Modal verbs (could, should, need, etc.) always come first in the verb group. All of them, with the exception of ought, are followed by the verb in its base form.
I must leave fairly soon. / I have to leave very soon.
I think it will look rather nice. / I think it will look pretty good.
Things might have been so different. / Things must be so different.
People may be watching. / People can watch.
Ought is always followed by a to-infinitive verb.
She ought to go straight back to England. / She should go straight back to England.
Sam ought to have realized how dangerous it was. / Sam should have realized how dangerous it was.
You ought to be doing this. / You were supposed to be doing this.
Shape
Modal verbs can only have one form. Thus, the "-s-" form for the singular third person present, the gerund, the present participle, and the simple past form are excluded."-ed".
There's nothing I can do about it. / I can't help it.
I'm sure he can do it. / I'm sure he can do it.
In spoken and informal written English, the modal verbs shall and will are shortened to 'll. In turn, would is shortened to 'd. In this form, they are added to the pronoun.
I'll see you tomorrow. / I'll see you tomorrow.
I hope you'll agree. / I hope you agree.
Posy said she'd love to stay. / Posi says she really wants to stay.
The modal verbs shall, will, would never contract when they are at the end of a sentence.
Paul said he would come, and I hope he will. / Paul said he would come and I hope he does.
In colloquial English, the abbreviated forms 'll and 'd can be attached not only to pronouns, but also to nouns.
My car'll be outside. / My car will be at the exit.
The headmaster'd be furious. / The director will be angry.
When reading the abbreviation 'd, you must also remember that it is a short form for the auxiliary verb had.
I'd heard it many times. / I've heard it many times.
Time
As a rule, modal verbs do not indicate the time of events. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, the modal verbs shall and will often indicate upcoming events.
I shall do what you suggested. / I will do what yousuggested.
He will not return for many hours. / He won't be back for a few hours.
Could is used as the past form of can to express the ability to do something. Would is used as the past form of will to express the future tense.
When I was young, I could run for miles. / When I was young, I could run miles.
He remembered that he would see his mother the next day. / He remembered that he would see his mother next week.
Denial
To make a sentence negative, put the negative word directly after the modal verb.
You must not worry. / You don't have to worry.
I can never remember his name./ I can never remember his name.
He ought not to have done that. / He doesn't have to finish this.
If the negative particle at can is not reduced, then it is written as a single continuous word cannot.
I cannot go back. / I can't go back.
However, if can is followed by not only, then can and not do not merge.
We can not only book your flight for you, but also advise you about hotels. / We can not only book a plane ticket for you, but also give you advice about a hotel.
In colloquial and informal English writing, not is usually shortened to n't, and modal verbs should, could, can (may is very rare), for example, append them at the end: could not -> couldn't, should not -> shouldn't, must not-> mustn't, would not -> wouldn't.
We couldn't leave the farm. / We can't leave the farm.
You mustn't talk about Ron like that. / You shouldn't talk about Ron like that.
The modal verbs shall not, will not or cannot are abbreviated as shan't; won't; can't.
I shan't let you go. / I must not let you go.
Won't you change your mind. / You won't change your mind.
We can't stop now. / We can't stop now.
Might not and ought not are sometimes abbreviated to make mightn't and oughtn't. It should be noted that may not is rarely used in the shortened form mayn't (at least in modern English).
Question
To compose a question, you need to place the modal verb in position before the subject.
Could you give me an example? / Could you give an example?
Will you be coming in later? / Will you come by later?
Shall I shut the door? / Shall I close the door?
Do not forget that two modal verbs are never used simultaneously within one predicate. For example, you cannot build a sentence like this: He will can come. Instead, you should say: He will be able to come.
I shall have to go. / I will need to leave.
Your husband might have to give up work. / Your husband may have to give up his job.
Instead of using modal verbs, you can often use other verbs or expressions to make questions, sentences, suggestions, express a desire, or show thatyour request is polite. For example, be able to is can, be likely to is might, and have to is must.
All members are able to claim expenses. / All participants can apply for expenses.
I think that we are likely to see more of this.
These phrases can also be used after modal verbs.
I really thought I wouldn't be able to visit you this week. / I really thought I wouldn't be able to visit you this week.
Dare and need sometimes also behave like modal verbs.
Should and ought
Modal verbs must, have to, should imply necessity, hypothetical. When you want to say something that is likely to be true or could happen, you use should or ought. Should is followed by the base form of the verb, and ought to is followed by the infinitive.
We should arrive by dinner time. / We should arrive at lunchtime.
She ought to know. / She should know.
When you want to say that you think something is wrong or probably won't happen, use should not or ought not.
There shouldn't be any problem. / There shouldn't be any problems here.
That ought not to be too difficult. / It shouldn't be too hard.
If you want to express that you are definitely sure that this will happen, you can use should have or ought to have, followed by the past participle.
You should have heard by now that I'm O. K. / You should havehear by now that I'm fine.
They ought to have arrived yesterday. / They should have arrived yesterday.
If you want to say you don't think something happened, you use should not have or ought not to have followed by a past participle verb.
You shouldn't have had any difficulty in getting there. / You shouldn't have had any trouble getting there.
This ought not to have been a problem. / This shouldn't have been a problem.
Should have or ought to have are also used to say that something you expected to happen but hasn't happened yet.
Yesterday should have been the start of the soccer season. / Football season was supposed to start yesterday.
She ought not to have been home by now. / She shouldn't have come home by this time.
Must
When you are sure that an event actually takes place or has happened, use must.
Oh, you must be Sylvia's husband. / Oh, you must be Sylvia's husband.
He must know something about it. / He must know something about this.
When you are absolutely sure that an event did not happen or does not take place, use cannot or can't.
This cannot be the whole story. / This can't be the whole story.
He can't be very old – he's about 25, isn't he? / He can't be very old - he's 25, right?
This meaning does not use must not or mustn't.
When someone wants to say that they are almost certain that something has happened, they use must have followed by a past participle verb.
This article must have been written by a woman. / This article must have been written by a woman.
We must have taken the wrong road. / We must have chosen the wrong path.
To describe a situation in which someone doesn't think some event took place, they use can't have, also followed by a past participle verb.
You can't have forgotten me. / You shouldn't have forgotten me.
He can't have said that. / He couldn't say it.
Will
If you want to say that an event will definitely happen in the future, use will.
People will always say the things you want to hear. / People will always say the things you want to hear.
They'll manage. / They can do it.
Will not or won't are used when you want to say that the event definitely will not happen or has no place to be.
You won't get much sympathy from them. / You won't win them over.
Other ways of expressing probability
There are several ways to outline probability and certainty without using modal verbs. For example, you can put:
1) bound to followed by a verb in base form.
It was bound to happen. / It was bound to happen.
You're bound tomake mistake. / You were doomed to make a mistake.
2) An adjective such as certain, likely, shure, or unlikely followed by a to-infinitive clause or that.
They were certain that you were defeated. / They were sure you were defeated.
I am not likely to forget it. / I'm not inclined to forget it.
Thus, modal verbs describe the probability of an action, the attitude of the actor or author to the action, they come first in the verb group, although, as a rule, they do not take on signs of tense.
