Modal Auxiliary VerbsSet 15
Frequently Asked Questions
How do modal auxiliary verbs express future ability?
Modal auxiliary verbs such as "will," "can," and "could" are used to express future ability. For example, "She will be able to swim by next summer" indicates a future capability.
What is the correct use of modal auxiliary verbs with the base form of the main verb?
Modal auxiliary verbs are always followed by the base form of the main verb. For example, "She can swim" uses "can" followed by the base form "swim."
How do modal auxiliary verbs express past speculation with perfect infinitives?
Modal auxiliary verbs like "must," "could," and "might" are used with perfect infinitives to express past speculation. For example, "She must have arrived by now" suggests a high probability of a past event.
Which modal auxiliary verbs are used to express preference?
Modal auxiliary verbs such as "would" and "could" are used to express preference. For example, "I would prefer tea over coffee" indicates a preference for tea.
How do modal auxiliary verbs express past ability?
Modal auxiliary verbs like "could" and "was/were able to" are used to express past ability. For example, "She could swim when she was younger" indicates a past capability.