Page 92 - BASIC GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Modals

'Modals' are the small verbs like can, must, and might, which give certain
meanings to main verbs.

FORM
There are twelve modal verbs:
can shall must
could should ought to
may will need (to)
might would dare
• Positive is formed by putting the modal between the subject and the
main verb:
We should stay.
You ought to go.
He might come.
• Negative is formed by adding not (or n't) after the modal:
We shouldn't stay.
You ought not to come.
He might not come.

• Questions are formed by changing the position of the modal and the subject:
Should we stay? Shouldn't we stay?
Ought you to go? Oughtn't yon to go?
Might he come? Mightn't he come?
Notes
• need can be needn't [modal form) or don't need to (verb form).
• Negative questions generally use n't. If not is used, there is a different word order:
Shouldn't we stay? Should we not stay?

62 Using modals in questions and negatives

Practice

Rewrite these sentences as questions or negatives, according to the instruction
given.

1 I must go to the hospital tonight, (negative)
/ mustn't go to the hospital tonight.

2 James can play the piano, (question)
Can James play the piano?