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This appendix attempts to clarify some basic usage of English modal auxiliary verbs, and some associated structures that also operate modally. The sections are organised in functional sections, as the modals all have several functions which can be inferred from the context and syntax.

The following verbal forms will be considered:-

FULL MODALS MODAL SUBSTITUTES SEMI-MODALS NEGATIVE CONTRACTED FORMS
 * will
 * would
 * can
 * could
 * shall
 * should
 * may
 * might
 * must
 * ought to
 * be bound to
 * be going to
 * be able to
 * be able
 * have to
 * had better
 * would rather
 * need
 * dare
 * won't
 * wouldn't
 * can't
 * couldn't
 * shan't
 * shouldn't
 * mayn't
 * mightn't
 * mustn't
 * needn't
 * daren't
 * oughtn't to

BASIC GRAMMAR
These points apply to all full modal verbs alike. Any exception will be stated in the appropriate section.
 * 1) * Modal verbs are defective, and so have no inflected forms.
 * 2) * Modal verbs do not have infinitive forms.
 * 3) * Modal verbs do not have past nor present participle forms.
 * 4) * Two modal verbs cannot be placed in succession.
 * 5) * They are auxiliary verbs, which means that negatives are made directly with not inserted between the modal and its main verb.
 * 6) * Similarly, in the interrogative, the subject and the modal auxiliary order is inverted.
 * 7) * Following from these two points, the auxiliary verb do is never used to form the negatives or interrogatives.
 * 8) * The main verb is always in the bare infinitive (without to).
 * 9) * If there is a second auxiliary verb be or have, this is always in the bare infinitive (without to).

These rules do not all apply to modal substitutes and semi-modals

A. Moment of decision

 * 1) WILL is normally used when taking a decision.
 * In a restaurant: I'll have the fish for the main course, please.

B. Stating a prior arrangement

 * 1) BE GOING TO is normally used to express an agreed action.
 * Tomorrow we are going to visit the museum.

C. Stating a future arrangement that the speaker cannot change

 * 1) WILL is normally used when the future is not in the speaker's control.
 * The king will open the new school building next week.

D. Making a promise

 * 1) WILL is normally used when making a promise
 * I'll call you as soon as I get home.
 * At the dentist's: This won't hurt.
 * 1) SHALL is often used in formal and / or written promises. NOTE:- Only used in 1st person, I & we.
 * ''We shall deliver your order before the end of the week.

E. Making an offer

 * 1) WILL is normally used when making an offer.
 * I'll give you a lift to the station.

F. Making predictions

 * 1) WILL is normally used for predictions with high probability
 * Tomorrow it will be sunny in the southern half of the country.
 * But it won't be sunny in the north.
 * 1) BE GOING TO is normally used for predictions with clear evidence.
 * Listen to that thunder. It's going to rain soon.
 * 1) COULD means there is a strong possibility.
 * It could rain all week-end.

G. In reported speech

 * 1) In reported speech, WOULD replaces WILL.
 * You said you would call when you got home.
 * 1) In reported speech, WOULD replaces SHALL
 * 2) In reported speech, WAS / WERE GOING TO replaces AM / IS / ARE GOING TO

Requesting

 * 1) COULD is normally used for polite requests to someone unknown to the speaker.
 * Could you tell me the time, please?
 * 1) WOULD is normally used for polite requests to someone known to the speaker.
 * Would you tidy up the kitchen, please?
 * 1) CAN is more common for a request to someone well known to the speaker.
 * Can you turn down the radio. I'm trying to study.
 * 1) WILL is more like an order than a request.
 * Will you stop what you're doing and help me, now!
 * 1) WOULD YOU MIND (not) followed by the gerund is quite formal, and often indicates irritation.
 * Would you mind not smoking.

Asking permission

 * 1) In order of level of formality, we use MIGHT, MAY, COULD, and CAN to ask for permission.
 * Might I possibly have a word with you, sir?
 * May I make a suggestion?
 * Could I have a window seat, please?
 * Can I borrow your pen a moment?
 * 1) WOULD YOU MIND (if) + past tense clause is also used for a polite request for permission.
 * Would you mind if I opened the window?

Refusing

 * 1) MAY NOT is the polite way of refusing PERMISSION.
 * No. Sorry. You may not.
 * 1) CAN'T or CANNOT is the usual informal way of refusing PERMISSION.
 * No. You can't.
 * 1) COULDN'T or COULD NOT is the usual way of denying a REQUEST made using COULD.
 * No. I couldn't.
 * 1) CAN'T or CANNOT is the usual way of denying a REQUEST made using CAN
 * No. I can't.
 * 1) SHALL NOT is a very formal and dated way of denying a REQUEST.
 * I most certainly shall not.
 * 1) SHAN'T is considered in some places to be a rather impolite, or childish, way of denying a REQUEST.
 * No. Shan't!
 * 1) WON'T or WILL NOT is an emphatic way of denying a REQUEST.
 * I most certainly will not.
 * No. I won't.
 * 1) WON'T or WILL NOT is commonly used with ergative verbs to state a refusal to function.
 * The car won't start.
 * These windows will not break under any impact.
 * These windows will not break under any impact.

Reported speech

 * In all the above examples, reported speech changes are:-
 * 1) CAN becomes COULD.
 * 2) CAN'T becomes COULDN'T
 * 3) WILL becomes WOULD.
 * 4) WON'T becomes WOULDN'T
 * 5) MAY becomes MIGHT
 * 6) MAY NOT becomes COULD NOT (Note: Might not is not normally used in reported speech for may not.)
 * 7) SHALL NOT & SHAN'T become WOULD NOT (Note: Should not is not normally used in reported speech for shall not.)

OPINION and LOGICAL INFERENCE
We often find modals in clauses that follow, or can be preceded by, a clause such as I think that. (Other typical opinion verbs are assume, believe, daresay, doubt, expect, hope, know, suppose. This is not an exhastive list. )

MUST, CAN'T, and BOUND TO
mean certainty in the present.
 * Bound to is used with people to be clear that it is opinion / logical inference, where must could also mean, ambiguously, an order.
 * The opposite of must is can't (NOT mustn't )
 * 1) There must some mistake.
 * 2) That can't be correct.
 * 3) John is bound to come soon. (Where must could indicate an OBLIGATION.)

WILL
means almost certain in the present. Usually followed by be or have. means almost certain in the future
 * 1) I expect that will be the postman knocking.
 * 2) He won't be home yet.
 * 3) They'll have the results by now.
 * 4) They won't have received our letter yet.
 * 1) I think he will win the match.

SHOULD
means fairly certain in the present. Usually followed by be or have. means fairly certain in the future
 * 1) That should be the right answer, if I'm not mistaken.
 * 2) He should have received the parcel by now.
 * 1) He should pass the exam.
 * 2) They shoudn't lose the match.

MAY and MIGHT
mean there exist a possibility, in the present or the future. May is slightly more confident than might.
 * 1) He may get a good grade.
 * 2) Then again, he might fail.
 * 3) True. He might not pass. It all depends on the questions.