Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in

My free lessons !!!

View all entries from My free lessons !!! >

silent_sam

silent_sam

Canada

November 30, 2007

Hello everyone,

 

Many students on this site have asked me to talk about “Modals”

 

Students are confused and don’t know how to use modals at first.  Well I guess we will have to do a series on Modals to help you relax and use them with confidence. J

 

First, you need to know why we use modals in English …

 

Modals let us know the feeling, attitude or mood of the speaker.  They help us understand the deeper meaning of a sentence even if we don’t hear the other person’s voice.

 

This is a list of modals in English:

 

May, Might, Should, Ought to, Had better, Be supposed to, Must, Have to, have got to, Will, Be going to, Can, Could, Be able to, Would, Used to

Now you should remember that each modal can have more than one meaning.

 

We will start with May:

 

1) “May” can be used as a polite request: this form is very polite and not used in day to day conversation very much … but it is good to know ;)

 

May I borrow your pen?

May I ask you name?

 

2) “May” can also be used to talk about certainty (when you are sure about something).  When we use “may” in a sentence it mean 50% sure.  Also remember Might has the same meaning  … look at these examples:

 

John may be in the library. 

(This means I am not sure if John is in the library or not. There is a 50% chance he is there)

Sarah might call you tonight.  

(This means there is a 50% chance of a Phone call)

 

Kiyoko might visit Beijing next summer.

Kumar may be at home.

 

Ok this is the end of part one on modals.  Hope this is helpful and I will post part two in a few days.

Have fun learning Wink

More entries: Modals Part 1 (6), Hear and Listen (7), Short travel log, See Look Watch (10), Some idioms (6), A late response (1), Apology (1), Traditions (4), Email requests (5), Blog 5 - Goodbye slang (5)

View all entries from My free lessons !!! >

02:05 PM Mar 16 2008

Renito

Renito
Bulgaria

that's a nicely inspired lecture  :)))

Reni Bg

05:14 AM Jan 01 2008

Sea gull
China

Hello,Sam.nice to see you,i'm a student.please forgive my pool english. i want to improve it but i always fail.can you give me a hand.By the way,i just read you blog and realiy like it.Let make a friend

02:01 AM Dec 21 2007

Thyago

Thyago
Brazil

Hey Sam!

I've just read this blog and I really liked it!

There are very important tips =)

Thank you very much

12:59 AM Dec 20 2007

Gud

Gud
China

hi!!!sam.please forgive my pool english. i want to improve it but i always fail.can you give me a hand.

05:17 PM Dec 02 2007

AL Kindi

AL Kindi
United Arab Emirates

thanx man

Laughing

keep going

07:27 AM Nov 30 2007

elliott2918
China

Thx for ur help! Smile