What are English modal verbs?

1) Modal verbs can't express what is happening or has happened, but can only predict or estimate the occurrence of something.

2) Modal verbs can only be followed by infinitives, without to, except ought and have.

3) Modal verbs have no name and the number changes, that is, the third person singular of modal verbs does not add-s.

4) Modal verbs have no non-predicate forms, that is, there are no infinitives, participles, etc.

Compare can with being able to

1) can represent ability; Maybe (maybe in the past),

Could used in present tense and past tense. Can be used in various tenses.

They will tell you the news soon. He will be able to tell you the news soon.

2) Only

A. after the auxiliary verb.

B. After the modal verb.

C. indicates the action time of a certain time in the past.

D. Used to express conditions at the beginning of a sentence.

E. When you say that you have done something successfully, you can only use was/were to, not could.

He fled Europe before the war broke out.

He managed to escape from Europe before the war broke out.

Note: could doesn't mean tense

1) Ask politely (note that there is no could in the answer).

-Can I turn on the TV?

-Yes, you can. /No, you can't.

2) Expressing speculation or doubt in negative sentences and interrogative sentences.

He can't be a bad guy.

He is unlikely to be a bad person.

Compare may and powery

1) indicates permission or request; Expressing uncertain speculation; May is put at the beginning of the sentence to express wishes.

God bless you!

he may be at home.

Note: Maybe means speculation, not nervous. It's just less likely than in May.

2) Idiom: may/ might as well, followed by infinitive without to, meaning "might as well".

In that case, we might as well have a try.

Typical example

Peter is coming with us tonight, but he is not sure yet.

A. Must B. May C. Can D. Will

Answer B. Possibility can only be expressed in May. The meaning of this sentence can be inferred from the second half of the sentence.

Compare necessity and necessity.

1) both mean' must', which means objective needs and subjective opinions of the speaker, which is both subjective necessity.

My brother was very ill, so I had to call the doctor at midnight. My brother was very ill, so I had to call the doctor at midnight. (objectively, it needs to be done)

He said that they must work hard. He said that they must work hard. (do it subjectively)

2) Names, numbers and tenses change, but there must be only one form. But must can be used in indirect speech to express past necessity or obligation.

He had to take care of his sister yesterday.

3) In the negative structure, it is not necessary to mean "unnecessary"

"No" means "no",

You needn't tell him about it. You needn't tell him about it.

You can't tell him about it.

5 must mean speculation.

1) must is used in affirmative sentences, indicating a more confident guess and "certain".

2) When the must table infers the current state or what is happening now, MUST is usually followed by the prototype of the verb be or the progressive of the behavioral verb.

You have worked hard all day. You must be tired after working hard all day. (Speculation and judgment on the current situation)

He must be working in an office. He must be working in an office.

Comparison:

He must stay there.

He must be there now.

He must stay there.

He must stay there.

3) when must expresses his speculation about what has happened, it must be followed by the perfect tense.

I can't hear the phone. I must be asleep. I didn't hear the phone just now. I must be asleep.

4) must means speculation about what happened at some time in the past, followed by the perfect infinitive.

-Why didn't you answer my phone?

I must have been sleeping, so I didn't hear it.

5) Can't be used for negative hype.

If Tom didn't leave here until five o'clock, he must not have arrived home. If Tom hadn't left here until five o'clock, he wouldn't be home now.

6 indicates the usage of speculation.

Can, could, may, might and must must can all express speculation, and the usage is as follows:

1) Modal verb+verb prototype.

It means to speculate about the present or future situation, when verbs are usually conjunctions.

I don't know where she is. She may be in Wuhan.

2) Modal verb+verb present continuous tense.

It means speculating about what is happening now or in the future.

At the moment, our teacher must be correcting our papers.

At this time, our teacher must be correcting the test paper.

3) Modal verb+verb perfect tense.

Express speculation about the past.

By the end of next year1February, we will have finished this work.

By the end of next year1February, we may have finished this work.

The road is wet. It must have rained last night.

The ground is wet. It must have rained last night.

4) Modal verb+present perfect continuous tense of verb.

Express speculation about what happened in the past.

Your mother must have been looking for you.

Your mother must have been looking for you.

5) The negative form of speculation, and the questioning form is represented by "can't" and "can't".

Mike can't find his car because he came to work by bus this morning.

Mike must not have found his car, because he came to work by bus this morning.

Note: could, powery means not nervous when speculating, and the degree of speculation is not as good as can, may.

