Modal Phrases (Had Better and Would Rather)

Semi-modal multi-word constructions 'had better' and 'would rather' are followed by the infinitive without to.

Examples: 

• We had better go into the house because it is raining. 
• I can come today but I would rather come tomorrow.

Had Better

'Had better' expresses advice and means 'would find it wiser or more suitable'.
E.g.: You had better go now (=it would be good, wise or suitable for you to go now).

Synonyms: ought to do something / should do something.

In negative structures, better comes before not.
E.g.: You had better not go now.

Patterns. Read and memorize!

1. We had better take an umbrella. It may rain. (We’d (1) better…) 
2. He’d better stop and have a rest if he feels tired. 
3. You’d better go on the excursion. 
4. You had better not eat so much. (You’d better…) 
5. Hadn’t you better hurry if you want to catch the eight o’clock train? (2) 
6. What had I better put on for the party?

Note 1: - The contracted form ‘d is very common.
Note 2: - The negative form 'hadn't better' is used mainly in questions: Hadn't we better try again later?

►'Had' is sometimes dropped in very informal speech.
E. g. : You better go now. 
           I better try again later.

Modal Verb Dare

Dare

As a modal verb dare has two forms: dare for the present and dared for the past. It is used mostly in interrogative and negative sentences. 'Dare' means 'to have the courage to do something'. In negative sentences it denotes lack of courage to do something.

Examples:  
 She dare not open her mouth. (She hasn’t got the courage.)
 Dare he tell them what he knows? (Is he brave enough to tell them?)

Patterns. Read and memorize!

Affirmative 1	Interrogative	Negative
I dare say this.	Dare I say this?	I dare not say this.
She dare say this.	Dare she say this?	She dare not say this.
He dare say this.	Dare he say this?	He dare not say this.
We dare say this.	Dare we say this?	We dare not say this.
You dare say this.	Dare you say this?	You dare not say this.
They dare say this.	Dare they say this?	They dare not say this.

Note 1: - Modal verb 'dare' is mostly used in interrogative and negative sentences.

Note 2: – There is a contracted negative daren’t [deənt]. In British English, the negative 'daren’t' is frequent:
E. g. :  She daren’t tell the boss because she doesn’t want to make trouble.

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.

Examples of Modal Verbs in Texts and Dialogues

Below are short texts and dialogues which contain all the modal verbs. I hope that exploring these examples of the use of modal verbs will help learners build their confidence in using them.

Text 1

The Story of Helen Keller, The Girl Who Could Not See, Hear or Speak

I’d like you to know the story of Helen Keller, who could neither see nor hear from the time she was a baby. Yet the brilliant girl was able to overcome all those handicaps, to graduate from a college with honors and become a useful citizen.

I must say there was nothing wrong with Helen Keller when she was born. Her father and mother were very proud of their pretty baby, who tried to say “pa-pa” and “ma-ma”.

For nineteen months Helen grew bigger and stronger. She was able to walk when she was a year old; she could say a few words.

But one day the child fell ill. She must have been very ill. For days she was laid up with a high fever and soon the parents learned that their darling would never be able to see and hear.

The little child was now doomed to a life of silence and darkness. She could not hear what was said to her and did not know how to talk, she was unable to play with other children.

When Helen was 6 years old her parents took her to Baltimore and then to Washington to famous doctors to find out if they could do something to make her hear and see again, but the doctors could do nothing. The child was hopelessly deaf. Dr. Bell said the Kellers should address the Perkins Institution for the blind in Boston and ask if they could send someone to help the child.

It was a wonderful day for Helen Keller when Ann Sullivan arrived in March 1887 to take charge of the child who could neither hear nor speak. Helen was nearly seven, Ann Sullivan was past twenty.

Ann Sullivan found a way to make herself understood. She gave the child a doll, and taking Helen Keller’s hand she slowly spelled out "d-o-l". The child learnt for the first time that things must have names.

When Miss Sullivan later spelled into the little girl’s hand the word “w-a-t-e-r” and then let the water from the pumps run over her hand, a new light seemed to brighten the face of the child. During the next 3 months, she learned 300 words and could even put some of them into sentences.
Miss Sullivan loved her pupil who was so quick to learn. She lived with Helen, played with her and worked with her every hour of the day. By means of the hand language, Helen and her teacher were able to talk to each other.

