Module 7: Modals

Posted by: Carlo A. Sangutan
Sources: English Plus A Communicative Approach by Ida Yap Patron
                English Grammar Notes c/o Prof. Rufina C. Esagre
                http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/superman-lyrics-five-for-fighting

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This module intends to let the students:

• use the appropriate modals for specific situations;
• write sentences using some modals; and
• identify the meaning of modals as used in sentences.

Introduction

       "No man is an island." It is a quote related to life. One cannot live in this world alone. No one can survive without the help of others. We always need a companion to live life to the fullest. Help greatly dominates the whole world nowadays. We never exist if not because of our parents. Even on things, help is greatly needed just like in English grammar. There are certain words that are needed to have statements with exact and intensified meanings.

       Sentences can now be expressed in different moods of what the speaker feels by using the helping words.

Language Activity

       Read the following dialogue.

Little Eagle  : It must be majestic to fly and see the earth from the sky.
Prairie Eagle: You couldn't be like them. You are a prairie chicken.
Little Eagle  : I ought to try. I must do what I was created for.
Prairie Eagle: I must tell you the truth. You are meant to pick on garbage and cluck around.
Little Eagle  : Prairie chicken! I must find my rightful place. I had better fly around just like
                         the majestic bald eagle.
Prairie Eagle: Little Eagle! Try if you can, but you belong to our kind. Now, may I continue
                         pecking?
Little Eagle  : I wish you would find more garbage to eat. But for me, I will fly like the eagle.

     Guide Questions:

1. Based on the dialogue, which of them sounds arrogant?
2. How about the other? What can you describe about that eagle?
3. What specific moods do the underlined words possess?

Language Focused

       Modal auxiliaries are sometimes called verbs. These are helping verbs which are used to express certain moods like ability, inability, permission, obligation, willingness, and conjecture. The underlined words in the "Language Activity" above are modals.

Q: How are they used?

       They are used with one of the principal parts of other verbs. Unlike other auxiliaries, modals do not change in form, number or person. In order to use them properly, their meanings should be understood because the meaning of the sentence changes when different modals are used.

Q: What are the forms of modals as well as their uses?

     1. Modals expressing ability

          a.) can → expresses present or future ability
               ☻Andrew can lift that heavy object. (present ability)
               ☻We can solve this problem tomorrow. (future ability)

          b.) could → expresses past ability
               ☻When I was young, I could memorize a poem easily.

     2. Modals expressing request and permission

          a.) may
               ☻May I join the contest? (request)
               ☻You may go now. (permission)

          b.) can
               ☻Can we submit our term paper tomorrow? (request)
               ☻She can go over the question. (permission)

          c.) could
               ☻Could they borrow your books? (request)
               ☻Marina could see me later. (permission)

          d.) must → used to express conclusion
               ☻Her parents are silent. They must be angry.
               ☻They are touring the South as their prize. They must be enjoying themselves.

     3. Modals expressing obligation or necessity

          a.) should
               ☻We should help our parents.
               ☻One should be careful with his words.

          b.) ought (to)
               ☻We ought to help fight pollution.
               ☻A student ought to study hard.

          c.) must
               ☻You must come immediately.
               ☻He must submit his project now.

     4. Modals expressing possibility or probability

          a.) may
               ☻War may erupt anytime in the Middle East.
               ☻The teams may fight in spite of the dwindling funds.

          b.) might
               ☻They might come any moment.
               ☻She might use force if you don't listen to her.

     5. Modals expressing preference or willingness

          a.) would rather
               ☻We would rather watch the movie than stay at home.
               ☻The class would rather have an excursion than a party.

          b.) would
               ☻He would help in the fight against poverty.
               ☻She would write the speech.

Q: Aside from what were given above, what are other forms of modals together with their uses?

OTHER FORMS AND USES OF MODALS

1. Shall, would you mind/do you mind, won't you, and would you
          → are used for permission, requests, suggestions and offers in the interrogative form.

          *Shall is exclusively used for the first person. It shows advisability and is almost used in question forms.

Example:
     ☻The bell has rung. Shall I call the class to come in now?

Note: Shall is also used in laws, regulations or directives.

Examples:
     ☻You shall live in harmony with all of God's creations.
     ☻You shall not steal.

