AUXILIARIES AND MODALS

Auxillary Verbs
Definition: Auxiliary verbs are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and therefore add extra meaning to a sentence, which is not given by the main verb.
Be, Do and Have are auxiliary verbs, they are irregular verbs and can be used as main verbs.

BE
The auxiliary be is used: In the formation of the continuous tenses; as, He is working. I was writing. In the formation of the passive; as, The gate was opened. To indicate a plan, arrangement, or agreement; as, We are to be married next month. To denote command; as, You are to write your name at the top of each paper.

HAVE
The auxiliary have is used in the formation of the perfect tense; as, He has worked. He has been working. Have to is used with the infinitive to indicate obligation; as, He has to move the furniture himself. In negatives and questions, have to and has to are used with do, does, did; as, They have to go. They dont have to go. Do they have to go?

 Do is used to form the negative and interrogative of the simple present and simple past tenses of ordinary verbs; as, He does not work. Does he work? Do is used to avoid repetition of a previous ordinary verb; as, Do you know him? Yes, I do. Do is also used to emphasize the affirmative nature of a statement; as, You do look pale. In the imperative, do makes a request or invitation more persuasive; as, Do be quiet.

DO

MODALS
The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must and ought are called modal verbs or modals. They are used before ordinary verbs and express meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty and necessity. Need and dare can sometimes be used like modal verbs.

The modal verbs have no s in the third persion singular; they have no ing and ed forms.

CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT

Can usually expresses ability or capacity; as, I can swim. Can and may are used to express permission. You can/may go now. May is used to express possibility in affirmative sentence. It may rain tomorrow. In formal English, may is used to express a wish; as, May you live long. Could and might are used as the past equivalents of can and may; as, He said I might/could go.

SHALL, SHOULD, WILL, WOULD

Shall is used in the first person and will in all persons to express future. I shall/ will be twenty-five next birth day. Question with shall I/we are used to ask the will of the person addressed; as, Shall I open the door?(Do you want me to open it?) Will is used to express Volition; as, I will carry your books. Characteristic habit; as , He will talk about nothing but films. Assumptions or probability ; as, That will be a postman, I think.

 Will you? Indicates an invitation or a request; as, Will you have tea? Should and would are used as the past equivalents of shall and will; as, I expected that I should get a first class. Should is used in all persons to express duty or obligation; as, We should obey the laws.

MUST, OUGHT TO
Must is used to express necessity or obligation. We must get up early. Must is often used when the obligation comes from the speaker. I must be on diet.(It is my own idea) Ought to expresses moral obligation or desirability; as, We ought to love our neighbours.

 The auxiliary used (to) expresses a discontinued habit. I used to live there. The auxiliary need, denoting necessity or obligation, can be conjugated with or with out do. I need hardly take his help. The auxiliary dare does not take s in the third person singular present tense. He dare not take such a step.

USED (TO), NEED,DARE