Mastering Modals and Comparative Structures

📋 Course Outline

1. Modals
2. Purpose Expressions
3. Quantifiers and Partitives
4. Comparatives and Superlatives
5. Adverbs of Degree

📖 1. Modals

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express modality, such as ability, permission, obligation, or possibility. They do not change form according to the subject and are followed by the base form of the main verb (e.g., can, must, may).
• Modal verbs for ability, permission, and obligation include can (ability), may (permission), and must (obligation). These modals specify what is possible, allowed, or required in a given context.
• Differences between modals and auxiliary verbs: While all modals are auxiliary verbs, not all auxiliary verbs are modals. Modals have specific functions related to modality and do not take "-s" in the third person singular, unlike auxiliary verbs like "do" or "be".
• Modal verb forms and negation: Modals have a fixed form (e.g., can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would). Negation is formed by adding "not" (e.g., cannot, must not, should not).
• Modal verbs in past, present, and future contexts: Modals can express different times; for example, could (past ability), may (present/future permission), might (possibility in the past or uncertain present). Some modals, like must, do not have direct past forms but are expressed with equivalents like had to.

📝 Essential Points