Read
the following sentences and observe the verbs carefully.
1.
I talked
to
my friend in English.
2.
I was talking to my friend
about you.
3.
We water the plants everyday.
4.
We have watered the plants.
In the above sentences, the verbs talked, talking, water and
watered are the Main Verbs or Lexical Verbs. Main Verbs can stand alone, or they can be
used with a helping verb.
Each main verb has five forms: the simple form (present tense), the s-form (present
tense), the past tense form, the past participle tense form, and the present participle tense form.
For Example : The
five forms of the main verb are-go, goes, went, gone and going.
In the above sentences, the words ‘was’ and ‘have’ are also verbs, but these verbs are the Helping Verbs because they help the Main Verbs. Helping Verbs are called Auxiliaries. They are twelve in number: be, do, have, can, may, shall, will, must, ought, used(to), need, dare.
Read the following
sentence:
I
must have been thinking of something else.
In the above sentence, ‘must’,
‘have’ and ‘been’
are Auxiliaries; ‘thinking’ is the Main Verb.
Types of
Auxiliaries (Helping Verbs)
There
are two types of Auxiliaries:
1.
Primary Auxiliaries
2.
Modal Auxiliaries
Primary Auxiliaries
There are three
Primary Auxiliaries: be, do and have. They change their
forms according to the Person or Number of the Subject.
|
Sr. No. |
Primary Auxiliary |
Various
Forms of Primary Auxiliaries |
|
1 |
be |
is, am, are, was, were, been, being |
|
2 |
do |
do, does, did |
|
3 |
have |
have, has, had |
Primary Auxiliaries also known as primary verbs
can function as either main verbs or auxiliary verbs.
(i)
Primary Auxiliaries as Main Verbs: The primary
verbs in the bold function as main verbs because each of them can stand alone and also
carry a meaning.
The jug is on the table. I have a
big house.
They do their work honestly.
He had a problem.
She
has a car.
I had
two
balls.
The boys were busy. I am a teacher.
(ii)
Primary Auxiliaries as Helping Verbs: The primary verbs in the bold function
as auxiliary verbs because each of them are helping a main verb. They can neither stand alone nor do they carry any lexical
meaning. They carry grammatical meaning only.
She is playing a
match. I am
not writing a letter. I did not hit him.
An apple was eaten by Riya.
Are
the
boys being punished by
the teacher?
Has this picture been painted by you?
Read
the following sentences carefully :
(i) He can drive a car. (‘can’ shows ability)
(ii) The rich should help the poor. (‘should’ shows moral obligation)
(iii) It may rain today. (‘may’ shows possibility)
In the above
sentences, ‘drive’, ‘help’
and ‘rain’ are Main Verbs whereas
‘Can’ ‘Should’ and ‘May’
are Helping Verbs that denote particular moods,
expressions or conceptions of the mind. Here ‘can’ ‘should’ and ‘may’ express ‘ability’,
‘moral obligation’ and ‘possibility’ respectively. Since these auxiliaries denote some particular moods or expressions, they are called
Modal Auxiliaries.
Some Important Rules about
Modal Auxiliaries :
1.
Modals can never stand alone. They are always used to help a main verb.
For
Example : I must leave soon. (Main verb
is ‘leave’ and it is helped by the auxiliary verb, ‘must’)
He can drive a car. (Main verb is ‘drive’ and
it is helped by the auxiliary verb, ‘can’.)
2.
Modals can’t be used as main
verbs except in a few cases.
For Example : I will you. (‘Will’ alone
does not carry any lexical meaning.
Therefore, this sentence is meaningless.)
I will invite you. (In this sentence, ‘invite’ is the main verb, here and it is helped by the auxiliary verb, ‘will’. The sentence, so formed, is meaningful.)
3.
Modals don’t
have infinitive, present participle or past participle forms. For example, we
never use ‘to should, ‘musting’ or ‘canned’.
4.
Modals are
always followed by the base form (root form or the first form) of a main verb.
