Modal Auxiliary Verbs
As we know from the verb section auxiliary verbs are verbs that have an extra process. To be, To have and To do are our main 'helping' verbs, but there are additional 'Modal' verbs.
Most languages have a few modals, but English has many.
Modal means degree, and we see these verbs used to help us express possibility/probability and obligation.
The future tense is formed with the modal auxiliary WILL, and the conditional similarly, using WOULD.
This page will examine the degrees that these modals can express.
The most used English modals are: Will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might, must and ought to.
There are others that are used frequently and although not technically modals, I have listed their uses here.
May and shall are more for giving and asking permission, although nowadays it is more common to use can and could.
so many...
There are a lot of different modal verbs, so it helps to imagine them in terms of obligation (being obliged/made to do something) and possibility or probability (the ability or likelihood of something happening)
Let's imagine that for obligation there is a work conference, and for possibility a party invitation.
I have to go 100% to the conference
I will go 100% to the party
I should go to the conference. (It would be better for me if I did go)
I would go to the party but....
I ought to go to the conference (same as above but less enthusiastic)
I can go to the party - I am completely available.
I had better go to the conference (or I will get fired) - Threatening!
I could go to the party (or I could decide not to)
I need to go to the conference (or I will miss something/have other complications)
I might go tomorrow (but it depends on something)
I would like to go tomorrow - Can be either a polite turning down, or a genuine interest in going, but no obligation perse.
I may go to the party (similar to might but more formal and sounds more unlikely)
I want to go tomorrow - similar to would like.
I should go tomorrow - archaic way of saying you are free unless anything else happens.
I've been asked to go to the conference - you have to go maybe you want to or maybe not.
I shall go to the party! - An archaic way of saying 'will'.
