|
-
Making Sense of The Modals: Part 2
-
That might be Martha.
-
That may be Martha.
-
That should be Martha.
-
That must be Martha.
-
Other uses of modals:
-
There are four other uses of modals that are somewhat different from the uses described above. They are:
-
Ability-can, be able to:
-
I can speak Spanish.
-
Maria is able to run fast.
-
Desire-would like to:
-
Sarah would like to visit London.
-
Offer-would you like...?
-
Would you like anything to drink?
-
Preference-would rather, would prefer to:
-
I would rather study languages than math.
-
Martha would prefer to go to school instead of working.
-
Additional information:
-
There are some more facts about modals that we should observe:
-
1- the negation of a modal (meaning to use a modal in the negative form)
-
To use a modal in a negative sentence, we put 'not' after the modal, for example: I cannot do it
-
I am not able to do it
-
We will not eat at that restaurant.
-
We are not going to eat at that restaurant.
-
You should not smoke here.
-
You are not supposed to smoke here.
-
Notice that pair of sentences above shares the same meaning. However, the following is different:
-
You must not go.
-
You do not have to go.
-
The meaning is clearly different. While the first is a command, the second is not. It is more of a choice.
-
Making sense of it all:
-
Now let me try to help you make sense out of this. Modals are words that express possibility, authority, advice or ability. The level of certainty and/or the level of ability control which modal to use. Let us look at this:
-
May
-
Possibility
-
Might
-
Can
-
ability
-
Could
-
Will
-
Possibility and/or ability
-
Would
-
Should advice
-
Must command
-
Let us review the following sentences and notice the degree of possibility decreases as we use the past for of the modal:
-
I may visit you tonight. (50% chance that I will)
-
I might visit you tonight. (Less than 50% chance I will)
-
I can run fast. (I am positively sure I can)
-
I could run fast. (I am not 100% sure - possibility may depend on something else)
-
Will you shut the door? (You are close to the door and the possibility of you shutting it is high)
-
Would you shut the door? (You are far from the door and you might not want to go shut it)
-
You should study harder. (I am advising you without authority)
- You must study harder. (I am commanding you with authority)