Sl.
|
Modals
|
Uses
|
Examples
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1.
|
will
|
To express simple future To express an invitation To express command To express a request To express prediction To express unwillingness To express determination To indicate a certain future situation |
He
will reach there in time.
Will
you have a cup of tea with me?
You
will reach here in time.
Will
you pass this message to him?
You
will catch cold if you go out.
He
won’t return the money.
We
will fight to the last.
You
will see that they are married.
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2.
|
Shall
|
To
express simple future
To
express an offer
To
express command
To
express assurance
To
express threat
To
express certainty
|
I
shall not withdraw from the contest
Shall
I close the gate?
You
shall not touch my book.
You
shall have it in two days.
You
shall be jailed if you steal.
School
shall remain closed on Monday.
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3.
|
Would
|
To
express polite request
To
express preference
To
express a hopeless wish
To
express determination
To
express a desire
To
express a wish
To
express future in the past
To
express habitual action
|
Would
you please close the door?
I
would die rather than beg.
If
only it would stop hailing.
I
would do it at all costs.
I
would like to play for this team.
I
wish he would reach here soon.
He
asked me if I would help him.
He
would visit his parents every Monday.
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4.
|
Should
|
To
express fear (With Lest)
To
express obligation/duty
To
express probability
To
express necessity
To
express future (Condition)
To
express past of shall
To
express advice
|
Work
hard lest you should fail.
You
should help the poor.
He
should be here at this time.
Food
should be ready by nine.
Should
he run fast, he will win the race.
She
should be given this responsibility.
I
told him that I should miss the train.
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5.
|
Can
|
To
express ability/capacity
To
grant permission
To
seek permission
To
express possibility
To
express informal request
|
I
can lift this box.
You
can join today.
Can
I leave now?
It
can happen to anyone.
Can
you move your chair a bit please?
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6.
|
Could
|
To
express past of can
To
express ability not utilized in the past
To
express past ability
To
express polite request
|
I
told him that I could not do it.
You
could have secured 90 marks in the Board Exams.
He
could lift 100 kg. weight.
Could
you lend me your book.
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7.
|
May
|
To
express possibility
To
express a wish
To
express a purpose
To
seek permission
To
grant permission
|
It
may rain today.
May
God bless you!
We
eat so that we may live.
May
I come in, sir?
You
may go after you finish you work.
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8.
|
Might
|
To
express suggestion
To
express remote possibility
To
express past of may
To
express a doubtful possibility
To
express a purpose
To
express more polite form of permission
|
You
might try it again.
I
might win the lottery.
I
asked him if I might help him.
He
might come in the evening.
He
worked hard so that he might crack the AIPMT.
Might
I ask a question?
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9.
|
Must
|
To
express possibility
To
express determination
To
express necessity
To
express obligation
To
express emphatic advice
To
express duty
|
The
child must be feeling thirsty.
You
must pass with flying colours.
You
must be back by evening.
He
must clear his dues.
You
must consult the doctor.
A
priest must lead a pious life.
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10.
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Need
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is
used mostly in the negative and Interrogative sentences..
|
You
need not attend the meeting.
He
needn’t wait for me.
Need
I go there?
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11.
|
Dare
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means
‘to take courage’ or
‘venture’. It is used in the negative or Interrogative
sentences.
|
He
dare not fight with me.
Dare
he come to my house?
I
dare not oppose him.
He
will hardly dare go there again.
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12.
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Have to
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To
express compulsion or necessity
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I
have to borrow money from him.
They
don’t have to keep awake at night.
Have
you to wash your own clothes?
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13.
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Ought to
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To
express duty or desirability or moral and social obligation
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You
ought to respect your teachers.
He
ought to build a new house now.
He
ought to have helped his brother.
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14.
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Used to
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To
express a habit in the past. It is used in the past tense only.
*present habit (accustomed to)It is also used to
show
|
I
used to play chess when I was young.
I
used to live here.
*I am not used to
getting up early.
He
is used to a hard life.
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Note: Dare and Need when
used as main verbs are followed by to+infinitive. For example:
(a)
He dares to jump into the well.
(b)
He needs to go there.
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Labels: Auxiliaries/Modals/helping Verbs, Class XI, Grammar