Modal verbs
Today I want to speak about certain verbs, modal verbs. But at first I tell you in which parts the verb is divided.
Verb: main verb e.g. play, read, work
primary auxiliaries e.g. be, do, have
modal auxiliaries or modals
What are modals?
With modal verbs one can say that sth. can, should, may, must etc. happen
Formen
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They are followed by an infinitive without “to” with the exception of “ought to”.
Difference between main verbs and modals
1. Sandra can speak French very well.
2. Can you open the window, please?
3. Jane’s husband can’t ( cannot ) drive a car.
Harry can help Judy with the cooking, can’t he?
Zu 1. the third person in the singular doesn’t have the end “s”
Zu 2. questions are build by changing of subject and modals
Zu 3. Negation is formed by: modals + not
Zu 4. in sentences with question tags modal verb are included again
Modals have only a present or a past form, but they can be used to refer to the future e.g. I must leave tomorrow. That’s why there are also substitute verbs which can form all tenses and can therefore be used for the missing tense forms of some modals e.g.
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Speech intentions expressed by modals and related verbs
Ways of expressing an ability or an inability
Forms: can
could
be able to
1. John can swim very well.
Ed is able to drive a van.
2. Difference between could and was / were able to
Janet can swim very fast for a twelve-year-old girl, can’t she? -
But at her age her mother could swim even faster.
When Janet’s mother was twelve, she was able to break the Junior Record
Ways of expressing an strong obligation or a necessity
Forms: must
needn’t
have ( got ) to
1. Religious education must be taught in all English schools.
Jerry has ( got ) to wear glasses when he’s reading.
2. You needn’t go shopping today.
Mike hasn’t got to go to bed yet. There’s no school tomorrow.
Susan doesn’t have to feed the fish. They’ve been fed.
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3. “Must“ in contrast to “ have ( got ) to”
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b) Sally has got to go now. Her train leaves in ten minutes.
It’s Jim’s birthday on Friday so I have to write to him today.
Ways of expressing obligations, instructions or orders
Forms: should( n’t ) / ought to ( oughtn’t )
Shall I…? / Shall we…?
be to
will
1. a) Reading a comic? You should /ought to be doing your homework.
b)You should / ought to have been here twenty minutes ago.
2. Shall I ring up the police? ( Do you want me to ring them up? )
When shall we meet you? ( When do you want us to meet you? )
3. a) Mum says you aren’t to wash the pullover in the washing machine.
b) What am I to do first? Whatdid the boss say?
4. a) You will be home by ten o’clock and that’s that!
b) Swimming caps will be worn in the pool at all times.
Ways of expressing a permission
Forms: can
be allowed to
may
1. You can leave early today if you like.
As the doctors had agreed, Tina could leave hospital two days ago.
Ed is allowed to drive a van.
2. a) May I borrow your pen, please?
May we use our grammar books?
b) Guests may use the hotel swimming-pool till 10 o’clock.
Ways of expressing a prohibition
Forms: can’t
be not allowed to
mustn’t / be not to
may not
1. You can’t put your bike against this wall.
The pupils couldn’t leave then examination room early.
Tina wasn’t allowed to say what she wanted to.
2. a) You mustn’t say things like that.
b) Didn’t you hear what Peter said? You’re not to make so much noise!
3. Books from this shelf may not be taken home.
Ways of expressing a request
Forms: Can you…?
Could you…?
Couldn’t you…?
Will you…?
Would you…?
1. a) Would you give the dog some food?
Will you pass me the salt, please?
b) Could you explain the meaning of this word to us?
Can you go t the chemnist’s shop for me today?
Ways of expressing an offer or an invitation
Forms: Will you…?
Would you…?
Won’t you…?
1. Won’t you stay a little longer, Susan?
Will you come to uor class party next week, Miss Dean?
Would you like to have another sandwich, Bob?
Ways of expressing a suggestion
Forms: Can’t you…?
Couldn’t you…?
Shall I…? / Shall we…?
