Modal verbs express at least two meanings. All modals relate to probability, and then each modal has it’s own separate meaning. These meanings can relate to ability, obligation (different levels of obligation), permission (asking for it, giving it) or prohibition (not allowing something).
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They are a kind of auxiliary (extra) verb. They indicates if the speaker thinks that something or a situation is likely to happen or not, or if something or a situation is desirable or not.
Some facts about modal verbs.
Look at the diagram below for a list of nine modal verbs and a summary of the basic information about them.
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You are probably familiar with the present continuous (eg I am working). The past continuous is a similar form to that.
Form: Subject + ‘be’ (in the past form) + verb-ing
Use 1: We use the past continuous to say that something was in progress at a specific time in the past.
Example 1: I was working last weekend. (last weekend is the ‘specific time’ in the past)
Use 2: To indicate the an action (past continuous) was in progress when another action (past simple) happened.
Example 2: We were approaching (in progress) to land when a bird hit the windshield.
Check the diagram below for more information about when we often use this tense and try to make some example sentences of your own.
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Adverbs of frequency tell you approximately how often something happens.
Tip: It’s important to place adverbs in the correct position in a sentence.
Adverbs of frequency can be placed in more than one position in a sentence but we’ll focus on the most natural position for these adverbs in two situations; with normal verbs and with the verb ‘be’.
Check out the diagram below for more and then try to write some examples of your own.
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There is a way to conjugate all of our normal verbs and a different way for the verb ‘be’, which is irregular.
Normal verbs have two forms in the present simple.
Tip: The ‘he / she / it’ form in the present simple positive is always different and usually has an ‘s’ at the end.
To conjugate normal verb in the present simple negative we need to use the auxiliary verb ‘do’. Think of an auxiliary verb as an extra verb we use for certain things. In this situation we use ‘do’ to indicate a negative and a question.
Again we need to use the auxiliary verb ‘do’. Because this isn’t a negative we don’t use a negative form. Also be careful with the position of the verb do. We use it before the subject (I / you / we / they / he / she / it)
The verb ‘be’ is very common but it is different than our normal verbs when we conjugate it.
To conjugate the verb ‘be’ as a question we change the order of a positive statement.
Look at our diagram below for a summary and then practice some more sentences yourself.
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Form: subject + ‘be’ (in the present) + verb-ing (You are reading… He is living etc…)
Use: To talk about something in progress now, around now or something temporary.
eg You’re (you are) reading English (now). (something in progress now)
eg I’m reading a good book about the history of aviation. (perhaps not at this moment but around now)
eg He’s living close to the airport. (suggests a temporary action)
Advanced Use: We can use the present continuous to talk about organised future plans.
eg I’m flying on Sunday. (organised future plan – it’s organised by the airline)
eg I’m eating in that new restaurant tomorrow night. (you have a reservation so it’s organised)
Tip: For future plans we can also use ‘will‘ and ‘going to‘ so be sure you know the difference between these thee ways to talk about future plans.
Check the diagram below for its form and two situations when we need to use it.
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