7 Modal verb +have+ past participle

1) may (possibly) has +donesth, can (possibly) has +donesth to indicate the past, and guess what might happen in the past time.

Philip may have been seriously injured in the car accident.

Philip may have been seriously injured in the car accident.

2) Must have done something, and the speculation about what might have happened in the past has a strong tone, which means "affirmation" and "trust".

Linda has gone to work, but her bike is still there.

-She must have gone by bus.

should do sth.

We should have done something, but in fact we didn't. The negative sentence means "do something instead of doing something".

You should have been more careful in this experiment.

He thinks that old clothes should not be thrown away. )

It should be stronger than it should be in tone.

There is no need to do sth.

I dressed warmly for this trip, but I needn't have done so. It's very hot.

Want to do sth.

I wanted to finish reading this article, but I was busy at that time.

8 should and should

Both should and outcome mean "should" and can be used for all kinds of people.

-Should he go?

-Yes. I think he should.

When expressing demands and orders, the tone is gradually strengthened from should, had better and must.

The best means "the best"

Had better is equivalent to an auxiliary verb with only one form, followed by the prototype of the verb.

had better do sth

It's best not to do sth.

It's rather cold. You'd better put on my coat.

She had better not play with dogs.

It is best to have done something, which means the opposite result, meaning "this is the best".

You'd better come early.

10 would rather.

would rather

Would rather not do it.

Would rather ... than ... than.

And would rather be earlier, would rather be earlier all mean "Ning" and "Ning".

If I had a choice, I would rather not continue studying in this school.

I would rather stay here than go home. I would rather stay here than go home.

Typical example

Shall we go skating or stay at home?

-Which _ _?

A.would you like to?

This question examines the usage of modal verbs. Would rather+do something means "would rather". This question is a question, it will be ahead of schedule, so choose B.

1 1 will and will

note:

1) Yes; Willing to do = want to want, for a fixed game.

Would you like to go with me?

2) Would you ...? You want to ...? When asking for positive persuasion, some is generally used in interrogative sentences instead of any.

Do you want some cakes?

3) will is used to deny the structure, but would is generally not used. You're not a euphemism.

Won't you sit down?

12 Ways to Answer Modal Verbs

Answer this question in the affirmative and in the negative.

Need you ... Yes, I must. No, I don't need it.

You have to ... /no need.

Typical example

May I borrow your dictionary?

-Yes, of course, you _ _ _.

A. possible, possible

The answer C.could means euphemistic tone, not nervous. In the answer, of course, it shows a positive tone. When someone is allowed to do something, can and may are used to express, not could or might. Review: will is used with you to indicate a request or an order. Should is connected with you to give advice.

Should I tell John about it?

-No, you. I already told him.

A. it shouldn't, it shouldn't

A. no need, no. No, no. Don't forbid it. Shouldn't, shouldn't. Dont don't be used in this question.

Don't forget to come to my birthday party tomorrow.

- ______.

A. I can't B. I can't C. I can't D. I don't.

Answer B. will can be used as a modal verb to express requests and suggestions, or as a notional verb to express "will, will and determination".

13 modal verbs with to

There are four kinds of modal verbs with to: should, must, habit and to. If you add have got to, (=must) and able to, it is six. Their questions and negative forms should be noticed:

Must they pay the bill before the end of the month?

She/kloc-didn't play tennis until she was 0/4 years old.

You shouldn't have told her all this.

Should he see a cardiologist at once? ?

Ought itself is used as a modal verb. As notional verbs, other words must be assisted by auxiliary verbs such as do when they are questioned or denied.

Typical example

Tom shouldn't tell me your secret, but he meant no harm.

Tell others, tell others.

Answer A. Because the last sentence is the past tense, the action of telling the secret takes place in its antecedent, where the past perfect tense is used, but after the modal verb ought to, so have is used.

14 comparing needs and challenges

These two words can be used as both notional verbs and modal verbs. As modal verbs, both of them can only be used in interrogative sentences, negative sentences and conditional sentences. When need is a notional verb, the infinitive behind it must take to, while when dare is a notional verb, the to behind it can often be omitted.

1) notional verb: need (need, demand)

need to do sth.

2) Modal verb: need, only the prototype need followed by do, and the negative form is need not.

Do you need to go?

Yes, I must. No, I don't need it.

3) the passive meaning of need: need, want, require, worth (adjective) followed by do can also mean passive:

Need to do