Modal Verb May

The Forms, Meanings and Use of the Modal Verb MAY (MIGHT).

May and might are modal auxiliary verb, like for example must , can  and ought. These verbs have no infinitives or participles (to may, mighted, maying do not exist), question and negatives are made without do (may I?, not Do I may?). Like other modal verbs, 'may' has no –s on the third person singular (he may, not he mays); 'may' and 'might' are followed by infinitives without to.  

Patterns. Read and memorize! 

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I may attend lectures at the University.	May I attend lectures at the University?	I may not attend lectures at the University.
He may attend lectures at the University.	May he attend lectures at the University?	He may not attend lectures at the University.
She may attend lectures at the University.	May she attend lectures at the University?	She may not attend lectures at the University.
It may go.	May it go?	It may not go.
We may attend lectures at the University.	May we attend lectures at the University?	We may not attend lectures at the University.
You may attend lectures at the University.	May you attend lectures at the University?	You may not attend lectures at the University.
They may attend lectures at the University.	May they attend lectures at the University?	They may not attend lectures at the University.

Note 1: - The modal verb 'may' has two forms – may in the present and might in the past. The missing tense is supplied by the future of to be allowed to.
E. g. : I shall be allowed to attend lectures at the University.
          He was allowed to come later.

Note 2: - Contracted negative forms exist: mightn’t is common, but mayn’t is very unusual.


► Might does not normally have a past sense, but it can be used as the past tense of 'may' in 'indirect speech' to report the giving of permission.

• 'What are you doing here?' – 'The manager said that I might look round.'
• He said that we might take his car. 

Modal Verbs: Can

The Forms, Meanings and Use of the Modal Verb CAN (COULD).

Can and could are modal auxiliary verb, like for example must, may and should. Like other modal verbs, 'can' has no –s on the third person singular (he can, not he cans); questions and negatives are made without do (Can I?, Could I? not Do I can?, Did I could?); these verbs are followed by the infinitive without to (e. g.: I can do it.). 'Can' and 'could' have no infinitive or participles (to can, canning do not exist).

Patterns. Read and memorize! 

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I can swim.	Can I swim?	I cannot swim.
He can swim.	Can he swim?	He cannot swim.
She can swim.	Can she swim?	She cannot swim.
It can swim.	Can it swim?	It cannot swim.
We can swim.	Can we swim?	We cannot swim.
You can swim.	Can you swim?	You cannot swim.
They can swim.	Can they swim?	They cannot swim.

Note 1: - the modal verb 'can' has only two forms – can in the present and could in the past. The missing tense is supplied by the future of to be able.
E. g. : I shall be able to prepare for my exams.

Note 2: - There are contracted negative form can’t, couldn’t.
E. g.: I can’t understand.

Be careful about the pronunciation of 'can’t': in British English it has a quite different vowel from 'can'.
Can [kᴂnt]; can’t [kɑːnt] (GB), [kᴂnt] (US).

Modal Verbs: Must

The Forms, Meanings and Use of the Modal Verb MUST.

Must is a modal auxiliary verb. 'Must' has no infinitive or participles. It  has only one tense form in the present. Like other modal verbs, 'must' has no –s on the third person singular (he must, not he musts); questions and negatives are made without do (Must I?, not Do I must?); 'must' is followed by the infinitive without to (e. g.: I must do it).

Patterns. Read and memorize! 

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I must do it now.	Must I do it now?	I must not do it now.
He must do it now.	Must he do it now?	He must not do it now.
She must do it now.	Must she do it now?	She must not do it now.
It must do it now.	Must it do it now?	It must not do it now.
We must do it now.	Must we do it now?	We must not do it now.
You must do it now.	Must you do it now?	You must not do it now.
They must do it now.	Must they do it now?	They must not do it now.

Note 1: - The missing tenses are supplied by the past and the future tenses of to have.
E. g. : I had to meet him at the station.
          I shall have to meet him at the station.

Note 2: - There is a contracted negative form mustn’t [mʌsnt].
E. g.: He mustn’t find out what’s happening.