Modal auxiliary verbs are used to moderate the main verb, that is to enhance or restrict the verb to a certain context.
The most common modal auxiliaries in English are:
| can could | may should | might will | must would |
Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences:
I pay my taxes. | General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is something I normally do. | |
I can pay my taxes. | Expresses ability. I have the means (funds) to pay. | |
I might pay my taxes. | Expresses possibility, but not certainty. Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't. | |
I will pay my taxes. | Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it at some later time. | |
I should pay my taxes. | Expresses mild obligation. It is required, and I expect to comply. | |
I could pay my taxes. | Expresses possibility. If I have nothing else to do with the money, I might pay taxes. | |
I would pay my taxes. | (In this case), expresses reservation. If I had the money (but I don't). . . | |
I must pay my taxes. | Expresses strong obligation. I am required and have to comply. |
| Modal | Nature | Contraire | Exemples |
|---|---|---|---|
be able to | possibilité | cannotou be unable to | I was able to prevent the theft but I was unable to arrest the thief. |
can | possibilité, capacité | cannot | Birds can fly; monkeys cannot. |
permission | cannotou may not | Can I watch TV? No, you can't. | |
could | possibilité, capactié | could not | Could there be a virus in this file? No, there couldn't; I ran the anti-virus. |
possibilité (passé) | could not | Could dodo birds fly? No, they couldn't. | |
permission | cannotou may not | Could I open the window? No, you may not. | |
had better | conseil | had better not | You had better get moving, if you don't want to be late. You had better not be late. |
have to, have got to | obligation (origine externe) | must not | I have to pay my taxes before the end of March. Origine externe: les lois de l'état. |
must | nécessité, forte probabilité | cannot | A is bigger than B which is bigger than C, so A must be bigger than C. C cannot be bigger than A. |
obligation (origine interne) | must not | Teacher to pupil: "You must come to school on time; you must not be late". Origine interne: le professeur qui parle décide. | |
may | possibilité | cannot | It may rain. It can't possibly be 8 PM, I'm only half ready. |
permission, requête | cannot | May I speak to Mrs X, please? No, youcan't, she's not in. | |
might | possibilité (faible) | cannot | I might come to your party if I can get off work on time. |
permission | may not | Might I borrow your laptop? | |
ought to | devoir, conseil | ought not to | You ought to apologize to your sister for having hurt her feelings. |
déduction logique | cannot, could not | That ought to be enough petrol to last us until we get to Lyons. | |
should | conseil | should not | You should spend more time on your homework. |
déduction logique | cannot, could not |
Learn English Grammar : Modals
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