An auxiliary verb is a verb that cannot stand on its own. They are used to help main verbs. The two types of auxiliary verbs are primary auxiliary verbs and modal auxiliary verbs. This lecture will concentrate on modal auxiliary verbs.
USES OF MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS
1. CAN performs the following functions:
a. It expresses permission: You can wear my pair of trousers to office.
b. It shows capacity or ability: Kunle can kill a lion.
2. COULD performs the following functions:
a. It serves as the past tense of can: Kunle could kill a lion as a young man.
b. It is used to express politeness: Could you excuse me please?
3. MUST perform the following functions:
a. It expresses probability: joy did well in her exam. She must have attended a good extra moral lesson
b. It expresses certainty: Every man born of a woman must die
c. It expresses obligation: You must balance your account before leaving the bank.
d. It expresses necessity: You must live a holy life to have an open access to God
To be continued…
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