Collins Cobuild

Unit 79
Introduction to modals
Main points
The modal verbs are: ‘can’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘must’, ‘ought’,
‘shall’, ‘should’, ‘will’, and ‘would’.
Modals are always the first word in a verb group.
All  modals  except  for  ‘ought’  are  followed  by  the  base  form  of  a
verb.
‘Ought’ is followed by a ‘to’-infinitive.
Modals have only one form.
Modals can be used for various different purposes. These are explained
in Units 80–91.
1
Modals are always the first word in a verb group. All modals except for
‘ought’ are followed by the base form of a verb.
I must leave fairly soon.
I think it will look rather nice.
Things might have been so different.
People may be watching.
2
‘Ought’ is always followed by a ‘to’-infinitive.
She ought to go straight back to New Zealand.

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Sam ought to have realized how dangerous it was.
You ought to be doing this.
3
Modals have only one form. There is no ‘-s’ form for the third person
singular of the present tense, and there are no ‘-ing’ or ‘-ed’ forms.
There’s nothing I can do about it.
I’m sure he can do it.
You must see the painting he has given me.
4
Modals do not normally indicate the time when something happens.
There are, however, a few exceptions.
‘Shall’ and ‘will’ often indicate a future event or situation.
I shall do what you suggested.
He will not return for many hours.
‘Could’ is used as the past form of ‘can’ to express ability. ‘Would’ is
used as the past form of ‘will’ to express the future.
When I was young, I could run for miles and miles.
He remembered that he would see his mother the next day.
5
In spoken English and informal written English, ‘shall’ and ‘will’ are
shortened to ‘-’ll’, and ‘would’ to ‘-’d’, and added to a pronoun.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
I hope you’ll agree.
Posy said she’d love to stay.
‘Shall’, ‘will’, and ‘would’ are never shortened if they come at the end
of a sentence.
Paul promised that he would come, and I hope he will.
I’m doing exactly what I said I would.

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In spoken English, you can also add ‘-’ll’ and ‘-’d’ to nouns.
My car’ll be outside.
The headmaster’d be furious if he found out about it.
 WARNING:  Remember  that  ‘-d’  is  also  the  short  form  of  the
auxiliary ‘had’.
I’d heard it many times.

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