Verbs and

Modals

ENGLISH

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Verbs
Verb is another word for moods, emotions or actions of a person/noun/subject, is a
state of being, and is a state of knowing.

Verbs may appear as: is, are, be, such as, was, were, been, being, have, had, has,
do, did, does, can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, must, might, etc.

In generative grammar, a verb phrase may consist of just a single verb. However,
typically it contains a main verb, an auxiliary verb, optional specifiers, compliments, and
adjuncts.

It often agrees with its primary argument (the subject) in person, number or gender.

Exception
With the exception of the verb to be, English shows distinctive agreements only in the
third person singular, present tense form of verbs, which are marked by adding
"-s" (walks) or "-es" (fishes). The rest of the persons are not distinguished in the verb (I
walk, you walk, they walk, etc.).

Examples:

1) She works well.

2) They maintain themselves.

3) Let’s drop by at grand ma’s place!

4) He is returning home after a long time.

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Classification of verbs can be done as:

Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs
Main Verbs

Modal Verbs Helping Verbs

Transitive OR Regular OR Finite OR

Intransitive Irregular Non-finite

Main Verbs
Main verbs are the verbs which shows the subject performing action/activity. Such as:
sleeps, eats, plays, dances, sings. Wherever, an action is performed, action verbs play
a major role.

Forms of Main Verb

V1 V2 V3 V4
Present Past Perfect Continuous
(do/does) (did) (done) (doing)

Transitive Verb
A transitive verb is one that only makes sense if it exerts its action on an object. The
effect of the transitive verbs can be directly seen on the object.
For eg: Kick, throw, pat, give.

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Should I start with Basic Yes, I believe you

grammar concepts for should. Basic grammar is
the exams? required to clear any
competitive exam.

Intransitive Verb
An intransitive verb does not allow a direct object. This is a distinctive from a transitive
verb, which takes one or more objects. The verb property is called transitivity.
Intransitive verbs are often identified as those that can't be followed by who or what.
For eg: Arrive, Smile, Cry, Die, Happen, Occur, Grow, Develop.

Regular Verb
Regular verbs are those whose conjugation follow the typical pattern, or one of the
typical patterns, of the language to which it belongs. They form their inflected parts by
adding the typical endings -s, -ing and -ed to give forms such as plays, entering, and
liked.
For eg: verbs such as play, enter, and like are regular

Irregular Verb
Irregular verbs are the ones in which the past tense is not formed by adding the usual ‘-
ed’ ending. Examples of irregular verbs are sing (sang), feel (felt), and go (went).

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Finite Verb
Structural form of finite V3 form:
Example:
1) Ram has written a letter.
V3

2) She gave a written statement before the judge.

adj V3 N

Rule #1:
A finite verb is controlled by the no. of subjects if the subject is singular, the verb is sin-
gular. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural.
Example:
1) The girl runs slowly. (Subject is singular)
2) The girls run slowly. (Subject is plural)

Rule #2:
A finite verb is controlled by the person.
Example:
1) I visit my grandparents at least once a month. (I – First Person)
2) She visits her grandparents at least once a month. (She – Third Person)

Rule #3:
A finite verb is controlled by the tense. It can be in the past, present or future tense.
Example:
1) Mary studies Spanish. (Present Tense)
2) Mary will study Spanish. (future Tense)

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Non-finite Verb

Non-finite Verbs

Infinitives Gerunds Participle

to + V1 V4

Present Participle Past Participle Perfect Participle

V4 V3 having + V4

Rule #1: Bare infinitive with (infinitive without ‘to’) some modals
We, generally, do not use ‘to+V1’ form with modals. Modals, when used, are written
without ‘to’.
Example:
1) We can do the work. (Case of Bare infinitive)
2) She may come tomorrow. (Case of Bare infinitive)

Exception
Full infinitive (infinitive with ‘to’) is used with these two modals
We use ‘to+V1’ with these two modals.
 Ought to
 Have to
Example:
1) You ought to go home today.
2) You ought to study to pass.

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Rule #2:
To is the only preposition that takes the base form of the verb. However, there are some
phrases with to being at the end of them, which require the gerund form of the verbs.
Example:
1) Mom volunteered to make cookies for the bake sale.
2) Paula's dedication to volunteering is a surprise at five.

