keeps raining."
- Finally as a farewell : As "might" already acts as a wish for the future, sometimes its positives should be allowed to dominate thinking, however the absorption levels will always be considered in the hinterlands. Hence the word "Might" could always be used in the future.
Although natural similarities between the phrases "might" and "may," there must be acknowledged the formal dissimilarities which exist between them. Consistent to its meaning, which suggests a lower degree of strength likelihood exists with the word "might" however is fairly similar to that of the word "Might."
5. Must
"Must" relates more to a strong modic in the English language hence denoting obligation, necessity or an assurance. It also encompasses the wider realms of indicators where something must exist or absolutely is functioning in its utter best form.
Several concepts can be articulated through the auxiliary 'must'. It may be argued that so called 'positive must' with the meaning of necessity can be used to express 'discursive obligation' the concepts of necessity and obligation demonstrating the modals' rather different range of strength and application. Obligation concepts appear more rule-based whereas necessity notions are more concerned with what is done because of preference. Alfred Moloney describes those narrative concepts as interrelated: requirement and obligation converged in a statement as a must resource, which the author describes as more mandatory than suggestive appealing to what is determined by the will of the majority of people as well as the author himself. Bill Drew explores another position of must considering circumstantial imperatives as sub-sets of originally discursive must representatives used 'positively' embedded into lectures and teaching practices and expresses views which other educational academics and engineering academics may also hold more generally about imperative resources of the English language.
- Example: Every driver must wear a seatbelt because it may cause injury in a collision.
- Example: It's quite late at night, so they must have arrived at home by now.
The inverted modality cum 'must not' is only concerned with deliberately put an interdiction something which one category or group of people consider inappropriate or disrespectful.
- Example: In no way must you smoke in the building where this meeting is taking place.
It is important to recognize that when considering children 'must' techniques become uncommunicative methods because other modals possess a greater nuance of feeling for those who are more advanced than children.
6. Should
Similar to must 'hurt' was the first term which expressed sadness, the second modal 'should' depicts desires, hopes and suggestions or arguments to be made becoming a more down to earth version of imperatives which both carry an underlying concept of 'moderate suffice' and aiming to not frighten marques thus supporting good communication.
Purpose of should
- Advice and recommendation . It can be argued that whenever phrases such as "should" with different meanings are used, stress is more often used when providing offers to others, especially in case one speaker's first language does not resemble the English language, which only causes frustration.
- Example: When you feel ill, you should refer to a doctor or other qualified specialist.
- Legal Obligation : Another meaning of "should" is that the person has legal or intellectual since it is less burden than "must".
- Example: Children must respect their seniors.
- Prediction : "Should" shows that someone is expected to or likely to do something.
- Example: The train should get there by six o'clock.
In the negative form, still "should," or the contraction "shouldn't" counsels against performing an act or shows that a particular act is ill-advised.
- Example: You shouldn't take too much sugar into your diet.
"Should" is somewhat gentler than those which have to be followed, hence it is useful for all those cases where suggestions are made but not necessary.
The gaps that Need Filling
These verbs, though able to perform similar functions, each carry different meanings, levels of focus or subjectivity.
- Can and could are associated with ability, starting and asking permission or possibilities, although 'could' is more polite and also used retrospectively.
- May and might are used to show future possibility where for may, the levels are higher than those for might.
- Must can relate to strong obligation or necessity but should only use for general advice or recommendations.
These modal verbs assist the language in specifying that which is possible, that which is obligatory and that which is permitted.
