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Modal verbs are verbs that indicate likelihood, ability, permission or obligation.
Words like:
For example:
The sea monster should go away
In this sentence 'should' is the modal verb as it indicates the likelihood of the sea monster going away.
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Oh, I do love to be beside the seaside, don't you?
There is a sweet seller selling sticks of rock!
They do look tasty!
Oh no! Here she comes! The Fish Monster!
Oh dear. The Fish Monster looks hungry!
She's eaten all of his rock!
Looks like the Fish Monster is upset, because the sweet seller's sign is now wrong.
He needs to change the sentence, because he doesn't have any more rock!
He needs a Modal Verb!
The Sweet Seller has changed his sign to read 鈥渨e will have rock鈥.
"Will" is a modal word.
Modal words show when things are needed, likely or possible!
Ah here you are again Mr Sweet Seller with lots more rock.
Not again Fish Monster!
"we should have rock".
"Should" is the Modal verb.
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Find out more by working through a topic
What is a preposition?
What is a relative clause?
What are subordinating conjunctions?
What are coordinating conjunctions?