          *Do you mind and would you mind are used in two common patterns:

     a.) the speaker requests permission to do something

Example:
     ☻Do you mind if I leave?
         Not at all.

     b.) the speaker requests the person to do something or refrain from doing something.

Example:
     ☻Would  you mind closing the door?
         Not at all. I need to keep it open though, somebody is still coming.

2. May have and might have + the past participle of the main verb
          → are used for actions that were possible in the past but did not take place. In short, they express past possibility or probability.

Examples:
     ☻I may have left the tickets in my locker.
     ☻She might have forgotten her appointment with me.

3. Could have + the past participle of the main verb
          → is used to indicate the ability to do something in the past, but the action was not performed.

Example:
     ☻Cutting trees indiscriminately could have been prevented through a total log ban in endangered areas.

4. Should have and ought to have + past participle of the verb
          → are used to indicate a past obligation or necessity.

Examples:
     ☻The total log ban should have saved the trees.
     ☻You ought to have seen the doctor.

5. For deductions about a past situation, use must have + the past participle of the verb.

Examples:
     ☻He was panting hard. He must have walked a long way.
     ☻The long dry spell must have caused it.

6. Would have + the past participle of the verb
          → is used to express willingness to do something in the past but no action occurred.

Example:
     ☻James would have helped us but his commitment in the city prevented him from coming.

7. Would rather have + the past participle of the verb
          → is used to express preference to do an act in the past but had to do otherwise.

Example:
      ☻I would rather have listened to your speech.

Test of Learning

     A. Underline the modals found in the given song lyrics and identify what mood each modal possessed.

SUPERMAN
by: Five For Fighting

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
I’m just out to find
The better part of me

I’m more than a bird…I’m more than a plane
I'm more than some pretty face beside a train
It’s not easy to be me.

I wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
About a home I’ll never see

It may sound absurd…but don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed…but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
And it’s not easy to be me.

Up, up and away…away from me
Well it’s all right…You can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy…or anything…

I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I’m only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
inside of me ...... inside of me ...ya inside of me... inside..of me

I’m only a man in a funny red sheet
I’m only a man looking for a dream


I’m only a man in a funny red sheet

It’s not easy ... wu.. hoo.. hoo..
It’s not easy to be.. me...

     B. Read the following sentences and find out what moods are expressed in the underlined modals. Choose the appropriate use of the modal from the options in the parentheses.

1. The seas and the rivers can naturally clean themselves.

          ( ability , inability , possibility )

2. With the mounting garbage problem, they can't do it anymore.

          ( ability , inability , possibility )

3. Twenty years ago, people could swim in clear rivers and seas.

          ( ability , inability , possibility )

4. May we just leave the beach?

          ( ability , possibility , permission )

5. We can dispose of our garbage properly.

          ( ability , possibility , permission )

6. Environmentalists would rather take time in cleaning and protecting Mother Nature than abusing it.

          ( possibility , suggestion , preference )

7. Such extreme exploitation might urge people to launch reform programs to prevent further abuse.

          ( possibility , suggestion , preference )

8. Then, people could go hungry.

          ( possibility , suggestion , preference )

9. You should have saved for the future when you were earning much.

          ( probability , obligation , willingness )

10. She must finish her work this week.

          ( preference , ability, necessity )

     C. Fill in the blanks with the correct modals.

1. People _____ stop smoking.

2. Smoking _____ cause lung and liver cancer.

3. Smoke from cigarettes _____ also harm non-smokers who inhale secondhand smoke.

4. Despite these warnings, many smokers still think that smoking _____ give them benefits.

5. There are other pollutants that _____ possibly make the air dirty.

6. Car owners _____ maintain their cars.

7. Smoke-belching cars emit carbon monoxide which _____ be dangerous to our health.

8. Factories _____ use anti-pollution devices to help keep the atmosphere clean.

9. Smoking in public places, in air-conditioned rooms, in vehicles _____ be prohibited.

10. Violators _____ be fined.

11. Everybody _____ do his/her part as concerned citizens.

12. Pollution _____ get worse in the future.

13. The earth _____ become barren.

14. The trees _____ be gone forever.

15. This scenario _____ happen if we do not change our ways.