Correct use of Modal auxiliary verbs/ modal verbs for moods

Modal auxiliary verbs like can, could, may, might, shall, should, might, will, would, are secondary helping verbs used to describe different degrees of possibilities and obligations. In this post, I’m going to explain correct use of modal auxiliary verbs.

These modals give information of the functions of base form of main verbs in clauses or sentences.

Really, this is very tough equation.
I need some help.
Tom, “Would you guide me, please?
I know you are the only who can solve this.
If I fail to solve, my class teacher may not spare me.
And, if I were you, I would help”.

In the above conversation, “Would, may, can, and need” are used to express variety of moods like request, ability, possibility, and necessity.

These mood indicating modal verbs have vital place in our communicative domain.

As of now, there are nine modal verbs we frequently use in our daily conversations. For your convenience, here is the list of true modal auxiliary verbs.

Let’s see modal verbs and semi-modal verbs.

No.	Modal verbs	Semi-modal verbs
1	Shall	dare
2	Should	need
3	Will	used to
4	Would	ought to
5	Can	have to
6	could	had better
7	May
8	might
9	Must

Table 1. Modal verbs and Semi-modal verbs

Will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, and must are known as true modal verbs.

Apart from these, there are around five semi-modal auxiliary verbs functions alike modals such as,

Need, dare, have to, ought to, had better, and used to etc. modals belong to semi-modal auxiliary verbs.

Whether you know or not, modal auxiliary verbs have many notable characteristics.

For our detailed explanation of modal verbs, proper insight of these characteristics is really essential.

Modal verbs do not play the role of linking verbs as they help to function main base verbs.

He is a creative writer. (linking verb to link subject description)

He can write creatively. (modal verb to express general ability)

As I explained in previous article that linking auxiliary verbs used to describe state, condition and facts.

Hence, modal verbs have different domains of functions to play.

R= Request, A = ability,

D = Desire, Duty, O= obligation, offer,

N = necessity, A = advice,

P = permission, P = possibility.

Would you drop me at school? (Polite request)
I can go by bus. (Ability)
Shall I inquire for you? (Making offer)
You should be punctual. (Duty and advice)
They may reach on time. (Possibility)
He cannot be late. (Possibility)
You have to follow the instructions here. (Necessity)
I used to meditate daily. (Habitual action)
Everyone ought to respect the wish of parents. (Moral obligation)
It could be unveiled anytime. (Possibility)

Because, primary auxiliary verbs have many conjugated forms and can take conjugated principal or main verb too.

Lisa can study in our park. (modal with base form of main verb)
She has already studied in our park. (primary helping verb with third form of verb)
Is she studying in our park daily. (Primary auxiliary with conjugated form of main verb)

Lisa can to study in our park. (wrong construction)
Lisa can study in our park. (Correct grammatical construction)

But, base form of main verbs without “to” is necessary to use there. That’s why modal verbs are different from linking and primary helping verbs.

Main verb used with modal verbs doesn’t inflect in other forms as like in primary auxiliary verbs.

Simply, modal verbs convey the mood and modalities through base form of main verbs.

Modality indicates different types of possibilities and obligations that person expresses as part of feelings.

Most importantly, modality is originated from one of the nine major Grammatical features – Mood.

Understanding Mood and modality

Understanding mood and modality is important to get better insight of modal auxiliary verbs. This is precondition to know the meaning and usages of modal auxiliaries.

Meaning and examples of “Mood”

“Mood” is one of the major grammatical features of english grammar. It is the property of “verb” and has around five values.

Inductive mood
Interrogative mood
Imperative mood
Subjunctive mood
Injuctive mood
Optative mood, etc.

1.Role of indicative mood

Indicative mood is all about to make declarative sentences or statements or facts of something.

The sky is clear. (declarative sentence)
Earth revolves around the sun. (Fact)

2. Meaning of interrogative mood

Interrogative mood is used to raise or ask questions about someone/something.

Is the sky clear?
Does earth revolve around the sun?

3. Functions of Imperative mood

Imperative mood expresses command and request.

Just go to work. (command)
Harry, please, be serious. (Request)

4.Importance of subjunctive mood

Subjunctive mood is all about wishing and unrealistic imagination of something. It is used to express wish, demand, request etc.

It is essential that we be accountable for our duties. (statement of demand)
If I were you, I would help them in need. (Hypothetical statement)

Other Injuctive and Optative are less common in use.

Explaining modality in language

Modality is a linguistic term by which possible situation is explained by speaker in terms of degree of possibility, certainty, and obligations.

In such way, modality pays the way far origin of modal auxiliary verbs from possibility to necessity.

Technically, like primary helping auxiliaries, modal verbs do not fully conjugate in other forms.

I have already stated that the functions of modal verbs to give functional meaning to main verb in expressing degree of possibility and obligation of something.

However, the meaning of each modal auxiliary verb cannot be confined within certain domain as there many modal indicate similar overlapping sense of meaning with varying degrees such as —