(Make sentences with the following modal auxiliaries to express the idea/function asked in brackets.)
Year(s) of Appearance
Modals and Functions Requested
2015
Could (past ability); Might (uncertainty); Would (past irregular habit); Must (logical deduction); Be + To (order); Dare (indulgence); Had better (present duty).
2017
past ability; guess about the future; opportunity in the past which was not discharged; logical deduction in the present; inference; strong possibility.
2018
May (guess about the future); Could (polite request); Might (uncertainty); Would (past habit); Shall (an offer).
2019
Can (approval); Must (logical deduction); Need (propriety); Be + going to (intention); Be + to (arrangement); Had better (advisability).
2020
May (uncertainty); Must (internal obligation); Be going to (strong possibility); Ought to (duty).
2021
Can (polite request/offer something); Must (logical deduction); Would (past irregular habit); Would rather (preference); May (probability).
2022
Could (inference); May (guess about the future); Must (logical deduction in the past); Should (duty in the past); Need (unnecessary action in the past); Dare (perseverance action in the past); Be going to (intention/plan).
2023
Could (inference); May (guess about the present); Should (duty in the past); Need (unnecessary action in the past); Must (logical deduction).
2024 CSE
May (guess about the present); Must (internal obligation); Could (unnecessary action in the past); Had better (preference); Be to (command).
2024
May (guess about the present); Must (logical deduction); Should (duty in the past); Need (unnecessary action in the past which was not executed); Could (opportunity in the past which was not executed); Had better (preference).
Modal Auxiliaries Categorized by Type
Can
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Approval
2019
Polite request/offer something
2021
Could
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Past ability
2015
Polite request
2018
Inference
2022, 2023
Unnecessary action in the past
2024 CSE
Opportunity in the past which was not executed
2024
Dare
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Indulgence
2015
Perseverance action in the past
2022
Had better
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Present duty
2015
Advisability
2019
Preference
2024 CSE, 2024
May
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Guess about the future
2018, 2022
Uncertainty
2020
Probability
2021
Guess about the present
2023, 2024 CSE, 2024
Might
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Uncertainty
2015, 2018
Must
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Logical deduction
2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Internal obligation
2020, 2024 CSE
Logical deduction in the past
2022
Need
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Propriety
2019
Unnecessary action in the past
2022, 2023
Unnecessary action in the past which was not executed
2024
Ought to
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Duty
2020
Shall
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
An offer
2018
Should
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Duty in the past
2022, 2023, 2024
Would
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Past irregular habit
2015, 2021
Past habit
2018
Would rather
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Preference
2021
Semi-Modals / Related Structures
Auxiliary Structure
Function Requested
Year(s) of Appearance
Be + going to
Intention
2019
Be + going to
Strong possibility
2020
Be + going to
Intention/plan
2022
Be + To
Order
2015
Be + To
Arrangement
2019
Be + To
Command
2024 CSE
This response categorizes the usage and function of Modal Auxiliaries (Section A) based on the specific ideas requested in the past year questions, grouping similar concepts together.
Modal Auxiliaries by Function Category
The prompt in the examination consistently asks candidates to demonstrate their understanding of a modal auxiliary by using it to express a specific function or idea.
1. Possibility, Probability, and Inference
This category covers expressions of uncertainty, likelihood, and reasoned conclusions about the present or past.
Function Requested
Modal(s) Mentioned in Source
Year(s) of Appearance
Source Citation
Guess about the present
May
2023, 2024 CSE, 2024
Guess about the future
May
2017, 2018, 2022
Probability
May
2021
Strong possibility
Be + going to
2017, 2020
Uncertainty
Might, May
2015, 2018, 2020
Inference
Could
2017, 2022, 2023
2. Obligation, Duty, and Deduction
This category includes expressions of necessity, moral duty, and conclusions drawn logically.
Function Requested
Modal(s) Mentioned in Source
Year(s) of Appearance
Source Citation
Logical deduction (General/Present)
Must
2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
Logical deduction in the past
Must
2022
Internal obligation
Must
2020, 2024 CSE
Duty
Ought to, Should
2020 (Ought to)
Duty in the past
Should
2022, 2023, 2024
Present duty
Had better
2015
3. Ability, Past Opportunity, and Habit
This category focuses on capacity, things that were possible but did not happen, and repeated actions in the past.
Function Requested
Modal(s) Mentioned in Source
Year(s) of Appearance
Source Citation
Past ability
Could
2015, 2017
Past irregular habit
Would
2015, 2021
Past habit
Would
2018
Opportunity in the past which was not discharged/executed
Could (implied)
2017, 2024
Unnecessary action in the past
Need, Could
2022, 2023, 2024 (Need), 2024 CSE (Could)
4. Intent, Arrangement, and Advice
This includes expressions of fixed plans, suggestions, and stated preferences.
Function Requested
Modal(s) Mentioned in Source
Year(s) of Appearance
Source Citation
Intention / Plan
Be + going to
2019, 2022
Arrangement
Be + to
2019
Advisability
Had better
2019
Preference
Would rather, Had better
2021 (Would rather), 2024 CSE, 2024 (Had better)
5. Requests, Offers, and Permissions
These functions relate to social interaction and expressing formal or polite communication.
Function Requested
Modal(s) Mentioned in Source
Year(s) of Appearance
Source Citation
Polite request
Could, Can
2018 (Could), 2021 (Can)
Offer
Shall, Can
2018 (Shall), 2021 (Can)
Command
Be + to
2024 CSE
Order
Be + to
2015
6. Miscellaneous Functions
These functions appeared less frequently or are highly specific.