For Example : They must attend their classes.
I can solve
this
sum.
5.
Modals can’t be used in all the
verb tenses.
For
Example : In some tenses, we use, ‘be
able to’ instead of ‘can’ to express ability.
(a)
I will can do that. (incorrect)
I
will be able to do that. (Correct)
(b)
I have canned do that. (Incorrect)
(c)
I have been able to do that. (correct)
6.
When a Modal
is followed by ‘be’ + Present Participle form of the verb, this indicates that one is talking about the present
or the future.
For Example : He may be watching a movie.
The play will be starting soon.
7.
When a Modal
is followed by have + Past Participle, this indicates that one is talking about
the Past.
For Example : You must have
informed us.
She may have already left.
8.
In Passive sentences, the
pattern is:
Modal + be + Past Participle Form or,
Modal
+ have been + Past Participle Form
For Example : His statement will be published soon.
Such changes may have been justified.
9.
Modals do not inflect.
They do not have any ‘-s’ form,
‘-ing’ form or ‘-ed’
form.
10.
Modals do not take any primary
auxiliary to form negative sentences. To form negative
sentences, the article
‘not’ is added after the modal.
For Example : He should not talk rudely.
11.
Questions are
formed by placing the modal before the Subject. In case of ought to, ‘ought’ is placed before
the subject and ‘to’ after it.
For
Example : Would you please lend me your book?
Ought
we to support them?
12.
Modals are used in Question Tags:
For
Example : She can’t drive a car, can she?
He
could not solve the sum, could he?
13.
There are 13 Modal
Auxiliaries: will, would,
shall, should, can, could,
may, might, used to, ought to, must,
dare and need.
14.
‘Need’ and ‘Dare’ can also be used as main verbs.
(1) Use of ‘Will’
Will
is used :
1.
To indicate simple futurity or simple future plan
when the subject is Pronoun of the second or third person:
For Example : My friend will come tomorrow.
You will go to school at 7 a.m.
2.
To indicate prediction:
For Example : It will rain tomorrow.
3.
To express future intentions that are decided at
the time of speaking (offer, promise,decision,determination,threat,willingness)
when the subject is Pronoun
of the First Person:
For Example : Since
you are very tired, I will do the dishes. (Offer) I will lend you some money. (Promise)
I will wear my orange shirt. (Decision)
I will complete the task by 6 p.m. (Determination) I will
teach you a lesson. (Threat)
I will do the washing-up. (Willingness)
4.
To express a request, invitation or order in
yes/no question with ‘you’ as subject:
For
Example : Will you please accompany me
home? (Request) Will you shut up? (Order)
Will you have a cup of tea? (Invitation)
Will you stop picking your nails! (Command)
(2)
Use
of ‘Shall’
1.
To express futurity
or simple future plan when the subject
is Pronoun of the First Person.
For Example : I shall meet you tomorrow.
We shall go for a picnic next week.
2.
To make
offer/suggestion ( in yes/no question with I/we as subject):
For Example : Shall we play cards? (Suggestion)
Shall I open the door? (Offer) What shall I
do next? (Suggestion)
3.
To express command,
compulsion, legal obligation, prohibition, threat, promise when the Subject is the Second or Third Person Pronoun:
For Example : He shall do the job. (Command)
The students shall attend the class. (Compulsion) The
people shall submit their Income Tax Return before the end of March. (Legal
obligation)
You
shall not smoke here. (Prohibition)
If you make a noise,
you shall be punished. (Threat) He shall be rewarded
for his act of bravery. (Promise)
For Example : If I will go to Delhi, I will visit the Red Fort. (Incorrect) If I go to Delhi, I will visit the Red Fort. (Correct) When he will return,
I will serve him dinner.
(Incorrect) When he returns, I will serve him dinner.
(Correct) Will I make a cup of
tea for you? (Incorrect)
Shall I make a cup
tea for you? (Correct)
Exercise
1 Solved
Fill
in the blanks with ‘will’ or ‘shall’
1.
