Modals Helping Verbs and Verb Phrase Jessenia Rivera

Modals Helping Verbs and Verb Phrase Jessenia Rivera Gonzalez

Modals Modal means modality, which in turns means the manner in which the meaning of a clause is qualified so as to reflect the speaker’s judgment of the likelihood of the proposition it expresses being true.

Use of Modal Verbs: � They are used to indicate modality. They give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions. Uses: � Permission � Ability � Obligation � Prohibition � Lack of necessity � Advice � possibility � probability

Modals Could Should/ Ought to Would May Might Can Shall will

Possibility � Can: ◦ Smoking can cause cancer. � Could: ◦ Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. � May: ◦ I may see you tomorrow before I leave � Might: ◦ It might rain this afternoon.

Ability �Can: ◦ She can speak several languages ◦ He can swim like a fish. �Could: ◦ She could speak several languages. ◦ They could dance very well.

Necessity or Obligation � Must: ◦ You must stop at a red light. ◦ We must get a permit to enter the park next week. � Should/ Ought to: ◦ You ought to / should do as he says ◦ You ought to/ should study for your test. � Shall: ◦ The Consultant shall provide the services to the client. ◦ “You shall not pass”

Promise or Intention � Will: ◦ I will take care of everything for you. ◦ I will mail you my address. � Would: ◦ I would help you with your homework. ◦ I would do anything for you. � Shall: ◦ I shall never forget where I came from.

Request or Permission � � � Can: ◦ Can you wait a moment, please? ◦ Can we go home? Could: ◦ Could you take a message please? ◦ Could I ask a question please? Would: ◦ Would you please be quiet? ◦ Would you mind if I sat here? Will: ◦ Will you do me a favor? ◦ Will you please take the trash out? May: ◦ May I ask a question please? ◦ May we go home now?

Prediction � Will: ◦ It will rain tomorrow. ◦ Experts believe that the recession will continue. � Would: ◦ I was told I would feel better after this medicine. ◦ You would feel better after a while. � Shall: ◦ I shall regret this for the rest of my life. ◦ No doubt I shall see you next week.

Suggestion or Advice � Should: ◦ You should send an email. ◦ We should go by train. � Could: ◦ We could meet at the weekend. ◦ You could eat out tonight.

What is a Verb Phrase? A verb phrase consists of two things: 1. The main verb 2. A helping verb � Example: � The brown cow is jumping over the rusty fence. � Molly is talking to Billy.

Examples � Look at these sentences: 1. Monica did go to the store. did = helping verb go=main verb 2. Juli is driving to the high school. is = helping verb driving=main verb 3. Mr. Goodwell did teach students to use the internet. did = helping verb teach=main verb

Sometimes a Verb Phrases are more than one word Examples: l I will be speaking about the environment. l You will have to go again. l He must have been driving too fast. l The car might have been going at 75 miles per hour. Note: Sometimes a Verb Phrases are more than one word