Main Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Main Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Main modal auxiliary verbs are ten in number. They do not permit, neither can they be used with  -s, -ing, en, or to-infinitive. They are:

Can/could

Will/would

May/might

Shall/should

Must

Need

Dare

Now let’s see the tense table for the above auxiliaries:

Present/base form	past
Can Will May Shall Must Dare Need	Could Would Might should

Let’s see how each modal auxiliary verbs could appear on the table below:

Long form	Shortened form	Negative form	Shortened form
Can Will May Shall Must Dare Could Would Might Should Need	‘ll ‘d ‘d	Cannot Will not May not Shall not Must not Dare not Could not Would not Might not Should not Need not	Can’t Won’t Shan’t Mustn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t Shouldn’t Needn’t

Did you get that? Okay. Let’s use few of the above modal auxiliary verbs in three different sentences, indicating their various forms respectively:

1.      I would like to see you there. (long  form)

I’d like to see you there. (shortened form)

I would not like to see you there. (Negative form)

I wouldn’t like to see you there. (Shortened form)

2.      I will be there. (Long form)

I’ll be there. (Shortened form)

I will not be there. (Negative form)

I won’t be there. (Negative form)

3.      I shall remain calm till he comes. (long form)

I shall not remain calm till he comes. (Negative form)

I shan’t remain calm till he comes. (Shortened form)

Exercise

Use need, can, dare, may, and should in five different sentences, indicating their various forms.