I
surely help you (Determination)
2. If you make a noise, you be punished.
3.
you have tea?
4.
He play the match tomorrow.
(Information
about future action)
5.
You not leave this
place. (Order)
6.
I bring some tea for you? (Offer)
7.
I
take care of your brother.
(Promise)
8.
I
send him to jail. (Threat)
9.
How you solve this problem?
10.
I
take care of your brother.
(Promise)
(3) Use of ‘Would’
1.
As past tense of ‘will’ in indirect speech: For Example : She told me that he would
go.
He said that you would tell a lie.
2.
To express a wish/preference/desire:
For Example : Would that I were a
king! (Wish)
Would that he were here! (Wish)
I would like to ask
you something. (Desire) I would rather die
than beg. (Preference)
3.
To express a
habitual activity in the past: (meaning: ‘used to’)
For Example : She would sit for hours, saying prayers.
He would take a long walk after meals every day.
1.
To express a
habitual activity in the past: (meaning: ‘used to’)
For Example : She would sit for hours, saying prayers.
He would take a long walk after meals every day.
2.
To express a request:
For Example : Would
you
say something on the subject?
Would you please close the door?
Note: [‘would you’ is more polite than ‘will you’]
3.
In
Conditional Sentences:
For Example : If I were you, I would forgive him.
Had you invited me, I would have
attended the party.
(1)
Use
of ‘Should’
1.
To denote Past Tense of ‘shall’ in indirect speech:
For Example : He
said to me, “You shall complete the work by tomorrow.”
He told me that I should complete
the work by the next day.
2.
To express advice :
For Example : You should
give
up drinking.
You should take care
of your health.
3.
To express duty/ necessity/obligation:
For Example : You should
serve
your country.
We should help the poor.
You should take exercise daily.
4.
To express condition:
For Example
: Should
you come early, you can see me in my room. Should he give up drinking, he can hope to win her over. Walk fast
lest you should miss
the train.
5.
To indicate
disapproval of something that was done in the
past:
For Example : You shouldn’t
have
talked rudely to her.
You shouldn’t have risked all your money.
Exercise
: 2 (Solved)
Fill
in the blanks with ‘would’ or ‘should’
1.
I told him that he pass.
2.
You respect your elders.
3.
Walk fast
lest you miss the bus.
4.
They sit for hours talking together.
(Past habit)
5. that I were the Prime Minister!
6.
You take your
medicine regularly.
7.
I
rather fail than cheat.
8.
I
like to have a cup of tea.
9.
You not leave this job.
10.
you meet him, give him this book.
(2) Use of ‘Can’
1.
To express
ability/capacity/ inability at present:
For Example : He can lift this heavy box.
She
can drive a car.
I
cannot solve this sum.
2.
To refer to a characteristic (only a sporadic
pattern of behaviour, usually in a derogatory
sense):
For Example : She can be
cunning at times.
Rahul
can tell awful lies.
3.
To seek or grant
permission in an informal manner:
For
Example : You can go home now.
Can
I take your pen?
4.
To express a
theoretical possibility:
For Example : It can rain any time during monsoon.
Anyone can make such mistakes.
(3)
Use
of ‘Could’
1.
To express Past Tense of ‘Can’ in Indirect Speech:
For Example : I told him that he could take the
test.
2.
To express
ability/ inability in the past:
For Example : He could lift that heavy box. (He had
the ability to. )
He could read and write before he joined the school. I could not understand what she said as she spoke hurriedly.
3.
To make a
very polite request (more polite than
‘can’) or seek permission:
For Example : Could you give
me a glass of water?
Could I take your car for today?
4.
To express
possibility in conditional sentences:
For Example : If I had the money, I could buy a new
house.
Had he played carefully, he could have scored more runs.
5.
Special use of could in the sense of ‘failing to resist’
For Example : I could not help laughing.
She could not help dancing.
