Modal Auxiliaries

Syllabus tag: Kenya CBC | Grade 9 English | Theme 3.0 Environmental Conservation | Strand 3.3 Grammar | Sub-Strand 3.3.1 Modal Auxiliaries (2 Lessons)

Lesson objectives

By the end of this sub-strand, you should be able to:

• Identify modal auxiliary verbs in sentences.
• Explain the meanings modals express, including ability, permission, obligation and possibility.
• Use modal auxiliaries correctly in speech and writing.
• Appreciate how modals adjust the force of a statement.

Summary

A modal auxiliary is a helping verb placed before a main verb to show ability, permission, obligation, possibility, advice or prediction. The nine core modals are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would and must. They behave unlike ordinary verbs: they take no s in the third person, they are followed by the bare infinitive, and they form questions and negatives without do. Choosing among them is largely a matter of how strong you intend to be.