Cao Rui's special care(some useful websites)

Here comes some valuable websites:
http://www.english-for-students.com/Modal-Verb.html

http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbmodal.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals.htm

CaoRui‘s special note for modal verb

Modal verbs are very special, they do change with tense.But not everyone of them!!!!!!!!!!

As you know, "might" is the past tense of "may", "could" is the past tense of "can", "have" and "had" and etc.

For the words "should" and "would", when they are using as modal words,be careful that they are not the past tense of "shall" and "will"! You may be amazed, but that is what I get from the grammar collection.

Secondly, the modal verbs do not have particular forms for third-person singular pronoun.

For example,He can swim.
                    She should have done her homework.
                    He ought to clean his room.

Some exercise on modal verbs

1) ......... you please bring me my notebook?


(a)  Will
(b)  May
(c)  Do
(d)  Should



2) ......... you please bring me my notebook?


(a)  Should
(b)  Do
(c)  Can
(d)  Haven't



3) ......... you please bring me my notebook?


(a)  Should
(b)  Do
(c)  Can
(d)  Haven't



4) ......... you please bring me my notebook?


(a)  Shall
(b)  Could
(c)  May
(d)  Must



5) ......... you want some water?


(a)  Can
(b)  Have
(c)  May
(d)  Do



6) ......... you like some water?


(a)  Can
(b)  May
(c)  Would
(d)  Do


7) ......... I ride with you to work?


(a)  Would
(b)  Can
(c)  Let
(d)  Have


8) ......... I ride with you to work?


(a)  Does
(b)  Haven't
(c)  Allow
(d)  May



9) ......... I could ride with you to work?


(a)  Is there any way
(b)  Ain't there no way
(c)  Might there some way
(d)  Aren't there some ways



10) ......... I ride with you to work?


(a)  Will you mind if
(b)  Could you mind if
(c)  Would you mind if
(d)  Can you mind if




Answers: A,B,C,B,D,C,B,D,A,C

Examples of modal verb usage

Modal	Example
Can	They can control their own budgets.We can’t fix it. Can I smoke here? Can you help me?
Could	Could I borrow your dictionary?Could you say it again more slowly? We could try to fix it ourselves. I think we could have another Gulf War. He gave up his old job so he could work for us.
May	May I have another cup of coffee?China may become a major economic power.
Might	We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now. They might give us a 10% discount.
Must	We must say good-bye now.They mustn’t disrupt the work more than necessary.
Ought to	We ought to employ a professional writer.
Shall (More common in the UK than the US)	Shall I help you with your luggage?Shall we say 2.30 then? Shall I do that or will you?
Should	We should sort out this problem at once.I think we should check everything again. Profits should increase next year.
Will	I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk.I'll do that for you if you like. I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday. Profits will increase next year.
Would	Would you mind if I brought a colleague with me?Would you pass the salt please? Would you mind waiting a moment? "Would three o`clock suit you?" - "That’d be fine." Would you like to play golf this Friday? "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "I’d like tea please."

Uses of modal verbs

The uses of modal verbs are to indicate/show, Ability / Possibility

Inability / Impossibility

Asking for permission

Request and for Asking for permission.

Suggestion or

Necessity / Obligation
Prohibition
Saying what’s right or correct
Offer
Saying what’s right or correct
Recommending action
Uncertain prediction
instant decisions
Promise
Certain prediction
Making arrangementsInvitation
Preferences

Definition of modal verbs

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

Common Modal Verbs

Can Could May Might Must

Ought to Shall Should Will Would