Exercise 3 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks with ‘can’ or ‘could’:
1.
She read and write English well.
2.
I told him that he accompany me.
3.
He drive a car at the age of twelve.
4.
I
not help laughing.
5.
You go now.
6.
He help you if you want.
7.
He come to meet me any time.
8.
I
have availed myself of the opportunity. (But I didn’t)
9.
Who be kinder than God?
10.
Three years ago, he not
even walk.
Answers : 1. can 2. could 3. could 4. could 5. can 6. can 7. can 8. could
9.
can 10. could
(4) Use of ‘May’
1.
To grant or seek permission formally. ‘May’
is more formal and polite than ‘can’.
For Example : You may leave now.
May I come in, Sir?
2.
To express a wish
(benediction or malediction)
For Example : May God bless you!
May God curse you!
3.
To express a
factual possibility:
For Example : The road may be blocked
today due to the procession. They have started and may arrive here any moment. It is cloudy today. It may rain.
For
Example : During monsoon, it
can
rain any time. (theoretical possibility)
The sky is overcast, it
may rain today. (factual possibility)
3. To express a purpose in a subordinate clause:
For Example : He is building
his body so that he may join the army. He is working hard so that he may pass with good marks.
(5)
Use
of ‘Might’
1.
To express the
past tense of ‘may’:
For
Example : He thought he might play a useful role. She asked if she might read my book.
2.
To express a
remote possibility. (Present Time)
For Example : It might
rain
today. (Less certain)
3.
To express a
possibility in a conditional sentence:
For Example
: Had I not taken a taxi, I might have missed
the train. Had she worked
hard, she might have won the competition.
4.
To express some
purpose in the past tense:
For Example : She worked hard so that she might pass.
She ran fast so that she might catch the bus.
Exercise 4 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks
with ‘may’ or ‘might’:
1.
I go home now?
2.
She asked if she read
my book.
3.
We eat
that we live.
4.
God bless you!
5.
It rain today. (weak possibility)
6.
You have won the
race if you had taken an early start.
7.
If you apologise, he forgive you.
8.
She have applied for a job, but
I am not sure.
9.
his soul rest in peace!
10.
He is working hard so that he stand
first in the class.
(6) Use of ‘Used to’
1.
To express a discontinued habit or a past
situation which contrasts with the present:
For Example : He used to go out for a walk every morning.
As a child, she used to love dolls.
She used to drink milk; now she takes tea.
2.
‘Used to’
means ‘be accustomed to’ or ‘be familiar with’. This form of ‘used to’ can
refer to the past as well as present.
For Example : He is quite used to hard work.
He was a salesman, so he was used to travelling up
and down the country.
[We can also use ‘get used to’ to refer to future time. University is different from school, but don’t worry, you will soon get used to it.]
3.
‘Used to’ (not would)
can also describe
a state or situation that existed
in the past and is no longer true.
For
Example : There would be a park where
there is a shopping complex now. (Incorrect)
There used to be a park
where there is a shopping complex now. (Correct)
We would live in Allahabad. (Incorrect) We used to live in Allahabad. (Correct)
(7)
Use
of ‘Ought to’
1.
To express duty/necessity/ obligation/advice
in the same way as ‘should’
For Examples :
I
ought to go now.
You
ought to take
medicine regularly. We ought
to serve our country.
We ought
to love our neighbours.
You ought not
to have disobeyed your parents. You ought not to have misbehaved with your friend.
For Example : You should call your
mother more often. You should apologise before she loses heart due to your misconduct.
‘Ought
to’ expresses objective truth i.e. what
is necessary, and cannot be avoided. That’s why we use ‘ought to’ when we are talking
about laws, duties
and regulations.
For Example : They ought to follow the school’s policies, or they will be expelled.
2.
The past tense
of ‘ought to’ is expressed with ‘ought to have’ + 3rd form of the verb:
For Example : He ought to have attended the meeting.
She ought
to have helped you.
