Modals In The Past Form

MODALS IN THE PAST FORM

¶ What is a modals?

Modals or Modal auxiliaries are used before main verbs to add meaning to the main verbs.

ÿ EXAMPLE:

1. I will go to your house next week. (Will is a modal, it adds meaning to main verb “go”)

2. Could I break your gate now? (Could is a modal, it adds meaning to main verb “break”)

› What the patterns about the modals?

Positive => S + Modals + verb base + O/C

Negative => S + Modals + not + verb base + O/C

Interrogative => Modals + S + verb base + O/C ?

PRESENT	PAST
CAN	COULD
MAY	MIGHT
WILL	WOULD
SHALL	SHOULD

1 What the functions about some modals in present?

1. Can + Verb Base

\         To express abilities

Example : You can speak English

\         To give informal permissions

Example : You can leave the meeting now

\         To express polite informal requests

Example : Can I come to your house tonight

\         To express impossibilities (negative)

The news can’t be true

2. May + Verb Base

\         To express polite request

Example : May I borrow your book?

\         To give formal permissions

Example : You may pick the roses

\         To express certainty (less than 50%)

Example : I don’t see Brian. He may be in the teacher room

3. Will + Verb Base

\         To express certainty (50%)

Example : I will to Jakarta next moon

\         To express willingness

Example : The phone is ringing. I will pick it up

\         To express polite request

Example : Will you give me some cake, Risa?

4. Shall + Verb Base

\   To ask for a suggestion politely

Example : Shall I close the door?

\   To express future tense for subject “I” and “We”

Example : We shall gather in the school hall tomorrow.

0 What the functions about some modals in past?

1. Could + Verb Base

\         To express ability to do something

Example: I could speak English

\         To express ability, subject to certain conditions which probably do not exist

Example: I could go now, if I wanted to ( I don’t want to)

      To express polite questions

Example: Could I go to cinema, please?

\         To express polite request

Example: Could you wait the moment, please?

\         To express polite offer

Example: I could lend you my car till tomorrow

\         To express polite suggestion

Example: Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

\         To express possibility

Example: It could get very hot in Montana

2. Might + Verb Base

\         To tell possibility

Example: It might rain tonight

                I might accompany you, but it doesn’t appear very likely

\         To express polite requests

Example: Might I borrow you brush?

\         To express hesitant offer

Example: Might I help you?

\      3. Would + Verb Base

      To express wish, request (more polite than will)

Example: Would you shut the door, please?

\         To express habits in the past

Example: Sometimes he would bring me some flowers

\         Insert rather into the pattern and use this expression to express preferences

Example: I would rather visit Italia than Somalia

4. Should + Verb Base

\         To give definite advice (advisability)

Example: You should drive carefully in bad weather

\         To express the subject’s obligation or duty

Example: You should switch off the light when you leave the room