Modal verbs

Some verbs help the main verb and add a meaning to it. They are called helping verbs, or modal verbs (modals). On page 96, your book, Poorvi, picks six sentences from Daadi's letter, each with a modal. Each modal does a different job.

'You MAY share them with your friends.' MAY makes a suggestion: an idea you are free to take up. 'You SHOULD try to remember these cures.' SHOULD gives advice: what is a good thing to do.

'It CAN help control cough and cold.' CAN shows ability: what someone or something is able to do. 'You MUST consult an elder before you use them.' MUST shows compulsion: something you have to do; there is no choice.

'I need to soak the methi seeds overnight.' NEED TO shows necessity: something that is needed for a thing to work. 'I used to put heeng water on your tummy.' USED TO shows a past habit: something done again and again in the past, but not now.

A quick way to remember: may = suggestion, should = advice, can = ability, must = compulsion, need to = necessity, used to = past habit.