Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are the nine little helpers — can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must — that do not describe an action but comment on it: how possible it is, how necessary it is, how polite you are being. NEB Q7 sets them almost every year, usually as a gap to be filled with a suitable modal, or as a sentence to be corrected. Because each modal carries several meanings, the safe method is to read the whole sentence, name the meaning you need — ability, permission, obligation, deduction, advice — and only then pick the word.

22.1 The nine modals and what each one means

22.2 The meanings, one by one

Ability

Can for the present, could for general ability in the past, and be able to wherever a modal cannot go.

• Bishal can solve any sum in his head.
• At fourteen I could cycle from Butwal to Bhairahawa. (general past ability)
• After three attempts the team was able to reach the summit. (one specific success — here could is wrong)
• By next year she will be able to drive. (no two modals, so be able to)

Permission and prohibition

Obligation and necessity

• must — the obligation comes from the speaker, or is felt inside: I must stop wasting time.
• have to / has to — the obligation comes from outside: rules, the timetable, other people: We have to wear the college uniform.
• had to — the past of both. Must has no past form: Yesterday I had to work late (never ~~I must worked~~).
• should / ought to — a duty that is weaker than must: A citizen ought to pay tax.
• be to — a formal instruction or arrangement: You are to report to the ward office at ten.

Advice and suggestion

Had better is about one particular occasion and hints at a bad result if the advice is ignored; should is a general opinion. The negative is had better not: You'd better not tell him.

Possibility and deduction

This is where the exam separates candidates, so learn the scale.

• must — the only possible explanation: The lights are off; they must have gone out.
• can't / cannot — the impossible explanation. It is the negative of deductive must, not mustn't: He can't be in Jumla; I saw him in Kathmandu an hour ago.
• may / might / could — one of several possibilities: She may be in the library. It might snow tonight.
• can for general possibility (what sometimes happens): Jumla can be bitterly cold in Magh. Compare the particular possibility: It may be cold in Jumla tomorrow.

Habit, willingness and characteristic behaviour

• used to + V1 — a past habit or state that has stopped: There used to be a wooden bridge here.
• would + V1 — a repeated past action in a description (not for states): Every Dashain grandmother would make selroti for the whole village.
• will for a present characteristic habit: He will sit reading for hours.
• be used to + V-ing — accustomed to (a different structure altogether): She is used to walking three kilometres to school.

22.3 Semi-modals

Semi-modals supply the forms the nine modals lack, and add meanings of their own.

22.4 Past and perfect forms — modal + have + V3

A modal followed by have + past participle talks about the past. Each combination says something precise about whether the action actually happened.

Compare the pair the board loves:

• I needn't have taken an umbrella — it did not rain. (I took it; it was a waste)
• I didn't need to take an umbrella, so I left it at home. (no need, so I did not take it)

22.5 The mistakes Nepali speakers make most

Practice questions

Fill in the blanks with a suitable modal or semi-modal (1 mark each)

1. She ____ speak three languages fluently. [1]
2. ____ I use your pen for a moment, sir? [1]
3. Students ____ not use mobile phones in the examination hall. [1]
4. You ____ hurry; there is still half an hour left. [1]
5. The lights are on, so somebody ____ be inside. [1]
6. He ____ be in Pokhara — I met him in Bhaktapur this morning. [1]
7. Yesterday I ____ stay late at the office to finish the report. [1]
8. There ____ to be a big pipal tree at this corner, but it was cut down. [1]
9. You ____ better see a doctor before the swelling gets worse. [1]
10. After two hours of digging, the rescuers ____ to reach the trapped miners. [1]

Correct the errors in the following sentences (1 mark each)

11. I must have to submit the assignment before Friday. [1]
12. My younger brother can able to recite the whole poem. [1]
13. She cans drive a scooter. [1]
14. We should to help the flood victims. [1]
15. Does he can come with us tomorrow? [1]
16. He had better to apologise to his teacher. [1]
17. I will can finish the work by evening. [1]
18. They could not able to solve the last question. [1]
19. I am used to go to school on foot when I was a child. [1]
20. You mustn't buy a ticket; entry is free today. [1]

Rewrite as instructed (1 mark each)

21. It is not necessary for you to attend the rehearsal. — Rewrite using needn't. [1]
22. I am sure he has forgotten the meeting. — Rewrite using a perfect modal. [1]
23. It was wrong of you to shout at the conductor. — Rewrite using shouldn't. [1]
24. Perhaps she missed the last bus. — Rewrite using might. [1]
25. It is forbidden to pluck flowers in this garden. — Rewrite using mustn't. [1]
26. I took a raincoat, but there was no rain at all. — Rewrite using needn't have. [1]