Modal Verbs: Meaning, Characteristics, and List, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica Modal Verbs: Meaning, Characteristics, and List e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! Modal verbs and their meaning Modal verbs Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions. Here are some characteristics of modal verbs: 1) They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"... 2) They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.) 3) They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability List of modal verbs Here is a list of modal verbs: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to the above list Use of modal verbs: Modal verbs are used to express functions such as: Permission; Ability; Obligation; Prohibition; Lack of necessity; Advice; possibility; probability. Modal verbs Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive. Examples: You must stop when the traffic lights turn red. You should see to the doctor. There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any. Must strong obligation; certainty you must stop smoking; you must be here now.. Must not prohibition You must not walk on the grass Can possibility; ability; permission I can buy this bag; Ican swim; I can go out tonight Could FOrmal question, “can” at the past, Probability Could I have a coffe? When I was younger I could jump accross the rivers It could rain today May Probability, Polite request I may not to be ready al 11 tomorrow. May I have a coffe? Might Probability, something not really probable I might kill somebody .. Need to Possibility, necessity, most of thetimes lack of necessity You don’t need to argue, You need to pay more attention Should to/Ought to ADVICE, 50% obbligation “I should tidy up”, “you should wear a warm coat today” Had better Advice: You had better leave that guy (no “You had better to go to London”)