Modal Auxiliary
can, could, may, might, shall, will, should, would, must.
Can - (ability).
1. I can speak English.
2. Can you speak German.
3. Larry can play guitar.
4. Can they finish the work?
5. We can swim well.
Can - (permission).
1. Can I come in?
2. Can we come to your house?
3. Can Laura go with me?
4. Can we go home earlier?
Can - (request).
1. Can you help me, please?
2. Can you open the door for me, please?
3. Can you tell me the way, please?
Can - offer
1. Can I help you?
2. Can I take the luggage for you?
2. Can I take you a cup of coffee?
Can - (possibility).
1. It can be rain this evening.
2. Wita can be late because her car is out of order.
3. That is Sam’s car, he can be here.
Could
Could - mau atau sudi
1.Could you help me, please?
2. Could you open the door for me, please?
3. Could you tell me the way, please?
Could - boleh, bisa
1. Could I come in?
2. You could come to my house.
3. Could Laura go with me?
4. Could we go home earlier?
Could - boleh, bisa
1. Could I help you?
2. Could I take the luggage for you?
3. Could I take you a cup of coffee?
May - boleh, bolehkah
1. May I come in?
2. May we go home now?
3. May I borrow your pen?
May - boleh
1. May I help you?
2. May I take your bag for you?
3. May I book you a room?
May - mungkin
1. Robert doesn’t come to his office, he may be unwell.
2. This bus is very slow, we may be late for the office.
3. They may be at home this evening.
Might - permisi(Permission).
1. Might I talk to you?
2. Might she join us?
3. Might they come in?
4. Might John be home?
Might - mungkin (probability).
1. She might be at home.
2. John might leave at eight.
3. They might come here.
Will - mau
1. Will you open the door, please?
2. Will you help me, please?
3. Will you speak louder, please?
Will - akan (futurity).
1. I will go to Surabaya next week.
2. They will come here tomorrow.
3. Jilly will buy a new car.
4. The students will have exams tomorrow.
Will - mau (willingness).
1. I can pay you if you will help me.
2. If you persuade her, she will come.
3. Wait! I will help you to carry the luggage.
4. I can wait if you will pick me up.
Should - sebaiknya (suggesting).
1. You should finish the work this evening.
2. He shouldn’t smoke in this room.
3. You should come on time.
Should - mungkin (probability )
1. Today is holiday, she should be home.
2. I sent Bob an invitation card, he should come to the meeting.
3. You should know the lesson, you were present when the teacher explained about it.
Would - mau, sudi
1. Would you sit down?
2. Would you mind helping me?
3. Would you fill in this form, please?
4. Would you sit down?
5. Would you tell me your address?
Would - mau, rela (willingness ).
1. I would help you.
2. I would come to see you next week.
3. She would send you the form.
4. They would serve us well.
5. He would explain you the way.
Would - akan (futurity).
1. I would help you tomorrow.
2. I would come to see you next week.
3. She would send you the form.
Must - harus (obligation).
1. Students must come to school on time.
2. Workers must obey the regulations.
3. Passengers must be on time.
4. Children must respect the parents.
5. You must love your friends.
Must - pasti (certainty).
1. Robert must be at home, I see his car in the carport.
2. Working all day? You must be tired.
3. They must study harder to face the final exams.
4. Richard must return here because his key left.
5. Clara must know English well because she has been in England for ten years.
EXERCISES
a. Say whether each of these sentences means a permission, an offering help, or a request.
1. Can you open the door for me, please? (……………………………….)
2. Can I use your computer, please? (……………………………….)
3. Can I help you? (……………………………….)
4. Will you sit down, please? (……………………………….)
5. May I sit here? (……………………………….)
6. May we take your luggages for you? (……………………………….)
7. Can I come in? (……………………………….)
8. May I go home? (……………………………….)
b. These English dialogues show you ways to accept or reject offers made to you.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes please. I'd like to know what time the train leaves."
"Can I help you?"
"No thanks, I'm just looking." (In a shop.)
"Shall I open the window for you?"
"Yes please. That would be very kind of you."
"Would you like another coffee?"
"No thanks." Or, "No thank you."
"Would you like another coffee?"
"Yes please, that would be lovely." Or, "Yes please, I'd love one."
"I'll do the photocopying, if you like."
"It's OK, I can do it." Or, "Don't worry, I'll do it.
"Or, "Thank you, that would be great."