( really, simply ) must
1. a) Couldn’t Marcia go by bus to the airport?
b) There’s a photo exhibition in the department store this month. You really must see it.
Ways of expressing an advice
Forms: should / ought to
shouldn’t / oughtn’t to
( really, simply ) must
had better ( not )
1. a) It’s cold outside. Judy should / ought to put on a warm coat.
Helen is too fed. She’d better not eat so many biscuits.
b) You simply must visit Jane at the hospital. She’s so unhappy.
c) You’d better go now if you want to catch the bus.
d) You shouldn’t / oughtn’t to have made such a terrible noise last night.
Ways of expressing a possibility
Forms: can
could
Couldn’t…?
may, may not
might mightn’t
1. a) Couldn’t this picture be a Picasso? It looks like one, doesn’t it?
b) Though the story is true, you may not believe it.
Ways of expressing a probability
Forms: will
would
should / ought to
shouldn’t / oughtn’t to
1.a) Don’t disturb him. He’ll be writing letters at this time.
b) John should be playing next Saturday.
c) You’ve got a pain in your back? A new bed would solve your problem.
Question tags
Question tags with agreement
1.a) Dad can meet Mum at the station, can’t he?
b) I needn’t explain everything, need I?
c) Terry must be told the truth, mustn’t he?
We mustn’t forget the tickets, must we?
( in german: “…, nicht wahr? / nicht? / oder? / gell?“ )
question tags with doubt
1.a) I think the cat has eaten all the ice-cream. -Oh, it has, has it?
b) I haven’t drunk any alcohol for two years. -So, you haven’t, haven’t you?
( in german: “ Ach wirklich / tatsächlich? / Was du nicht sagst.“ )
Modals - Zusammenfassung (Beispielsätze siehe speech intention…..)
Substitute verbs
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Ways of expressing an ability or an inability
Forms: can
be able to
Use: can is only used in present tense; it has lots of meanings that’s why you better use “be able to” Bsp.1 Difference between could and was / were able to
Could is a past form of can Bsp.2
In clauses of statement “could” expresses an ability which you had in the past
was/were able to expresses an ability which you had and you really did in the past
was/were able to is always right if you can use “managed to”
Ways of expressing strong obligation or necessity
Forms: must
have to
needn’t
Use: must/have (got) to expresses a obligation or necessity Bsp.1
needn’t, haven’t got to and don’t have to expresses no obligation and no necessity Bsp.2
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must in contrast to have (got) to
must: speaker has an own obligation inside ( speaker performs obligation ) Bsp.3a) expresses signs, e.g. road signs/ traffic symbols
have (got) to: speaker pass an order on another person Bsp 3a)
have (got) to: expresses an obligation or necessity by outside circumstances (no must) Bsp. 3b)
Ways of expressing obligations, instructions or orders
Forms: : should( n’t ) / ought to ( oughtn’t )
Shall I…? / Shall we…?
be to
will
Use: with should/ought to you can expresses what sb. do or did in the speakers opinion Bsp.1
questions with Shall I…/ Shall we…? are used to express if you ask sb. for instructions Bsp.2
be to expresses instructions which isn’t from the speaker but the instruction is only passed on by the speaker Bsp.3a)
questions with be to are used to ask for instructions of another person Bsp.3b)
will expresses orders with no contradiction Bsp.4a)
will expresses instruction with no contradiction Bsp.4b)
Ways of expressing a permission
Forms: can
be allowed to
may
Use: can is used in present tense and could in past tense Bsp.1
but these words have lots of meanings that’s why you better use be allowed to Bsp.1
may- with “May I…?/May we…? you ask for permission Bsp.2a)
( requests with may are more polite than requests with can )
may especially expresses a permission in formal English Bsp.2b)
Ways of expressing a prohibition
Forms: can’t
be not allowed to
mustn’t / be not to
may not
Use: can’t expresses a prohibition in present tens and couldn’t in past tense Bsp.1
you better use “be not allowed to” Bsp.1
mustn’t expresses prohibition of the speaker Bsp.2a)
be not to expresses prohibition of another person which is repeated Bsp.2b)
may not expresses a prohibition in formal English Bsp.3
Ways of expressing a request
Forms: Can you…?