Exercise 5 Solved
Fill in the blanks
with ‘used to’ or ‘ought to’:
1.
We serve our country.
2.
My grandmother tell me
stories.
3.
You change your job.
4.
I am not driving alone.
5.
I
visit my sick brother.
6.
We obey the laws
of our country.
7.
They miss their classes to watch
a movie.
8.
The students be regular and punctual.
9.
The employees _______ come
late, but now they have become
punctual.
(8)
Use
of ‘Must’
1.
To express
compulsion, obligation, necessity, duty, advice:
For Example : You
must attend
the class. (compulsion) We must
respect our elders. (obligation) You must serve your
country. (duty)
A subordinate must obey his
boss. (necessity) You must wear a
helmet. (advice)
2.
To signify determination:
For
Example : I must top the list
this time.
I must get a seat this time.
3.
To express a guess, or an inference from
circumstances, or a feeling of strong likelihood:
For Example : Someone
is knocking at the door. It must
be the postman.
The
Principal must be in the office; the
light is on.
4.
To express inevitability/threat:
For Example : You must be punished for your sins.
He must be suspended
from his job for his careless attitude.
We
all must die.
5.
To express some
strong possibility:
For Example : She must have reached Mumbai by now.
(9)
Use
of ‘Need’
1.
As a regular verb, ‘need’ means
‘require’ or ‘be in need of’ and forms all the tenses in a regular way:
For Example : He needs some money.
He
needed some
money. I don’t need
your advice.
2.
As a Modal Auxiliary, ‘need’ is used to express
necessity/obligation in Negative or Interrogative Sentences. (Used in Present Tense) For
Example : He need not go there again.
She
need not worry for her test.
Need I stay here?
No,
you need
not stay here.
Note : [Need
questions generally get a negative reply.]
(10) Use of ‘Dare’
1.
To express
‘courage’ or ‘venture’
For Example : He dare not oppose me.
How
dare you
insult me? He dare
not face me.
2. The Past Tense of ‘dare’ is daren’t have + 3rd form of verb.
3.
Dare is used as a lexical
verb in all tenses with ‘to’ in order to express
courage/challenge:
For
Example : He dares to speak the
truth.
She
does not dare
to offend you.
4.
Dare as a lexical verb may mean
challenge/face boldly:
For Example : He dared me to a combat.
She
will dare
any situation bravely.
Exercise 6 (Solved)
Fill in the blanks
with ‘must’, ‘dare’ or ‘need’:
1.
The candidates answer five out of ten questions.
2.
How you touch my things.
3.
I
finish this work by Monday.
4.
I go to school today?
5.
He not oppose me.
6.
You not wait for him.
7.
Does she to argue with you?
8.
You not go to the
market as I have brought vegetables.
9.
you have taken all this trouble?
10.
You be joking.
Exercise 7
(Unsolved)
1.
you please stop talking? (will/shall)
2.
You go home
whenever you like. (may/might)
3.
We not tell lies. (would/should)
4.
You get a prize if
you finish your work in time. (shall/will)
5.
My grand mother go
for a morning walk in her youth.
(used
to/might)
6.
He read and write Spanish. (can/could)
7.
The rich help the poor. (should/would)
8.
If you have a ticket,
you go
inside. (could/may)
9.
He said that it be
true. (would/could)
10.
you hear that sound? (may/can)
Exercise 8
(Unsolved)
1.
I tried to climb up the tree, but not.
2.
He worked hard so that he win
the gold medal.
3.
that I were a princess!
4.
Death come any time.
5.
you prosper in life!
6.
Cars not be parked in front of the gate. (may/must)
7.
She is three years old, but she not
speak as yet.
8.
You not drink
here. (will/shall)
9.
If it rain, we will have a holiday. (should/could)
10.
you mind my sitting here? (would/should)
Exercise 9
(Unsolved)
1.
You help the needy. (moral obligation)
2.
If I were you, I not
behave like that. (conditional Sentence)
3.
