Modal Auxiliaries in English

Modal Auxiliary, Compuslaory Question in HSC Board Exam.

Modal Auxiliaries	Function
(a) Can/Could	Ability
(b) May/Might	Possibility
(c) Should	Advice
(d) Must	Obligation

(e) Dare	Courage
(f) Ought to	Moral Obligation.
(g) need	Necessity
(h) Would	Past habitual action, polite request, wish, refusal, determination, invitation.
(i) have to	Compulsory Obligation

Modal Auxiliary Verb	Function
Can	Ability, I can sing a song.  Informal permission, Can I take your notebook.  possibility, Smoking can cause cancer
Could	Ability, Informal permission, possibility
May	Formal permission, May I come in sir possibility, It may be rain tomorrow. expression of wish May God bless you.
Might	Formal permission, Might I suggest an idea?  A remote possibility, We might complete the task by next month.
Shall	Future Action: I shall visit the museum tomorrow. Command: You shall complete this task by evening. Compulsion: Students shall follow the school rules strictly. Formal Request: Shall we discuss the agenda for the meeting now?
Will	Future Action: We will go shopping this evening. Determination: I will never give up on my dreams. Threat: You will regret this if you don't listen. Promise: I will return the book to you tomorrow. Intention: She will start her new job next week. Wish: I will pray for your success. Invitation: Will you join us for a movie tonight?
Should	Duty/Obligation: You should always tell the truth. Advice: You should eat more fruits to stay healthy. Condition Approval: If you work hard, you should succeed in your exams.
Would	Habitual Action: I would play in the park every evening. Polite Request: Would you please help me with this task? Wish: I would love to visit Paris someday. Refusal: He wouldn't listen to anyone's advice. Determination: I would never give up on my dreams. Invitation: Would you like to join us for dinner?
Must	Compulsion: You must submit your homework by tomorrow. Determination: I must achieve my goals this year. Duty/Obligation: We must help those in need.
Ought to	Moral obligation, You ought to respect your elders. Advice. You ought to study regularly to do well in exams.
Dare	Courage. He dared to speak the truth in front of everyone.
Need	Necessity. You need to drink water to stay healthy.
Have to	Compulsory obligation. Students have to wear a uniform in school.

More examples. 

Can/Could.

. She can read the Spanish language.

• Can you return my books

• Could you bring me a glass of water? • Could you open the door, please?

May/Might

She may have caught a fever in the night. May I come into the classroom?

• It might have done damage inside. Either situation might be the case.

• You will remember our whole life. John will play football tomorrow.

Will/Would

• Would you like to have coffee? • Would you open the door, please?

Shall/Should

• Next year, I Shall buy a new car. Today, I shall watch a movie.

• You should attend the class more regularly. • We should drink a lot of water.

• We must attend his marriage.

Must/Ought to.

• You must not spit in this zone.

• We ought to love our younger.

• You ought to clean up your room.

Sept 2021.

A child spends a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

(Choose the correct alternative that indicates modal auxiliary showing 'obligation.')

(a) A child should spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

(b) A child must spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

(c) A child will spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

(d) A child can spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

Expected Answer:-

(b) A child must spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education.

March 2022.

We can accept our life gracefully.

(Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing 'compulsion')

Expected Answer:-

We must accept our life gracefully.

July 2022.

It is not necessary for you to wait any longer. (Which also means )

You ........not wait any longer.

(Rewrite the above sentence using correct modal auxiliaries from the given options.)

• (a) need
• (b) should
• (c) must
• (d) will

Expected Answer:-

You need not wait any longer.

Feb 2023.

This may make it difficult to deal with any complication'.

(Identify the replaced version of the statement using the auxiliary of certainty or definiteness.)

• (a) This can make it difficult to deal with any complication.
• (b) This might make it difficult to deal with any complication.
• (c) This will make it difficult to deal with any complication.
• (d) This have made it difficult to deal with any complication.

Expected Answer:-

(c) This will make it difficult to deal with any complication.

July 2023.

He laughed aloud on hearing of the problem. (Choose the correct change in the given options, if 'would' is used in the above sentence).

(a) He would laughed on hearing of the problem.

(b) He would have laughed on hearing of the problem.

(c) He would laugh on hearing of the problem.

(d) He would be laughed on hearing of the problem.

Expected Answer:-

(a) He would laughed on hearing of the problem.

Feb 2024.

Neeraj Chopra may not participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.

(Choose the correct option from the following sentences which uses a more definite modal auxiliary.)

• (i) Neeraj Chopra cannot participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.
• (ii) Neeraj Chopra will not participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.
• (iii) Neeraj Chopra should not participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.
• (iv) Neeraj Chopra might not participate in the world

Expected Answer:-

(ii) Neeraj Chopra will not participate in the world championship due to ankle injury.

July 2024.

I can teach four languages including French.

(Choose the correct option replacing the modal auxiliary showing 'compulsion.)

• (i) I should teach four languages including French.
• (ii) I may teach four languages including French.
• (iii) I must teach four languages including French.
• (iv) I will teach four languages including French.