Rule #3:
To be, being, having, getting, etc. are generally followed by the past participle form of
the verbs and other adjectives.
Example:
1) Being tired, he took some time off from work.
2) John went to bazar having eaten a burger.

Rule #4:
Usage of used to/ accustomed to/ addicted to/ habituated to:
used to/ accustomed to/ addicted to/ habituated to + V4
Example:
1) She is addicted to playing ludo late night
2) My flatmate is accustomed to eating pizza everyday.

Rule #5:
With these words to + V1 is always used
Try, refuse, proceed, plan, neglect, hesitate, begin, manage, learn, forget, etc.
Example:
1) He hesitates to speak in front of new people in the office
2) He refused me to go there with his friend.

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Rule #6:
Gerund form is always used after possessive pronouns like (my, mine, his, her, your,
our, etc.
Example:
1) She is very upset of my failing in the exams.

Points to Remember
 The base form of the verb is also used in the clauses that use the subjunctive
mood. Some certain verbs + the conjunction that requires the next clause to use
the subjunctive mood and the clause uses the base form of the verb in it.
advise, demand, prefer, require, ask, insist, propose, stipulate, command,
recommend, suggest, decree, order, request, urge, move
Subject + the verbs of the above list (any tense) + THAT + subject + base verb
+. ....
Example:
1) The office requires that we complete our work timely.
2) She commanded that he stop making excuses for being late.

 The verbs are customarily followed by the subjects, and they must agree with the
subjects according to their number and person.
Singular Subject = Singular Verb
Plural Subject = Plural Verb
Example:
1) A boy plays Football.
2) The boys play Football.

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Auxiliary Verbs
An auxiliary verb (abbreviated aux) is a verb that adds functional or grammatical
meaning to the clause in which it appears, so as to express tense, aspect, modality,
voice, emphasis, etc. Auxiliary verbs usually accompany a main verb. The main verb
provides the main semantic content of the clause.

Example: I have finished my lunch.

Here, the main verb is finish, and the auxiliary have helps to express the perfect
aspect. Some sentences contain a chain of two or more auxiliary verbs.

Modal Verbs

Modals are the verbs that are used to indicate modality. Such as, likelihood, ability,
permission, request, capacity, suggestions, order, obligation, or advice. Modal
verbs always accompany the base (infinitive) form of another verb having semantic
content. Modals are the type of auxiliary expressing the subject’s mood. They give
information about the function of the main verb.

In English, the modal verbs commonly used are can, could, may, might, must, will,
would, shall, should, ought to, had better, "have to" and sometimes need or dare.

Modal Verb Must Shall Will Can May

Modal + ed - Should Would Could Might

Must not Shall not Will not Cannot May not

Full negative forms
- Should not Would not Could not Might not

Mustn’t Shan’t Won’t Can’t -

Short Negative forms
- Shouldn’t Wouldn’t Couldn’t Mightn’t

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Modals Usage

Can power, ability, and capacity, possibility, take or give permission in an

informal way, friendly/informal request,

Could past ability, power and capacity, remote possibility, formal request

May show formal permission, polite request, possibility, In optative sentences,

Might less possibility, in indirect speech as the past form of may

Shall with I/we in future tense, polite suggestion, show command, promise and
threat with second and third person, question tag of imperative sentences

Should show assistance or polite suggestion, give advice,

Ought to show moral obligation,

Must show compulsion, express duty

Will in future tense, show determination

Would past form of will, make a polite request, past habit, probability

Dare challenge or courage

Need requirements

Used to past habits, habitual action

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Can and Could

 Can is used to denote power, ability, and capacity

Could is used to show past ability, power and capacity.
Example:
1) I can run 10 kms.
2) I could not run 10 kms one year ago.

 Can is used to take or give permission in an informal way.

Example: Can I use your laptop?

 Can denotes possibility.

Example: Everyone can do this task.

 Could is used to show remote possibility.

Example: It could rain tomorrow.

 Can is used to show friendly/informal request.

Example: Can I take your bike?

