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Question
Pick out the modal auxiliary and state its function.
(i) Students must be punctual in their work.
(ii) You can do that work easily.
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Solution
(ii) must - compulsion\obligation 01
(ii) can - ability
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Fill in the blank with appropriate modal auxiliaries according to the situation given in the following sentence.
People _______ walk on the grass.
Primary Auxiliary Verbs are ‘be’, ‘have’, and ‘do’ which occur most commonly and can also be used as a main verb in a clause.
Go through the sentences given below and say whether the verbs are the main verbs or primary auxiliary verbs.
I was immensely impressed.___
Read the given sentences:
- Does Sam write all his own reports?
- The secretaries haven’t written all the letters yet.
- Terry is writing an e-mail to a client at the moment.
The verbs in bold are broadly used to express tense. ‘Do’ can also be used for adding emphasis, as in “I do know the answer.” The verbs “be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are called Primary Auxiliaries. When helping verbs are used to express the mode or action, they are called Modals.
- You shall have a holiday tomorrow. (Simple Future)
- We should obey our elders. (Obligation)
- I can play the piano. (Ability)
- Could you open the window, please? (Request).
In the above examples, the modals indicate the expressions given in brackets. There are other modals that are used for expressions.
Study the given table carefully and do the activities that follow.
| Modals less definite to more definite | Expressions |
| can, could | ability |
| should | advise, obligation |
| shall, will | futurity, determination |
| would | habitual past, request |
| may, might | permission, possibility |
| must, have to | compulsion |
| used to | habitual past |
| ought to | obligation |
| need to | necessity |
| dare to | courage |
(a) Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals according to the situations given in the following sentences.
- Take an umbrella. It _______ rain later.
- People _______ walk on the grass.
- _______ I ask you a question?
- The signal has turned red. You _______ wait.
- I was a sportsperson in my school days. I ________ play badminton.
- I am going to the library. I _______ find my friend there.
(b) Find from the text, the sentences that show past habit.
Expand the following into its full form.
that’s
Expand the following into its full form.
didn’t
Expand the following into its full form.
I’ve
Write the shortened form of the following.
It is
Write the shortened form of the following.
will not
Study the different uses of ‘could’. Identify what it indicates.
Abhi could perform well in his school days. (suggestion/past ability)
Neeraj Chopra may not participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.
(Choose the correct option from the following sentences which uses a more definite modal auxiliary.)
