USE OF MODAL VERBS

1. HAVE/HAS TO: is used to express obligation or necessity in the

present/future tense, e.g.,
 We have to obey the laws.
 He has to be there at 10 O’clock.

The difference between have to & must –

Both of these verbs expresses an obligation, but must expresses an
obligation imposed by the speaker himself e.g.,
 I must take leave of you now.

Have to expresses an external obligation, e.g.,

 Muslims have to go to a mosque on Friday.

Have to is also used for habits, e.g.,

 We have to water the plants daily.

2. HAD TO: is used to represent obligation/necessity in past tense.

 We had to hurry to catch the train.
 I had to buy a new book last Monday.

3. WILL: With the second person/third person shows simple future

tense,e.g.,
  She will go to the temple tomorrow.
 You will get a house soon.

Will in the first person shows a threat, e.g.,

 I will see you in the Police Station.
 I will punish you, if you do not improve yourself.

Will in the first person shows determination, e.g.,

 We will struggle to the last.
 I will do, as I like.

Will in the first person shows willingness, e.g.,

 We will go to the temple.

Will with the first person shows promise, e.g.,

 I will help you.
 I will get the money tomorrow.

Will with the first person shows wishing e.g.,

 I will visit the Disneyland.

Will is also used for an invitation or request, e.g.,

 Will you open the door, please?
 Will you like to have a cup of coffee?

4. SHALL: With the first person shows simple future tense, e.g.,
  We shall go to the market tomorrow.
 I shall go to school next Monday.

Shall when used with the IInd person shows promise.

 You shall wait for me.
 You shall have a modal if you win.

Shall with the second person shows a command, e.g.,

 You shall go now. The school shall remain closed on Monday.

Shall with the second person shows a threat, e.g.,

 You shall be promised for your misbehavior.

Shall with the second person shows determination, e.g.,

 You shall not leave your home.
 They shall obey us.

Shall with the second person shows comparison, e.g.,

 Students shall pay their school fee by the 10th of every month.

5. WOULD: is used as follows

To express a wish, e.g.,

 I would like to play cricket.

To express a past habit, e.g.,

  He would talk upon the subject for hours together.

To express a polite request, e.g.,

 Would you mind if I shut the window.?

To express a refusal, e.g.,

 He would not answer any question.

To express a condition, e.g.,

 I would go to the school, if I were allowed.

To express determination, e.g.,

 I would have my way.

To express a possibility, e.g.,

 He would be at office now.

After ‘if only’ to fulfill any hopeless wish, e.g.,

 If only I would get a chance.

6. SHOULD is used as follows:-

To express duty or obligation, e.g.,

 You shall control your temper.
 We should love our neighbours.
 He should not be allowed to neglect his studies.
To express duty in the past is expressed by should have.
 You should have paid the money long ago.
 I shall have yesterday’s meeting, but I forget all about it.

While giving or asking advice, e.g.,

 You shouldn’t laugh at her mistakes
 Do you think he should apologize?

To indicate disapproval of the something that was done in the past, e.g.,
 She shouldn’t have given the child a knife to play.

To express supposition, possibility, condition, e.g.,

 If it should rain, the institute will remain closed.
 If your parents of the plan, you should give it up should danger come,
we should be prepared to meet it.

7. May and might is use to express possibility, purpose, wish and

permission.
 It may rain today.
 He works hard that he may pass.
 May you have all that you wish!
 May I go out, sir?

Might is use to express past tense of may, a suggestion, a purpose, a

doubtful possibility and reproach.
  It might rain today.
 He might join the class from Monday.
 I walked hard that I might pass.
 She might be at collage.
 She might have told me the truth.

8. Can and could both are used to take about ability, to ask for and given
permission, and to make request or offers. e.g.,
 Can you speak French? (Ability).
 You can stop work early, (permission).
 Could I have same more ten? (Offer).

Could I sometimes use as the past of can. e.g.,

 When I was younger I could play tennis very well.

Could I also used as a less definite or future. e.g.,

 Could I ask you something?
 Could we go and see a film this evening?
 I could get a batter job it I spoke fluently.

Could is also use to take about the chances that something will happen, or
is happening. e.g.,
 It could rain this afternoon.

Can is use to talk about future actions which we will be able to do because
of present ability, present circumstance, present decisions, etc. e.g.,
  Can you come to a party on Saturday?
 I haven’t got time today, but I can see you tomorrow.
 She can win the race tomorrow if she really tries.

9. Should It can be used to talk about obligation:

Things that is good or important for people to do. e.g.,

 Everybody should wear car seat belts.

Should is also used to say what we think is probable, because it is logical

or normal. E.g.,
 She’s away, but she should be back tomorrow.

Should and ought are very similar is usage and can often replace each
other, the main difference being that unlike should, ought is followed by a
to + infinitive. e.g.,
 You should / ought to, have seen his face!
 I’ve brought 3 leaves, that should/ought to be enough.

Must, although similar in meaning to should and ought to is stronger or

more definite, and expresses greater confidence that something will
happen, or that something is true, e.g.,
 Applications should be sent before Dec. 31st.
 Applications must be sent before Dec 31st.
 The doctor said I must give up smoking. (Order)
10. WOULD is used as a softer, less definite form of will, or in some
cases as the past of will. E.g.,
 Will you send me the bill, please?
 Would you send me the bill, please?
 Come this ways will you?
 Come this way, would you?
 Would you like Tea, or you would prefer coffee?
 When she was old, she would coffee?
 When she was old, she would sit in the corner talking to herself for
hours.
 On Sundays when I was a child we would all get up early and go on a
picnic.

Would is used when referring to unreal or uncertain situations, e.g.,

 I would tell you if I knew.
 It would have been nice if he’d thanked you.

11. DARE - is generally used in negative & interrogative sentences, and

expresses boldness or courage to do something., e.g.,
 She dare not take such a step.
 How dare you say this?
 He dare not fight.
Dare in affirmative sentences is used in the past sense, & it is also used to
show a challenge, along with the preposition to, e.g.,
 He dared me to fight.
 The tortoise dared the hare to run a race.
12. NEED – is generally used in the negative & interrogative sentences, and
is used to express the absence of necessity, e.g.,
You need not stay here.
Need I go there?
You needn’t worry about it.
Need I do all the sums again?
Need in the past tense is used along with have, e.g.,
You need not have to be gone.