It's no secret that English is an international language. According to the statistics of the Council of Europe, it is spoken by seventy percent of the inhabitants of the countries that are part of the European Union. Also, competent beautiful English speech is valued when hiring for many managers of large Russian and foreign companies. In addition, knowing the language, you can safely travel around the globe. But in order to speak fluently in English, it is necessary to study grammar in detail. After all, it is the basis of every language.
This article describes what modal verbs are and the features of their use, as well as the features of using such "relationship verbs" as can/could, may/might.
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are “relationship verbs” that do not denote specific actions, but only reflect the participation of a person in the process that he performs, that is, admissibility, approval, desirability, obligation to performany deed. Comparison examples:
- My daughter is walking in the garden. - My daughter is walking in the garden (the verb expresses doing an action).
- My daughter can walk now. - My daughter can walk (a modal verb indicates the ability to perform an action).
The following verbs belong to the group of "relationship verbs" and semantic phrases:
- can/could (be able, be able);
- may/might (to be able, allow);
- must (should);
- ought to (should, should);
- need (need, need);
- should (should);
- to have/has to (have to);
- to be able to (to be able to);
- to be to (should);
- have/has got to.
In colloquial speech, modal turns are usually rarely used.
Peculiarities of using "relationship verbs"
Like every grammatical rule in the English language, there is a whole group of minor but characteristic exceptions to the use of modal verbs.
- Modal verbs can only be introduced into a sentence with the infinitive of the semantic verb.
- Relationship verbs are inherently inferior because they don't have the forms that other verbs can have. Only can and may are used in the past tense and have the forms - could and might. The difference between might and could is just that the first verb can also be used in the meaning of permission, and both verbs are in Russiantranslated as "to be able to."
- Irregular forms (gerund, participle, etc.) are not used for modal verbs (except for the verb to need).
- The infinitive that follows the modal verb in the sentence is introduced into the sentence without the to particle, exceptions may be semantic turns.
- Relational verbs, unlike others, do not have the ending s.
- Interrogative sentences are formed without an additional verb to do, in this case the modal is put in the first place at the beginning of the sentence (Can you do it for me?).
- In negative sentences, the semantic particle not is added to the verb, which follows after the “verb of relation”. Can and not are not written separately (cannot).
These are the common distinguishing characteristics of all "relationship verbs". Of course, each of them also has special properties.
The difference between may and might and how they are used
The verb may has two meanings. The first is permission to do something. In this sense, the verb may corresponds to the Russian "can" or "permit" in affirmative and interrogative sentences. In negative statements, the verb may expresses the meaning of prohibition or even unconditional disagreement.
- May I call my parents? - Can I call my parents?
- May I go home? - Can I go home?
The main difference between may and might is that might is basically the past form of may.
I was toldthat I might go home. - I was told that I could go home.
Also, the verb may has the meaning of an assumption or the possibility of doing something. In this sense, may cannot be used in interrogative sentences.
He may know that girl. - Maybe he knows that girl.
There is another difference between may and might, which is that the form might can have the meaning of an assumption, but usually shows a greater degree of doubt than the verb may.
Your friend might still call you back, but I'm not sure. - Your friend might call you back, but I'm not sure.
Concluding the topic of the difference between may and might, it should be noted that the form might can also have the meaning of accusation or reproach, in which case the verb is translated into Russian as “could” (could, could).
Modal verbs can and could
These verbs, in addition to the main meaning, can also convey feelings of doubt, amazement and distrust. At the same time, the past form could has the same meaning, but in a less acute form. Also, the verb can is translated into Russian as "to be able" or "to be able." There is no difference between can and may as to their meaning.
The forms of these words are often used in interrogative sentences to express a request. And the difference between could and may is that the negative form of couldn't is more respectful than the verb may. Compare:
- May you pass me the s alt, please? - Can you pass the s alt, please?
- Couldn't you close thewindow, please? -Could you close the window, please?
