1) What are modal verbs?
- Common modal verbs are 'Can', 'Could', 'May', 'Might', 'Will', 'Would', 'Shall', 'Should' and 'Must'. They are used to express ability, request, permission, advice, etc.
Examples:
I can swim. (Ability)
Could I have some tea, please? (Request)
You should send an email. (Advice)
- Modal verbs have the same form for all subjects and they are followed by the infinitive without 'to'.
Examples:
I can swim.
My brother can swim.
They can swim.
2) 'Will' and 'Won’t'
- We use 'will' to make promises, requests and offers.
Examples:
I will come and see you next week. (Promise)
Will you give me a hand with that? (Request)
I will drive you to the station if you like. (Offer)
- We also use 'will' and 'won’t' to talk about future.
Examples:
We will travel to Sweden tomorrow. (Future)
I won’t travel to Spain tomorrow. (Future)
- We can also use 'will' to make predictions about future.
Example:
I think it will rain tomorrow. (Prediction)
3) 'Would' and 'Wouldn’t'
- We use 'would' to make requests and offers in a polite way.
Examples:
Would you sign this form? (Request)
Would you like another drink? (Offer)
- We also use 'would' and 'wouldn’t' in reported speech or to talk about imagined situations. (Second conditional)
Examples:
Tom said that he would be here at eight o’clock. (Reported speech)
If we went to Paris, we would visit the Eiffel Tower. (Imagined situation)
He said that he wouldn’t go to work by bus. (Reported speech)
If my parents had a new house, we wouldn’t live here. (Imagined situation)
- We can also use 'would' as the past tense of 'will'.
Example:
I thought it would rain. (Past tense of 'will')
4) Negative forms of 'will' and 'would'
The negative form of 'will' is 'will not' (won’t) and the negative form of 'would' is 'would not' (wouldn’t).
Examples:
(+) We will travel to Sweden tomorrow.
(-) We will not travel to Sweden tomorrow.
(+) Tom said that he would be here at eight o’clock.
(-) Tom said that he would not be here at eight o’clock.
5) Question forms of 'will' and 'would'
We make questions by putting the subject after 'will' and 'would'.
Examples:
(+) He will travel to Sweden tomorrow.
(?) Will he travel to Sweden tomorrow?
(+) She would look better with shorter hair.
(?) Would she look better with shorter hair?