English Grammar
Modal of need
Definition:
Need is normal verb when it is following by a noun, not by an infinitive.
1_Question: ........(He, need) his dictionary today? (Don't say need he).
2_Statement: yes, he ........(Need) his dictionary today. (Don't say he need).
3_Negative: no, he ...........(Need, not) his dictionary today. (Don't say he need ' t).
B) Need as a normal verb following by ING
Need can be following by Ground when the meaning of the sentences is as equivalent for Must - passive infinitive.
1- The Tire must be required. = The Tire..............(Don't say must be Tire Need).
2- This knife must be sharpened. = This knife.......
3- The garden must be
watered. = The garden........
4- Your pair of trousers must be lengthened. = Your pair of trousers.........
NOTE:
1.(Need) always behaves like an ordinary verb in affirmative sentences.
*He needs his dictionary today. Don't say he need.
*He needs to study hard.
2.(Need) can be behave like a modal in negative and interrogative sentences:
*Need he go now? Or does he need to go now?
*No, he need not go now. Or he doesn't need to go.
A) Present:
1- Statement: it's necessary for him to buy a car. He ....... buy a car.
(Don't say he need buy).
*He must buy a car is also possible.
2- Negative: need as modal is frequent in negative sentences. We have already seen that it's an equivalent for don't have to/ haven't got to.
1) it isn't necessary for you to worry. = You...... worry.
2) you are not obligated to answer now = you...........answer now
3) it isn't necessary for you to read all these books, is it?
a/ You needn't......
b/ You don't have to....
3- Questions:
1) Is it necessary for me to come again?
2) Is it necessary for him to wait for them?
In the first example, need I? Is a synonym for, must I? The only difference is, as we've already seen, that with need I. You except a negative answer.
B) Past:
1- Statement: It's necessary for him to go to the hospital. He ...... go to the hospital. (Had to is also possible).
2- Negative: It wasn't necessary for him to shorten my trousers.
a/ I didn't need to shorten my trousers. (Means I didn't do it)
b/ I needn't have shortened my trousers. (Means I really do it)
3- Questions: *Was it necessary for him to go and see the doctor?
*Need he have gone to see the doctor?
*Did he need to go and see the doctor?
4- Reported speech: In reported speech introduced by a past verb, needn't remains needn't.
1/ "You needn't get up early during the holidays," she told me.
- She told me (that) I.....
2/ " You needn't worry?" I assumed him.
- I assumed h (that) he....
C) Future:
In the future, both present and future forms of need are possible.
E.g: *He will be obliged to bring his bicycle next need.
*He needs to bring his bicycle next week.
1 Statement: *He need to bring his bicycle next week. (He ........bring).
*He will have to bring his bicycle next week.
2-Negative: It won't be necessary for you to come early tomorrow.
You needn't com/ don't need to come/ haven't got to come/ won't need to come early tomorrow.
3-Questions: *will it be necessary for you to come early tomorrow?
*Need you come/ do you need to come/ must you come/ do you have to come/ will you need to come early tomorrow?
D) Past negative of need:
a) didn't need to meet (means the action didn't take place).
b) needn't that have met (means the action did take place)
*I didn't need to meet her. Means (there was no need, so I didn't meet her).
*I needn't have met her. Means (I did meet her, but there was really no need).
Modals: May
The contraction of may not is very rare. Avoid saying mayn't.
The construction of might not is common mightn't.
Uses : May has two possible uses:
1) Particular possibility (he maybe I = perhaps he is I'll).
2) Permission (he may.... = He is allowed to.... You may leave if you wish).
I) Particular Possibility:
May in the sense of particular possibility has four possible forms:
a) He may succeed. = Perhaps he succeeds, perhaps he.
b) He might succeed. = Will succeed.
c) He may have succeeded. = Perhaps he succeeded, perhaps he has succeeded. (Past).
d) He might have succeeded. = 1- perhaps he succeeded/ he has succeeded.
= 2- he didn't succeed, he hasn't succeeded.
- Ether MAY or MIGHT can be used to express possibility, however, might is more doubtful.
A/ MAY/ MIGHT + infinitive express possibility in the present or the future:
Eg: - He may/ might show her the photograph (perhaps he shows/ will show her).
- The newcomer may/ might catch up with the rest (perhaps he catches/ will catch up.
- May/ might in the sense of possibility can never introduce a sentence (questions).
Eg: - She my/ might move out before the end of the team. (Affirmative).
The interrogative form would normally be introduced by " Do you think...? Or a construction with likely ".
Eg: - Do you think she will more our before moving out before the end of the team? Or it is likely that she will move out before the end of the team?
B/ MAY/ MIGHT + perfect infinitive has two different meanings:
1) perhaps the action took/ has taken place.
2) the action was possible but didn't take place.
Examples:
1- He may/ might have lost our address (perhaps he lost/ has lost it).
She may/ might have been away for the weekend (perhaps she was/ has been away for the week).
2- They sold the house. They should have waited a little bit longer. They might have made it better profit. (They could have a better profit if they had waited a bit longer, but they didn't, the action was possible but didn't take place) May would be impossible here whereas could replace Might.
_ May/Might can be used in conditional sentences instead of will or would to indicate a possible instead of a certain result.
Eg: - I may/ might if you invite me = perhaps I will come if you invite me.
II) May to express Permission:
May in the sense of permission base two possible forms:
1) He may come = present or Future.
2) He might come = in questions/ reported speech in the past.
- Both May and Can could be used to express Permission, but May is more formal : You may leave now or you can leave now. The first example is more formal.
-' You might ' can be used to express Casual Command = an important imperative + will you ( this form can be used only between friends ).
- You might give me a left = give me a lift, will you.
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