I
never tell a lie. (determination)
4.
He told me that he not
let me down.
5.
Walk slowly lest you stumble.
6.
My uncle have reached by now. (possibility)
7.
The patient is critical. He be taken to the hospital.
(compulsion)
|
8. |
You not laugh at her mistakes. |
|
|
9. |
How you
call her names? |
|
|
10. |
I to
play hockey when I was a student. (past habit) |
|
|
1. |
Exercise
10 (Unsolved) What you
like to have ,tea or coffee? |
|
|
2. |
I smoke here? (formal permission) |
|
|
3. |
One do
one’s duty. |
|
|
4. |
I smell
something burning. |
|
|
5. |
I rather
die than beg. |
|
|
6. |
It rain
today. (less certain) |
|
|
7. |
I told him that
he take
the test. (can/could) |
|
|
8. |
She not
insult me. |
|
|
|
|
|
10.
I
help him with money. (will/shall)
Exercise 11
(Unsolved)
1.
I answer your question? (should/need)
2.
I wish I help
you, but I have my own problems. (can/could)
3.
Walk carefully lest you sprain
your foot.
4.
You not see him; just write a letter.
(dare/need)
5.
We go to the
station by taxi, it is getting late. (may/should)
6.
You do as you are
told. (order)
7.
The children asked if they have
an ice cream. (could/would)
8.
we play cricket? (suggestion)
9.
you have tea?
10.
It rain tomorrow. (Prediction)
Exercise 12
(Unsolved)
1.
I bring some tea for you? (Do you want me?)
2.
I use your pen? (very polite)
3.
You attend the
class. (Compulsion)
4.
He told me that he join
the Army. (possibility)
5.
he insult you? (challenge)
6.
Play well so that you win
the match. (purpose)
7.
Everyone love his country. (may/ought to)
8.
He is your father, you obey him.
(obligation)
9.
You not worry
about it, I will handle it.
10.
You do your
homework regularly. (advice)
Exercise 13
(Unsolved)
1.
I
hear her reciting a prayer.
(might/could)
2.
You said that you be
absent. (should/would)
3.
I
bring a chocolate for you tomorrow.
(promise)
4.
You not hurry, there is plenty of time.
5.
I
try to do better next time. (promise)
6. you please help me? (should/would)
7.
God save our souls!
8.
I
type ninety words in a minute. (may/can)
9.
You read a grammar
book to understand these concepts.
(may/ought
to)
10.
The doctor told me that the fever go. (would/will)
Exercise 14
(Unsolved)
1.
A leader be ready to accept responsibilities. (shall/must)
2.
Take an umbrella
with you, it rain. (should/may)
3.
If we are not free, no one respect us. (will/shall)
4.
Some books be read thoroughly. (may/must)
5.
We preserve our
heritage. (can/must)
6.
They to complete their
lessons. (dare/need)
7.
One not have liberty without
discipline. (can/may)
8.
You see a doctor.
9.
He be thirty next birthday.
(will/shall)
10.
we drink salty sea water? (can/could)
Exercise 15
(Unsolved)
1.
we play cricket?
2.
I
invite you to the party. (intention)
3.
You not attend my
class. (order)
4.
He have helped you if he wished.
5.
He come today. (remote possibility)
6.
She come late to school every day. (past habit)
7.
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you do today.
8.
He did not to
offend me.
9.
I think I go
now. (could/should)
10.
I
do or die. (compulsion)
Exercise 16
(Unsolved)
1.
Reading make a full man. (may/can)
2.
We learn how to
govern better. (must/might)
3. The teacher said that he be rewarded for his good work.
4.
You follow the
traffic rules.
5.
How you do this to me? (could/would)
6.
I bring you something to eat?
7.
He play the match. (willingness)
8.
You not waste time
on it. (necessity)
9.
Had the doctor come in time, he have
saved the patient.
10.
Had you hurried up, you have
caught the train. (could/can)
