Modal Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary verb is one which helps other verbs to make tenses, passive forms etc. There are two groups – primary auxiliaries and modal auxiliaries.

Modal auxiliaries

The verbs will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought, dare and need are usually called modal auxiliaries. They are used with other verbs to express actions, events or situations that exist only as conceptions of the mind – permissions, possibilities, certainty, ability, wishes, obligations etc. They may also express simple futurity.

  • I can swim.
  • She will come.
  • I must go now.
  • Should I call them?
  • She might come.

Modal auxiliaries have three common characteristics.

1. They are never used alone. A principal verb is either present or implied.

  • can fly an aeroplane.
  • He should behave.
  • Will you go? Yes, I will (go).

2. Modal auxiliaries have no –s in the third person singular.

  • can swim.
  • She can swim. (NOT She cans …)
  • may pass.
  • He may pass.
  • They may pass.

3. Modal auxiliaries do not have infinitives (to may, to shall etc.) or participles (maying, shalling, shalled etc.). You cannot say to shall, to must or to may.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I am Manjusha. This is my blog where I give English grammar lessons and worksheets.

1 Response

  1. October 10, 2023

    […] the negative sentence is in the simple present or simple past tense, we have to remove the auxiliary verb as […]

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