Module 1: English Grammar Fundamentals Revised Chapter 4: Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs (With Expanded Details)

Module 1: English Grammar Fundamentals

Revised Chapter 4: Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs (With Expanded Details)

Introduction

Modal verbs and auxiliary verbs are the backbone of English grammar. They not only structure sentences but also add nuances of meaning, such as possibility, obligation, or ability. In this revised chapter, we will provide a detailed breakdown of each modal verb and auxiliary verb, their functions, rules, examples, and Sinhala translations for deeper understanding.

Section 1: Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are used to express mood, attitude, or modality. They are unique because they do not conjugate (e.g., no “-s” for third-person singular) and always require a base verb to follow.

1.1 Comprehensive List of Modal Verbs

1.2 Detailed Explanation with Examples

1.2.1 Can

Uses:

1. Express ability:
   • Example: “She can play the piano.”
   • Sinhala: “ඇයට පියන්ගුව වාදනය කළ හැක.”
2. Ask for or give permission:
   • Example: “Can I borrow your book?”
   • Sinhala: “මට ඔබේ පොත ණය ගත හැකිද?”
3. Express possibility:
   • Example: “It can rain in the evening.”
   • Sinhala: “සන්ධ්‍යාවේ වැසි වැටිය හැක.”

1.2.2 Could

Uses:

1. Past ability:
   • Example: “I could run 5 miles when I was younger.”
   • Sinhala: “මට තරුණ කාලේ කිලෝමීටර් 5 ක් දුවිය හැකි විය.”
2. Polite requests:
   • Example: “Could you help me with this task?”
   • Sinhala: “ඔබට මේ කාර්යය මට උදව් කළ හැකිද?”
3. Hypothetical possibility:
   • Example: “This could be the solution to the problem.”
   • Sinhala: “මෙය ගැටලුවට විසඳුමක් විය හැක.”

1.2.3 May

Uses:

1. Formal permission:
   • Example: “You may leave the class early.”
   • Sinhala: “ඔබට පන්තියෙන් ඉක්මනින් පිටවිය හැක.”
2. Possibility:
   • Example: “The teacher may arrive late today.”
   • Sinhala: “ගුරුතුමා අද ප්‍රමාදයෙන් පැමිණිය හැක.”

1.2.4 Must

Uses:

1. Strong necessity:
   • Example: “You must complete the assignment by tomorrow.”
   • Sinhala: “ඔබට රාජකාරිය හෙටට පෙර අවසන් කළ යුතුය.”
2. Deduction:
   • Example: “He must be at work now.”
   • Sinhala: “ඔහු දැන් වැඩේදී තිබිය යුතුය.”

1.2.5 Might

Uses:

1. Low probability:
   • Example: “It might snow tonight.”
   • Sinhala: “අද රාත්‍රියේ හිම වැටිය හැක.”

1.2.6 Will

Uses:

1. Future certainty:
   • Example: “We will visit the museum tomorrow.”
   • Sinhala: “අපි හෙට කෞතුකාගාරයට යාමටයි.”
2. Promises:
   • Example: “I will call you later.”
   • Sinhala: “මම ඔබට පසු ගමනින් ඇමතුම් දෙන්නෙමි.”

1.2.7 Would

Uses:

1. Politeness:
   • Example: “Would you like some coffee?”
   • Sinhala: “ඔබට කෝපි කැමතිද?”
2. Hypothetical situations:
   • Example: “I would buy a car if I had enough money.”
   • Sinhala: “මට මුදල් තිබූ නම් මම මෝටර් රථයක් මිලදී ගන්නෙමි.”

1.2.8 Should

Uses:

1. Advice:
   • Example: “You should exercise more.”
   • Sinhala: “ඔබට වැඩි ක්‍රියාකාරිත්වයක් කළ යුතුය.”

Section 2: Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs include be, have, and do. They help form questions, negatives, passive voices, and different tenses.

2.1 Functions of Auxiliary Verbs

Be:

1. Continuous tenses:
   • Example: “She is writing a book.”
   • Sinhala: “ඇය පොතක් ලියමින් සිටී.”

Have:

1. Perfect tenses:
   • Example: “They have finished their homework.”
   • Sinhala: “ඔවුන් ඔවුන්ගේ ගෙදර වැඩ අවසන් කර ඇත.”

Do:

1. Questions and negatives:
   • Example:
     • “Do you like tea?”
       • Sinhala: “ඔබට තේ කැමතිද?”
     • “I do not know the answer.”
       • Sinhala: “මට පිළිතුර නොදනිමි.”

Chapter Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modal verbs:

• You _______ obey the traffic rules. (must/might)
• I _______ help you with your work. (can/will)

2. Translate the following sentences into Sinhala:

• “She might win the competition.”
• “You must practice regularly to improve your skills.”

3. Identify the modal verbs and explain their uses:

• “He could have forgotten the meeting.”
• “You should apologize to her.”