Modal Auxiliaries

[Johanne]

Ever get confused about modal auxiliaries? Here is a list, along with their meanings and an example.

AUXILIARY:
(MEANING) – EXAMPLE

a. can:
(ability) – I can ride a bike.
(question) – Can I help you?

b. could:
(past ability) – I couldn’t make it to the party.
(Note: “make it” to an event = attend the event)

(polite question) – Could you please lend me a hand?
(Note: “lend someone a hand” = help someone)

c. may:
(possibility) – She may visit Europe next summer.
(polite question) – May I help you?

d. might:
(possibility) – She might visit Europe next summer.

e. must:
(necessity) – You must be in bed by 10 o’clock.

f. should:
(advisability) – You should eat all your vegetables.

g. will:
(future happening) – I will call you later tonight.

h. would:
(polite question) – Would you please pass the salt?

i. be able to:
(ability) – I won’t be able to go see the movie with you.

j. be going to:
(future happening) – He’s going to call tonight.

k. has / have to:
(necessity) – I have to do laundry tonight.

l. had to:
(past necessity) – I had to do laundry last night too.

By the way: Auxiliaries are also called "helping verbs," because they "help" the main verb in a sentence to express tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc.