modal auxiliaries by eguriase s. m. okaka

Modal Auxiliary

By Eguriase S. M. Okaka A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of other verbs; - are also called an auxiliary verb; as, is, am, have, be, may, can, do, must, shall, and will, in English; etre and avoir, in French; avere and essere, in Italian; estar and haber; in Spanish. Recall that auxiliaries help verbs by extending simple verbs to phrases and performing other functions.

You would notice that the auxiliaries have helped to form verb phrase. We can also use them in continuous sentences.

Modal auxiliaries are special forms of auxiliaries used to express specific meanings. They also co-occur with lexical verbs but each of them expresses the attitude of the user to an issue or something. Exercise With a partner, discuss what each of the following means. • David may pay the vendor. • David will pay the vendor. • David can pay the vendor. • David should pay the vendor. • David ought to pay the vendor. Be prepared to explain what each of these is expressing and why it is different from others. Expressing possibility The modal auxiliaries that express possibility are can / could and may / might. • Bola can travel to Abuja tomorrow. • Bola could travel to Abuja. • Bola could have travelled to Abuja. (past tense) • Bola could travel to Abuja next week. (present tense) • She may reveal the names of the winners tomorrow. • She might have revealed the names (past tense) • She might reveal the names. (future) Exercise Complete the following with am, could, may, or might. • The driver ----------------- come to pick up the items next week. • It --------------------- rain on Sunday according to the weather report. • The police -------------------- arrive earlier than the fire truck. • Susan ---------------------- replace the box. • Idemudia ------------------ have gone home. • The boy’s story -------------------- not be true. • Folake --------------------- have been eating when her friend arrived. • I --------------------- be late tomorrow. • Some student ------------------------ be travelling to Akwa Ibom State. • You ---------------------- take your lunch downstairs or in the dining room. Expressing permission We also use can / could and may / might to express permission. However it is better to use may than can. Although might can be used in the past tense, it can for the future. • Can I shut the door? • You may sit there. • You might go next week. Expressing certainty and likelihood The modal auxiliaries that expresses certainty and likelihood are should and must. • That should be Kingsley at the door. (likelihood) • That must be Kingsley at the door. (certainty) Exercise Complete the following using should, may and might. • You ---------------------- take as much as you want. • That --------------------- be Mrs. Anioma on the phone. • The party -------------------- have ended by now. • The players ---------------------- be on their way. • --------------------- I take the bag. • Tope left home at 6, and someone is at the gate. That --------------- be Tope. • The guests ------------------ come in now. • Agnes ------------------------ borrow the car Friday. • It -----------------------be the neighbor’s cat on the roof. • Sheila ------------------------ not see me before 10 a.m. Expressing obligation / necessity Have to, must and should are the modal auxiliaries used to express obligation and necessity. Examples • You have to behave well at the meeting. • The boys must present the receipt for the payment. • Everyone should be seated by 10 O’ clock. You can ask if something is really necessary using must and have to. Examples • Must you go there on Saturday? • Did John have to marry Mary? Exercise Use either must, may or would in the following. • The painters ------------------ complete the work before the others come back. • ------------------------ you shout all the time? • Aminu ------------------- have taken the parcel. • I said I --------------------- buy the fruits. • Everybody --------------- be well dressed on Tuesday. Advising someone The modal auxiliaries used to advise someone are should, ought to, and had better. • You should study hard this term. • The man ought to forgive his brother. • We had better see the Principal before Thursday. Note that had better is used for a special situation. The sentence example implies that it is risky if we do not see the principal before Thursday. Should can be used for different situation. Expressing a request We use the modal auxiliaries can / could and will / would to make a request. Note that can and will are used in informal situation (with friends and relations) and could would are used in formal situations (with unfamiliar people). • Can you wash these plates? (inform) • Could you wash these plates? (formal) • Will you keep these boxes? (informal) • Would you keep these boxes? Recall that we use will to express a future action or commitment. Example I will clear the store tomorrow. Modals can also be used in questions tags, affirmatives sentences and negative sentences.

Exercise 1 Complete the following using had better, ought to, would or will. • You --------------------- see a doctor immediately. • The novel is interesting. You ------------------------ read it. • There is heavy traffic now. We ----------------- take another route. • I ------------------------- clear the debris before the inspectors come. • Danladi ----------------- apologize to his neighbor. • --------------------- you buy some books for me? • She ------------------ refund the payment. • The caterers --------------------- have arrived by now. • I ---------------------- tell you everything in the afternoon. • They ----------------------- tell the truth now. From the types, function and examples of modals in this article, you would have noticed the following points: • Speakers can choose modals that are appropriate to their attitude to a topic or an issue. • Modals must occur with another verb (a lexical verb / main verb). • Modals cannot be used in the progressive form, that is –ing. • The modals in a phrase changes for tense but lexical verb will always be in the simple. • One modal can express different meanings. For examples, can express ability, possibility and request. Exercise 2 Use the context modal in the following. • You --------------- go with the dance group. A shall B can C will • I cannot do the work alone. -------------- you help me? A will B would C can • Jane looks tired. I think she ------------- go and rest. A can B should C will • Bola --------------------- not have stolen the money. She was not even around on that day. A has B could C shall • I am travelling in the afternoon; -------------- you represent me at the meeting. A must B could C shall • Mrs. Ogechukwu is always reliable. She -------------- arrive soon. A could B will C must • I am travelling in the afternoon; ------------------- you represent me at the meeting. A must B could C shall • You ------------------------ pay your school fees before resumption. A could B have to C do • My room is hot, ---------------- I rest in yours? A would B could C must • If there are no problems, we --------------------- complete the task on Friday. A should B might C must • It was my fault. I --------------- have gone there early. A couldn’t B shouldn’t C didn’t • I want to buy a game. --------------------- you advise me on which one to buy? A could B have to C may • Everyone ---------------eat food to replace energy. A can B should C shall • Some animals --------------------- mimic people. A may B can C shall • I used to be a good athlete. I ---------------- run 10 miles. A shall B can C could • Our maid --------------- go to school in order to improve. A can B have to C will • I think you ---------------- join the drama club. A shall B should C should • I need a pencil. --------------------- I borrow yours? A should B may C can • Students ---------------- okay the school rates. A can B could C must • Your dog looks sick. You ------------------- take him to a vet. A might B had better C may • The purse found ---------------- be Jane’s. A must B ought to C will By Eguriase S. M. Okaka