Modals: Uses of Modals with Examples - 1 | English Grammar Advanced - Class 10 PDF Download

Definition: Modals are special verbs that are different from normal verbs. They are never used alone and are always followed by a principal verb. They provide additional information about the principal verb. They are used to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity and ability.

The List of the Modals with their Positive and Negative forms is given below:

⇨ Uses of Modal ‘Will’:

• The first rule for the use of Modal ‘will’ is that it expresses pure future with second and third person as subjects.
• The second rule for use of Modal ‘will’ is that it shows willingness, intention, promise, determination with the first person as a subject.
• The third and last use of Modal ‘will’ is that it tells about the characteristic, habit, assumption, invitation or request and insistence.

Examples of Modal ‘Will’ are given below:
1) You will die of a heart attack. (Pure Future)
2) The prime minister will hoist the flag. (Pure Future)
3) I will meet you again. (Promise)
4) I will need your help. (Willingness/ intention)
5) He will achieve his goals. (Determination)
6) A child will usually obey his parents. (Characteristic habit)
7) He will be here at any moment. (Assumption)
8) Will you go with me. (Request)
9) He will not listen to his teacher’s advice. (Insistence)

⇨ Uses of Modal ‘Would’:

• The rule for the use of Modal ‘would’ is that it expresses past habits, polite request, wish/ preference or an imaginary condition.

Examples of Modal ‘Would’ are given below:
1) He would wake up early in the morning and go to work. (Past habits)
2) My mother would always make me my favourite dishes. (Past habits)
3) Would you get me a glass of water, please? (Polite request)
4) I would like to see the owner. (Polite request)
5) I wish you would be here. (Wish)
6) I would rather have food at home than outside. (Preference)
7) I would buy a house if I won the lottery. (Preference)

⇨ Uses of Modal ‘Shall’:

• The first rule for the use of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it expresses pure future with the first person as the subject.
• The second rule for the use of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it is used to ask for advice, suggestions, requests, etc. with the first person in the interrogative.
• The third rule for the use of Modal ‘Shall’ is that it is used to express command, threat, warning, promise, assurance, determination, etc. with the second and third person as the subjects.

Examples of Modal ‘Shall’ are given below:
1) We shall go to school tomorrow. (Pure Future)
2) I shall teach you to dance. (Pure Future)
3) Shall I bring a glass of fresh juice for you? (Request)
4) Shall I close the door? (Advice)
5) Shall we go to the market tomorrow? (Suggestion)
6) You shall get a reward for your achievement. (Promise/ Assurance)
7) You shall go to your room. (Command)
8) They shall win the match. (Determination)

⇨ Uses of Modal ‘Should’:

• The first rule for the use of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is used to express duty, obligation, advisability or desirability.
• The second rule for the use of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is used to express logical interference, supposition, assumption, possibility or probability.
• The third rule for the use of Modal ‘Should’ is that it is used to express a purpose after ‘lest’.

Examples of Modal ‘Should’ are given below:
1) We should go to school every day. (Duty)
2) You should not be late for work. (Obligation/ Desirability)
3) You should exercise more often. (advisability)
4) He should be at the office by now. (Possibility)
5) If he should see me there, he will be happy. (Probable Condition)
6) Leave on time, lest you should miss the train. (should after lest) 

⇨ Uses of Modal ‘May’:

• The rule for the use of Modal ‘May’ is that it is used to express possibility, permission, wish, faith, hope or a purpose.

Examples of Modal ‘May’ are given below:
1) It may snow in the evening. (Possibility)
2) May I go now, sir? (Permission)
3) May God always be with you. (Wish, faith or hope)
4) He is working hard so that he may get an appraisal. (Purpose)