Modal Verbs for Necessity and Inference

Introduction to Modal Auxiliaries

ମୋଡାଲ୍ ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟାଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆସି ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ, ଅନୁମତି, ବାଧ୍ୟତା, ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା କିମ୍ବା ସମ୍ଭାବନା ଭଳି ଭାବ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି। ସେମାନେ ସବୁବେଳେ ମୂଳ କ୍ରିୟା ରୂପ (bare infinitive) ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅନୁସରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Modal auxiliaries (ମୋଡାଲ୍ ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟା) are a special type of auxiliary verb (ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟା) that come before the main verb. They do not usually act as main verbs and do not change with the number or person of the subject noun or pronoun. They have single forms for all subjects and are always followed by the bare infinitive (ମୂଳ କ୍ରିୟା ରୂପ) (base form) of the verb. Two modals cannot go together in a simple sentence. Modals are primarily used to express meanings such as necessity (ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା), obligation (ବାଧ୍ୟତା), advice, permission (ଅନୁମତି), certainty (ନିଶ୍ଚିତତା), and possibility (ସମ୍ଭାବନା). They do not usually have a time restriction and can refer to the present or the future. Ought to and used to are also modal auxiliaries. [[1]], [[4]], [[6]], [[8]]

Here is a simple diagram showing the types of verbs:

Modal Verbs for Necessity and Obligation

ଏହି ମୋଡାଲ୍ କ୍ରିୟାଗୁଡ଼ିକ କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା କିମ୍ବା ବାଧ୍ୟତାକୁ ବୁଝାନ୍ତି।

These modals express a strong requirement or duty to do something. [[5]]

• Must: Expresses a strong obligation (ବାଧ୍ୟତା), necessity (ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା), or compulsion (ବାଧ୍ୟତା). It is used for recommendation, persuasion, or prohibition.

  • Example: I must write the answer before I go. (Strong necessity) [[5]]
  • Example: He must do his homework regularly. (Obligation) [[5]]
  • Example: You mustn't shout in the class. (Prohibition/Negative compulsion) [[5]]
  • Note: To express the absence of compulsion, we use needn't. For example, "You needn't speak so loudly." [[3]], [[5]]

• Need to: Expresses compulsion (ବାଧ୍ୟତା).

  • Example: You need to learn how to drive before you apply for a driving licence. [[2]]

• Ought to: Expresses obligation or desirability (ବାଞ୍ଛନୀୟତା).

  • Example: Remember you ought to respect your parents’ views. [[1]]

• Should: Expresses desirability or obligation, often as advice.

  • Example: I should take permission from my father. [[1]]

Modal Verbs for Inference and Possibility

ଏହି ମୋଡାଲ୍ କ୍ରିୟାଗୁଡ଼ିକ କୌଣସି ବିଷୟରେ ଅନୁମାନ (inference), ସମ୍ଭାବନା (possibility) କିମ୍ବା ନିଶ୍ଚିତତା (certainty) ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି।

These modals express a conclusion, guess, or likelihood about something. [[2]], [[5]]

• Must: Expresses a logical conclusion (ଯୁକ୍ତିଯୁକ୍ତ ସିଦ୍ଧାନ୍ତ) or strong inference (ଅନୁମାନ) that something is true.

  • Example: What you say cannot be true; you must be joking. (Logical conclusion) [[5]]
  • Example: He has a building in the village and another big one in the town. He must be rolling in money. (Strong inference) [[5]]

• Can / Could: Expresses possibility (ସମ୍ଭାବନା) or probability (ସମ୍ଭାବନା).

  • Example: It can be risky if she rides a motorcycle without knowing traffic rules. [[2]]
  • Example: The leopard can be hiding in the bush. [[7]]

• May / Might: Expresses possibility (ସମ୍ଭାବନା) or prediction (ଭବିଷ୍ୟବାଣୀ).

  • Example: Odisha may become No.1 state to reduce road accidents by 2020. [[2]]
  • Example: All parts of the state will have rain tomorrow but the rain may not reach the south coast till the evening. [[3]]
  • Example: Temperature might reach 35°. [[3]]

• Can't: Expresses negative logical conclusion or impossibility (ଅସମ୍ଭବତା).

  • Example: You have slept all afternoon. You can't be tired. (Negative logical conclusion) [[5]]
  • Example: There were a lot of mistakes in your writing. It can't have been revised. [[5]]

• Will: Expresses prediction (ଭବିଷ୍ୟବାଣୀ).

  • Example: It will be more crowded in the evening. [[2]]
  • Example: Bakul will be fourteen next week. [[6]]

Worked Examples

1. Statement: I haven't heard from him for years. He forgotten you. Response: I haven't heard from him for years. He must have forgotten you. (Strong inference/logical conclusion) [[5]]

2. Statement: Can I have something to eat? You hungry. You have just had your dinner. Response: Can I have something to eat? You can't be hungry. You have just had your dinner. (Negative logical conclusion) [[5]]