Could you…?
Couldn’t you…?
Will you…?
Would you…?
Use: if you want to be polite you use “would you…?” instead of “will you …?” or “could you…?” instead of “ can you …? “ Bsp.1a)+b)
Ways of expressing an offer or an invitation
Forms: Will you…?
Would you…?
Won’t you…?
Use: “Won’t you…?” is more pressure than “Will you…?”/”Would you…?” Bsp.1
Ways of expressing a suggestion
Forms: Can’t you…?
Couldn’t you…?
Shall I…? / Shall we…?
( really, simply ) must
Use: all expresses a suggestion Bsp.1a)
( really/simply) must is used to strongly offer a suggestion
Ways of expressing an advice
Forms: should / ought to
shouldn’t / oughtn’t to
( really, simply ) must
had better ( not )
Use: should / ought to, must, had better express an advice Bsp.1a)
(really/simply) must expresses an strong advice Bsp.1b)
had better expresses an advice in a wider sense of warning Bsp.1c)
had better can’t be used in the past, that’s why you use should / ought to +present perfect Bsp.1d)
Ways of expressing a possibility
Forms: can
could
Couldn’t…?
may, may not
might mightn’t
Use: can, could, couldn’t are used in questions if you have some certain signs Bsp.1a)
May and might expresses a possibility but with doubts Bsp.1b)
they aren’t used in questions of decisions instead of you use, e.g. “ Do you think….? / Don’t you think….?”
Ways of expressing a probability
Forms: will
would
should / ought to
shouldn’t / oughtn’t to
Use: the speaker expresses with “will” that he/she think sth. Is probably because of certain reasons Bsp.1a)
The degree of probability with “should/ought to” is smaller than with “will” Bsp.1b)
“would” expresses a probability which have a condition Bsp1c)
Question tags
Question tags with agreement
If a sentence have a primary auxiliary you build the question tag with it otherwise with do/does/did
( Question tags are in German “nicht wahr? / nicht?/oder? / gell?“)
If the clause of statement says yes the question tag says no and reverse Bsp.1a)+b)
The question tag of “must” is “mustn’t” and reverse Bsp.1c)
question tags with doubt
If the clause of statement says yes the question tag says yes, tooand reverse. Bsp1a)+b)
(in German: “ Ach wirklich? / tatsächlich ? / Was du nicht sagst.“ )
Words
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Functions (die unterschiedlichen Aussagen eines Wortes)
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Was sind Modalverben?
Modalverben sind Hilfsverben, die verwendet werden, um auszudrücken, dass etwas geschehen kann, soll, darf, muss usw. Sie modifizieren die Bedeutung des Hauptverbs.
Wie werden Modalverben gebildet?
Modalverben werden gefolgt von einem Infinitiv ohne "to" (außer bei "ought to").
Wie unterscheiden sich Modalverben von Hauptverben?
Modalverben haben einige Besonderheiten:
- In der dritten Person Singular wird kein "-s" angehängt.
- Fragen werden durch Umstellung von Subjekt und Modalverb gebildet.
- Die Negation wird mit "Modalverb + not" gebildet.
- In Frageanhängseln (question tags) wird das Modalverb wiederholt.
Welche Zeitformen haben Modalverben?
Modalverben haben oft nur eine Gegenwarts- oder Vergangenheitsform, können aber verwendet werden, um sich auf die Zukunft zu beziehen. Für fehlende Zeitformen gibt es Ersatzverben.
Wie drückt man eine Fähigkeit oder Unfähigkeit aus?
Mit "can", "could" oder "be able to". "Could" drückt eine generelle Fähigkeit in der Vergangenheit aus, während "was/were able to" eine Fähigkeit ausdrückt, die tatsächlich in der Vergangenheit umgesetzt wurde.
