Grammar: Modal Verbs

Class 6 English · Chapter 9: Spices that Heal Us · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 96–97

Learn

Look at these sentences from the letter: "You may share them with your friends." "You should try to remember these cures." "It can help control cough and cold." "You must consult an elder." "I need to soak the methi seeds." "I used to put heeng water on your tummy." The bold words are helping verbs called modal verbs or modals.

Each modal has a job: may = permission or possibility; should = advice or suggestion; can = ability; must = compulsion (a strong duty or rule); need to = necessity; used to = a past habit (something done regularly before, but maybe not now).

Modals in a dialogue: Ajay: "Anand had fever last week. He should take good rest." Suman: "Yes, he must, or he will fall ill again." Ajay: "He can take grandmother's natural cures." Suman: "Yes, we need to remember how effective they are."

Tip: after most modals, use the base form of the verb: should take (not "should takes"), can help, must consult. And used to talks only about the past: "I used to be afraid of the dark, but now I'm not."

Explore: match each modal to its job.

1. Sort each modal.

Remember

• Modals: may (permission), should (advice), can (ability), must (compulsion), need to (necessity), used to (past habit).
• Use the base form of the verb after modals: should take, can help.

Quick check

Which modal shows a past habit?

1. used to
2. must
3. may
4. can

Think about it

Write four sentences about staying healthy using should, must, can and used to.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.