Model Forms & Modal Auxiliary Verbs – SS3 English Lesson Note (First Term)

Auxiliary verbs are of two types: primary auxiliaries (be, have and do) and modal auxiliaries (shall, can, could, may, will, might, must, ought to and others). Modal auxiliary verbs express mood, such as capability, permission, probability, determination, possibility, futurity and necessity. They do not stand on their own except in question tags.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define an auxiliary verb;
2. mention the two types of auxiliary verbs;
3. explain the modal auxiliary verbs;
4. identify the forms and uses of modal auxiliary verbs.

Instructional resource

A chart with modal auxiliary verbs boldly written on it.

What are the types of auxiliary verbs?

1. Primary auxiliary verbs:
   • be
   • have
   • do
2. Modal auxiliary verbs:
   • shall
   • can
   • could
   • may
   • will
   • might
   • must
   • ought to, etc.

What are modal auxiliary verbs?

Modal auxiliary verbs are verbs used to express mood such as capability, permission, probability, determination, possibility, futurity and necessity. Modal auxiliaries do not stand on their own except in question tags.

What are the forms of modal auxiliary verbs?

1. The present tense form. Examples: shall, will, can, may, must, dare, need, ought to.
2. The past tense form. Examples: should, would, could, might.
3. The negative forms. Examples: will not, cannot, may not, must not, dare not, need not and ought not to.

Note that “must, dare, need and ought to” have no past tense forms.

How are modal auxiliary verbs used?

May

“May” is used to show permission or possibility. Examples:

• May I sit down? (permission)
• He may/might know the answer. (possibility)

Might

Although “might” is the past tense of “may”, it does not necessarily show past time. Examples:

• It might be right. (possibility)
• He might be ill, I’ll phone him. (possibility)

Can

“Can” is used to show ability, permission and possibility. Examples:

• I can swim. (ability)
• Can we come in? (permission)
• You can take my share of the food. (possibility)

Could

“Could” is used as the past tense of “can”, but it does not necessarily show past time. It shows ability and possibility. Examples:

• She could do it. (future ability)
• It could rain on Monday. (future possibility)

Must

“Must” implies necessity, obligation, assumption, conviction or negative condition. Examples:

• All visitors must report to reception on arrival. (obligation)
• We must eat in order to live. (necessity)
• He must be a thief. (conviction)
• She must have dialled the wrong number. (assumption)
• You must not begin until I tell you. (command/negative condition)

Should and would

“Should” and “would” are used to express futurity, advice, criticism, assumptions, deductions and requests. Examples:

• You should eat the food if given. (future/condition)
• They should be in Lokoja by 6pm. (future)
• You should always take fruits. (advice)
• She should have asked her first. (criticism)
• He would make a good lawyer, but he’s a doctor. (assumption)
• Would you wash those clothes for me? (request)

Ought to, has to, have to and need to

These are used to express duty, obligation, advice and criticism. Examples:

• You ought to go to bed earlier. (advice)
• He ought to have known what would happen as a leader. (criticism)
• I have to revise for my test. (obligation)
• He needs to visit the dentist immediately. (advice)
• Kayode has to repair the device. (duty)

Used to

“Used to” is used both as an auxiliary and as an adjective.

Used to as an auxiliary

• I used to like palm wine but now it disturbs my stomach.
• Henry used to play football before he had an injury.

Note that “used to” cannot be used to express a present habit since it has no present tense.

Used to as an adjective

As an adjective, “used to” has the meaning of “accustomed to” or “familiar with”. It may be followed by a noun, pronoun or gerund. Examples:

• Musa is used to his sister’s insults.
• He is used to eating bread with stew.
• The boy was not used to hard work.

Shall and will

Both are used to express futurity. “Will” is used to express habit, assumption and willingness. “Shall” should only be used with the first person pronouns “I” and “we”. Examples:

• You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
• I shall see them tomorrow.
• She will not do her homework in time.
• The principal will be in his office now.

Evaluation

1. Name the two types of auxiliary verbs and give examples of each.
2. List four modal auxiliary verbs that have no past tense form.
3. What does “must” express in the sentence “All visitors must report to reception on arrival”?
4. Does “might” show past time in the sentence “It might be right”? Explain.
5. What does “used to” mean in the sentence “He is used to eating bread with stew”?

Assignment

Write ten sentences using modal auxiliary verbs.

Reference materials

• New Oxford Secondary English Course for Senior Secondary Schools BK 3, by Ayo Banjo et al.
• New Comprehensive English Language for Senior Secondary Schools by Martins I. Amaechi.