 Could is used to show formal request.

Example: Could you tell me the way to the central park?

Common Mistake
both can/could and ‘able to’ are used to show capacity, so, they cannot be used
together in a sentence.
Example: I cannot be able to run a marathon.—WRONG
I cannot run a marathon.—CORRECT
I am not able to run a marathon.—CORRECT

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May and Might

 May is used to show formal permission.

Example: You may take leave for tomorrow.

 May is used for polite request .

Example: May I come in?

 May is utilized for possibility.

Might is used to show less possibility.
Example:
1) My brother may come to see me this weekend.
2) It might rain tonight.

 May can be used In optative sentences.

Example: May the king live long!

 Might is used in indirect speech as the past form of may.

Example: He said that he might come to Mumbai that day.

Shall

 Shall is used with I/we in future tense in formal English.

Example: I shall not come to office tomorrow.

Exception
In modern English ‘will’ can be used with I/we but in interrogative sentences ‘shall’ is
always used with I/we.
Example: Shall we go?

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 Shall can be used to offer a polite suggestion

Example: Shall we go for a walk?

 Shall is used to show command, promise and threat with second and third person.
Example:
1) You shall leave the office at once.
2) You shall come to the office tomorrow.

 Shall is used in the question tag of imperative sentences.

Example: Let us go for a movie, shall we?

Should and Ought to

 Should is used to show assistance or polite suggestion.

Example: Should I help you with this task?

 Should is used to give advice.

Example: You should exercise daily to stay fit.

 Ought to is used to show moral obligation.

Example: We ought to respect elders.

Must

 Must can be used to show compulsion

Example: You must right in blue ink.

 Must is used to express duty

Example: A soldier must serve his country faithfully.

Will and Would

 Will is used in future tense.

Example: I will go for a trek this week.

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 Will is used to show determination.

Example: I will pass the exam this time.

 Would is the past form of will.

Example: He said that he would pass the exam.

 Would is used to make a polite request.

Example: Would you help me?

 Would is used to show past habit.

Example: I would go to the office on foot.

 Would can be used to show probability.

Example: He would be playing.

Dare and Need

 Dare and need are used as both main verb as well as modal.
Dare shows challenge or courage.
Need shows requirements.
Example:
1) I need to have coffee, now.
2) I do not dare to go to the forest at night.
3) I need not come to the office tomorrow.
4) I have taught him a lesson, he dare not cheat anyone again.

Dare and Need

 ‘Used to’ denotes past habits.

Example: I used to go for a walk daily.

 When V4 is used after verb + used to, it shows habitual action. ‘Used to’ denotes
past habits.
Example: I am used to getting up early in the morning.

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Common Rules of Modals

Rule #1: Forming question with Modals
We form questions by inverting the modal verb and the subject. We do not use auxilia-
ries to do so.
Example:
1) Should I go to bed now?
2) Must we do the work in excel?

Rule #2: Forming negatives by adding ‘NOT’

We form negative sentences by adding ‘NOT’. We do not add auxiliaries.
Example:
1) Must not we do the work in excel?
2) Should I not go to bed now?
3) You must not be jealous from other’s progress.
4) I cannot leave the place before informed.

Rule #3: Interrogatives with Modals

Modals can be used in tag/ interrogative sentences.
Example:
1) You are not supposed to leave the place, are you?
2) You can drive the car, can’t you?

Rule #4: Modals and Tenses

Modals do not exist in all tenses. They are only in Simple tenses.
Example:
1) The train might be at the station (Past tense)
2) The train might arrive late (Future tense)

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Rule #5: Forms of Modals

There are perfect forms and continuous forms of Modals.
The perfect form: (Modal + have + V3)
The continuous form: (Modals + be + ing)
Example:
1) You could have done better.
2) You will be appearing for the examination soon.

Common Mistake
We cannot place one modal after the other. The sequence will be grammatically wrong.
Example: She must can do it. —WRONG
She must do it. —CORRECT
She can do it.—CORRECT

Points to Remember
 Modals never change their form. We cannot add ‘s’, ‘ed’, ‘ing’ after them.
 Modals are always followed by bare infinitive without to.

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