Modal Verb Need

The verb need has two sets of forms: those of a 'modal auxiliary verb', and those of an 'ordinary verb'. As a modal verb need has no –s on the third person singular, no infinitives and participles; it combines with a bare infinitive; questions and negatives are made without do.  

Patterns. Read and memorize! 

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I need hardly go there.	Need I mention these words?	I needn’t be afraid.
She need hardly go there	Need she mention these words?	She needn’t be afraid.
He need hardly go there.	Need he mention these words?	He needn’t be afraid.
We need hardly go there.	Need we mention these words?	We needn’t be afraid.
You need hardly go there.	Need you mention these words?	You needn’t be afraid.
They need hardly go there.	Need they mention these words?	They needn’t be afraid.

Note 1: - The modal verb 'need' has only one tense form – the present.

Note 2: – 'Need' is mostly used in negative and interrogative sentences, and in sentences which express doubt or negative ideas.

Note 3: – There is a contracted negative needn’t .

Should and Ought to

Modal verbs: Should and Ought

There is hardly any difference in meaning between should and ought. Both express duty, obligation, advice. It must be remembered that ought is always followed by to + infinitive.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. John should study English hard. 
2. John should read English books loudly. 
3. John should work on his pronunciation. 
4. John should write dictations regularly. 
5. John ought to practise oral drills.
6. John ought to drill the patterns.
7. John ought to recite English poems. 
8. John ought to listen to good records.

Modal Verb Can Examples

There are examples of the use of modal verb CAN in proverbs and quotations .

Proverbs

I

Note the use of the verb 'can' in the following proverbs and sayings.

1. No man can serve two masters.
2. A man can die but once.
3. A golden key can open any door
4. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
5. A beggar can never be bankrupt.
6. None can play the fool so well as a wise man.
7. A man can do no more than he can.
8. Give a lie twenty-four hours’ start and you can never overtake it.
9. Two of a trade can never agree.
10. Blind men can judge no colours.
11. Two can live as cheaply as one.
12. Don't try to walk before you can crawl .