Wie drückt man eine starke Verpflichtung oder Notwendigkeit aus?
Mit "must", "needn't" oder "have (got) to". "Must" drückt eine innere Verpflichtung aus, während "have (got) to" oft durch äußere Umstände bedingt ist. "Needn't", "haven't got to" und "don't have to" drücken keine Verpflichtung aus.
Wie drückt man Verpflichtungen, Anweisungen oder Befehle aus?
Mit "should(n't)", "ought to (oughtn't)", "Shall I.../Shall we...?", "be to" oder "will". "Should/ought to" drücken die Meinung des Sprechers aus. "Shall I/we" fragt nach Anweisungen. "Be to" gibt Anweisungen von anderer Seite wieder. "Will" drückt unumstößliche Befehle oder Anweisungen aus.
Wie drückt man eine Erlaubnis aus?
Mit "can", "be allowed to" oder "may". "Can" wird in der Gegenwart, "could" in der Vergangenheit verwendet. "Be allowed to" ist oft eine bessere Alternative, da "can" und "could" vielfältige Bedeutungen haben. "May" wird für formelle Erlaubnis-Anfragen oder Erteilungen verwendet.
Wie drückt man ein Verbot aus?
Mit "can't", "be not allowed to", "mustn't / be not to" oder "may not". "Can't" drückt ein Verbot in der Gegenwart, "couldn't" in der Vergangenheit aus. "Be not allowed to" ist oft eine bessere Alternative. "Mustn't" drückt ein Verbot des Sprechers aus. "Be not to" wiederholt ein Verbot einer anderen Person. "May not" wird für formelle Verbote verwendet.
Wie drückt man eine Bitte aus?
Mit "Can you...?", "Could you...?", "Couldn't you...?", "Will you...?" oder "Would you...?". "Would you...?" und "Could you...?" sind höflicher als "Will you...?" und "Can you...?".
Wie drückt man ein Angebot oder eine Einladung aus?
Mit "Will you...?", "Would you...?" oder "Won't you...?". "Won't you...?" übt mehr Druck aus als "Will you...?" / "Would you...?".
Wie drückt man einen Vorschlag aus?
Mit "Can't you...?", "Couldn't you...?", "Shall I.../Shall we...?" oder "(really, simply) must". (Really/simply) must wird verwendet, um einen Vorschlag stark anzubieten.
Wie drückt man einen Rat aus?
Mit "should / ought to", "shouldn't / oughtn't to", "(really, simply) must" oder "had better (not)". (Really/simply) must drückt einen starken Rat aus. Had better drückt einen Rat im weiteren Sinne einer Warnung aus.
Wie drückt man eine Möglichkeit aus?
Mit "can", "could", "Couldn't...?", "may, may not" oder "might mightn't". Can, could, couldn't werden in Fragen verwendet, wenn es bestimmte Anzeichen gibt. May und might drücken eine Möglichkeit mit Zweifeln aus.
Wie drückt man eine Wahrscheinlichkeit aus?
Mit "will", "would", "should / ought to" oder "shouldn't / oughtn't to". "Will" drückt aus, dass der Sprecher etwas aufgrund bestimmter Gründe für wahrscheinlich hält. Der Grad der Wahrscheinlichkeit mit "should/ought to" ist geringer als mit "will". "Would" drückt eine Wahrscheinlichkeit aus, die an eine Bedingung geknüpft ist.
Was sind Frageanhängsel (question tags)?
Frageanhängsel werden verwendet, um eine Aussage zu bestätigen oder Zweifel auszudrücken. Bei Zustimmung (agreement) wird das Hilfsverb der Aussage verwendet, oder "do/does/did", falls kein Hilfsverb vorhanden ist. Die Polarität der Aussage und des Frageanhängsels ist entgegengesetzt. Bei Zweifel (doubt) ist die Polarität von Aussage und Frageanhängsel gleich.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Christina Ziemek (Autor:in), 1999, The speech intention of modals and related verbs, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/97923
