A Read the following conversation between two friends and look at the underlined verbs:
Raghib : Hi Rafiq, do you watch films?
Rafiq : Yes, I do. But I don't watch films regularly.
Raghib : Which film did you see last?
Rafiq : I don't exactly remember.
Raghib : Have you ever seen an English film?
Rafiq : Yes, I have.
Raghib : What are you doing now?
Rafiq : I am watching cricket on television.
Raghib : What is your sister doing?
Rafiq : She is doing her homework.
All the underlined words come before action verbs and help them form continuous tenses, negatives and interrogatives. These are called auxiliary verbs. They are also called helping verbs. An auxiliary verb does not have any meaning of its own and it is used with a principal verb.
B Look at the following examples and identify the auxiliary and main verbs:
I do not tell lies.
He does not like music.
Do you read novels?
Does she sleep by day?
He did not attend the last class.
Note that 'do' and 'does' are used in the present simple tense and 'did' is used in the past simple tense as auxiliary verbs to frame questions and negative sentences.
Read the following sentences:
I am learning grammar.
He is eating breakfast.
They are working hard.
Are you enjoying the song?
He was then sleeping.
They were dancing at that time.
Note that 'am/is/are' is used in the present continuous tense and 'was/were' is used in the past continuous tense.
Note: 'have/has' is used in the present perfect tense and 'had' is used in the past perfect tense. For example:
They have won the game.
He has finished his lunch.
If he had invited me, I would have attended the party.
Modals
C Read the following conversation and notice the underlined words:
Nasim: Sorry Azim, I could not visit you yesterday. How are you today?
Azim I feel better than before. I can walk now. I may go to school next week.
Nasim: No no. You should take more rest.
Azim : Hopefully, I will be ok soon.
These are examples of modal auxiliaries or modals. A modal is a kind of auxiliary verb which is used before an action verb and expresses meanings like ability, permission, possibility, necessity, obligation or advice. The common modals in English include can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must and ought to.
General characteristics of modals
- Modals are usually followed by an infinitive without 'to'
- Any modal can be used with any subject without changing its form
- There is no 's/es' form of modals for the third person singular subject
D A single modal can express different meanings.
Read the following example sentences and say what different meanings the following modals express. Choose your answer from the box below each set of sentences.
Can, Could
I can speak two languages.
You can sit here.
Can you lend me some money?
You can buy stamps here.
I could swim at the age of six.
Could you please lend me your pen?
| Polite request, ability, past ability, possibility, permission, request |
May, Might
It may rain tonight.
You may use my camera.
May I come in, sir?
It might rain tonight.
| giving permission, possibility, seeking permission |
Shall, Should
I shall visit you tomorrow.
Shall I close the window?
The school shall remain closed.
We should obey our parents.
You should give up smoking.
| suggestion, advice, obligation, official order, simple future |
Will, Would
They will attend the party.
Will you give me your address?
Would you please lend me some money?
Would you like some tea?
| offer, simple future, polite request, asking someone to do something |
Must, ought to
I must do the work.
It must rain tonight.
I must get some sleep.
He ought to be home by six o'clock.
We ought to help the poor.
| obligation, certainty, expectation, necessity, determination |
If you want to make a negative sentence, just put the negative word after the modal. For example:
I could not go there.
You should never tell a lie.
He cannot speak English.
N.B. Can and not are not written separately. Cannot is a single word.
