Modal Auxiliary Verbs

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What are modal auxiliary verbs?

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Modal auxiliary verbs are special verbs that are used to express ability, possibility, permission, or obligation. Examples include can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

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What does the modal verb 'can' express?

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The modal verb 'can' expresses ability or possibility. For example, 'I can swim' means I have the ability to swim.

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What does the modal verb 'could' express?

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The modal verb 'could' is used to express past ability or a polite request. For example, 'I could ride a bike when I was younger'.

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What does the modal verb 'may' indicate?

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The modal verb 'may' is used to express permission or possibility. For example, 'May I leave the room?' indicates a request for permission.

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What does the modal verb 'must' signify?

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The modal verb 'must' signifies obligation or necessity. For example, 'You must wear a seatbelt' means it is necessary to wear a seatbelt.

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What is the difference between 'may' and 'might'?

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'May' suggests a higher possibility, while 'might' suggests a lower possibility. For example, 'It may rain tomorrow' is more certain than 'It might rain tomorrow'.

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What does the modal verb 'should' express?

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The modal verb 'should' expresses advice or recommendation. For example, 'You should eat healthy food' suggests a good choice.

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What is an example of a polite request using a modal verb?

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An example of a polite request is 'Could you please help me?' where 'could' is the modal verb.

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How do modal verbs change in negative form?

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To make modal verbs negative, add 'not' after the modal verb. For example, 'cannot' is the negative form of 'can'.

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Can modal verbs be used in questions?

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Yes, modal verbs can be used in questions. For example, 'Can you help me?' is a question using the modal verb 'can'.