Expected Answer:-

(iii) I must teach four languages including French.

More examples from HSC Board Exam.

Some Examples from HSC Board Exam. 

0.2014. 49. Moreover, human population will stabilize at about 11.5 billion, (Make it 'less definite')

  Ans:  Moreover, human population may stabilize at about 11.5 billion. 

M.2015, 50. My little girl can get tasty fruits from some other garden too!  (Rewrite the sentence using modal auxiliary expressing certainty)

Ans: My little girl will get tasty fruits from some other garden too!

0 2015.51. He had to stay after school .(use the modal auxiliary showing compulsion )

Ans-he must stay after school. 

M 2016. 52. The earth could withstand upto 200,000 times the current population. (Rewrite the sentence using the modal auxiliary showing 'certainty'.)

Ans- The earth will withstand upto 200,000 times the current population.

0.2016.53. "I will try." (Rewrite the sentence using another modal auxiliary showing 'obligation')

Also  I must try.       

                     
M 2017.54. You can sell waste to the raddi-wallah and give him a small token of appreciation.
(Replace the modal auxiliary with another showing 'obligation'.)

Ans- You must sell waste to the rabbi-wallah and give him a small token of appreciation.

Sept. 2021. A child spends a major portion of his life in taking formal education: (Choose the correct alternative that indicates modal auxiliary showing 'obligation.')

Ans- A child must spend a major portion of his life in taking formal education. 

Modal Auxiliary from Board Exam Since 1996.

M1996. I have to work as hard as I can. (Replace the modal auxiliary showing Obligation)
Ans:I must work as hard as I can.

 0.1996.  You should do what your teacher tells you to do. (Use modal showing obligation)
Ans: You must do what your teacher tells you to do.

 M.1997. They need to be protected. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing obligation)
Ans:They must be protected.

0.1997. The remaining journey has to be undertaken on foot.
(Rewrite using the appropriate form of modal auxiliary)
Ans: The remaining journey must be undertaken on foot.

M.1998.  You can go to bed early so that you are fresh in the morning.
(Change the modal auxiliary to make it a piece of advice)
Ans- You should go to bed early so that you are fresh in the morning.

0.1998. Be prepared always to pay the price. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing suggestion)
Ans: You should be prepared always to pay the price.

M.1999.  Dead plants and animals may lie rotting at the bottom.
 (Rewrite using modal auxiliary
showing certainty)
Ans:Dead plants and animals will lie rotting at the bottom.

0.1999. An animal may alter surrounding. (Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing ability)
 Ans -An animal can alter surrounding.

M.2000. Your young brother is careless about his study.
(Frame a sentence using modal auxiliary giving him advice)
Ans- You should be careful about your study.

0.2000.  We can see certainly that they are not placed in other employments, (Use modal auxiliary showing obligation)
  Ans-We must see certainly that they are not placed in other employments.

0.2001. 11. You have to study regularly to get success in the examination. (Use modal auxiliary showing advice)
Ans: You should study regularly to get success in the examination.

M.2002. 12. The time might come. (Replace modalaux.showing certainty)
Ans: The time will come.

 0.2002. 13. The labelling of human beings in terms of their interest should not be overdone.
(Use modal aux.showing obligation)
Ans: The labelling of human beings in terms of their interest must not be overdone.

0.2003. 14. I will teach you this lesson next week.
(Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing less certainty)
Ans: I may teach you this lesson next week.

0.2003, You may do just as you like. (Use mod. aux. showing obligation)
Ans: You must do just as you like.

M.2004. One should insist on whole meal flour and whole meal bread.
 (Rewrite using modal auxiliary showing obligation)
Ans: One must insist on whole meal flour and whole meal bread.

M,2004. You can understand it. (Use modal aux. showing obligation)
Ans: You must understand it.

0.2004. People with intellectual interest will do well in occupation dealing with ideas, rul regulations, facts and figures. (Use modal auxiliary showing less certainty)
Ans: People with intellectual interest may do well in occupation dealing with ideas, regulations, facts and figures.

M.2005.  You can halt at Uttarkashi. (Make less definite)
 Ans: You may halt at Utterkashi.

0.2005. We should protect and develop our forests. (Use modal auxiliary showing obligations)
 Ans: We must protect and develop our forests.

0.2005. They may again be free. (Make it more definite)
Ans: They Will Again be free..

M.2006. Deficiencies can be corrected when all the nutrients are supplied.
  (Use modal auxiliary showing certainty)
Ans: Deficiencies may be corrected when all the nutrients are supplied.

 M.2006. Their interest may be literary. (Use m. aux. showing certainty)
Ans: Their interest will be literary.

M.2006. 24. A skillful advertiser may be able to create a monopoly.
(Rewrite the sentence using a modal auxiliary can)
 Ans- A skillful advertiser can create a monopoly.

0.2006. 25, I must go to jail. (Make it less definite)
 Ans: I may go to jail.

M.2007. 26. Do realise your responsibility as educated women.
(Use modal auxiliary showing obligation)
Ans: You must realise your responsibility as educated women.