Auxiliaries and Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are one of the most important sections of English grammar. That's because knowing the topic very well can help a lot in improving speaking skills and confidence while speaking. When a speaker is speaking about ability, or making requests, modal verbs are the most helpful thing. The Modal Verbs even help in making offers and asking for permissions. As these things are very important in making the speaker look confident and making his attitude towards listeners clear and visible, every student must learn and study this. 

The modal verbs are actually different from the normal verbs, that is because modal verbs are not used separately. They also do not reflect a certain action or state. They are just used to reflect the modality of it. These facts make modal verbs extremely essential for students to learn if they want to learn speaking skills and improve their English speaking. 

Importance of Language

Language is great tool mankind has invented. And the skeleton on the basis of which any language is dwelling is its grammar. Learning grammar and getting well versed with it is extremely important for anyone who is aiming to achieve success in careers where speaking skills are important. Grammar manifests itself in our everyday lives. We need grammar everywhere we go and every time we speak anything. Being able to communicate with the use of the right grammar can help the speaker come out as professional. Speaking English with correct grammar makes the listeners feel a sense of trust towards the speaker. 

This can help the speaker come out as a trustworthy and attractive character. Good speaking skills are extremely important to build charm and appear as a charismatic person. A person with great speaking skills is praised by everyone and gets into big leadership positions with minimum effort. 

Students who want to improve their English speaking skills should have to check out the study material that we offer for English grammar. Being one of the most important subjects, English grammar also helps score good marks in the examination. 

Most of the students get poor marks in English just because of their weak grammar. If a student works on the grammar part of the English subject, every other part becomes relatively easy to understand and learn. 

Types and Examples of Auxiliaries and Modal Verbs 

An Auxiliary Verb is called a 'Helping Verb'. It helps the main verb in different aspects of tenses, voices, and moods by being placed before them. Auxiliary verbs are also called special verbs or anomalous verbs. There are twelve words: be, do, have, can, may, shall, will, must, ought, used (to), need, dare.

Example:

She is wearing a blue dress. They were singing the national anthem.

They have painted their house. Dilip has been going to school.

Link Verbs Help Active Sentences Turn Into Passive Voice.

Example:

They paint the house every year. (Active)

The house is painted every year. (Passive)

The flood washed away the animals. (Active)

Animals were washed away in the flood. (Passive)

Kinds of Auxiliaries Verbs

The Auxiliaries are two kinds:

1. Primary Auxiliaries

2. Modal Auxiliaries

1. Primary Auxiliaries

Primary Auxiliaries are used as main verbs to denote time (present, past and future).

Example:
I am watching cricket on TV.

His grandfather was watering the plants on the balcony.

They are also used as main verbs or linking verbs in sentences. They change their forms according to the numbers of the persons in the subject of a sentence.

Example:
Aanya is a good dancer. It was a nice day.

Kuldeep does his homework regularly. She did the work yesterday.

The people are religious. The monks were vegetarians.

I have two sisters. I had a headache yesterday.

In the above sentences, the verbs like is, does, are, have are used as linking verbs. They perform the role of main verbs, although they are auxiliaries in origin.

The primary auxiliaries are: be, do and have.

The word 'be' can be written as: am, is, are, was, were. After 'be' auxiliaries two forms of a verb are possible. They are Present Participle - being and Past Participle - been Is/ are/ am/ was/ were + Present Participle (V + ing)

Example:
I am learning French these days.

She is jumping on the floor.

In the above examples, ing is added to the verb like learn+ing, jump+ing.

Is/ are/ am/ was/ were + Past Participle

Example:
The novel 'Merchant of Venice' is written by William Shakespeare.

The letters were written by him.

The child was looked after by her.

They are treated well by us.

In the above examples, the past participle form of a verb is used after 'be' words in passive voice.

The word 'do' can be written as: do, does, did.

• 'Do' is used in an emphatic case in a positive sentence.

• It also forms the interrogative of the Simple Present (one-word verb) and of the Simple Past (one-word verb).

• 'Do' is used in order to make a request.

• 'Do, does and did' are used in simple present or simple past tenses in negative sentences. 

Example:
I do visit the library every Sunday.  ('do' is used in emphatic case)

I don't like sweets.  (used in negative sentences)

Do you have a pen? (used as an interrogative word)

Please  come for the Diwali Part.  (used as an request)

The word 'have' can be written as: have, has, and had.The perfect form all the tenses and times (Present, Past, Future) are built with the help of have, has, had as per the following structure.

Have/ has/ had/ + Past Participle of the Main Verb Is Used in a Sentence.

Example:
I have talked to the Principal twice over the issue.

He has given us permission to organize a conference.

She had given these sweets to me before.

Note: is, are, am, was, were, has, have, had, etc. can be used with 'to infinitive'.The Structure is as follows: is/ are/ am/ was/ were/ has/ have/ had + to + Main verb

Example:
Mother is to see the doctor tomorrow.

I have to meet him today.

He has to complete his task before Sunday.

We are to move to our new house next month.

Were is used for supposition or unfulfilled desire.

The Structure is as Follows: were + subject + complement/ predicate

Example:
Were I a bird!

Were I the President!

Were she beautiful!

2. Modal Auxiliaries
Modal Auxiliaries play a very meaningful role in a grammatically correct sentence. Modal Auxiliaries denote certain feelings, moods and possibilities. Modal Auxiliaries denote certain feelings, moods and possibilities.

Unlike be, have and do, the modal auxiliaries cannot function as main verbs except in a few cases.

The modal auxiliary words are: may, can might, could, will, would, shall, should, must, used to, need, dare, ought to, used to, etc.

Example:

You can use my phone. (the italicized and underlined modal verb denotes possibility)

It may rain today. (the italicized and underlined modal verb denotes possibility)

You shall complete the task tomorrow.(the modal word denotes command or order)

My grandfather used to have a scooter. (the modal word denotes past habit)

I would visit him twice a week when he was in the hospital. (the modal word denotes frequency of past events)

I must go home now. (the italicized modal verb denotes necessity)

We must obey the law of the land. (the italicized modal verb denotes command or

order)

Rules to use Modal Verbs

Rule 1: All modal auxiliaries are followed by the base form of the verb.

Modal + Verb

Example:

I will build the house next year.

You can come to our house in the evening.

Rule 2: Two modal verbs cannot go together. One complete sentence can have only one modal verb.