General English
Verbs, Auxiliaries and Modals
Understand primary auxiliaries and modal verbs with high-frequency exam traps.
Study progress
1. Primary Auxiliaries
BE supports continuous/passive forms; HAVE supports perfect forms; DO supports questions, negatives and emphasis.
2. DO Trap
After do/does/did, use V1: Did she go? Does he work?
3. Modals
can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must and related forms express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice, intention and condition.
4. Used to / Be used to
Used to + V1 = past habit/state. Be used to + noun/V-ing = accustomed to.
5. Need and Dare
Need and dare can behave as ordinary verbs or semi-modals depending on construction.
6. Golden Rule
After a true modal, use the base form: can go, should study, must obey.
Memory Tricks & Quick Recall
Auxiliaries: BE = continuous/passive, HAVE = perfect, DO = question/negative/emphasis. Modal rule: MODAL + V1. Used to + V1 = past habit; be used to + V-ing = accustomed.