1. Apa itu Modal Auxiliary Verb?
Kata kerja can, could, may, might, will, would, shall (biasanya dalam Inggris British), should, must, dan ought to disebut ’modal auxiliary verb’ (kata kerja bantu modal). Mereka digunakan sebelum infinitive atau kata kerja lainnya, dan menambah makna tertentu. Need, dare, dan had better kadang juga bisa digunakan seperti modal auxiliary verb.
2. Grammar
a. Kata kerja modal tidak memiliki –s pada orang ketiga tunggal (third person singular)
She may know his address. (not…She mays…)
b. Kalimat tanya, negative, tags, dan jawaban singkat dibentuk tanpa menggunakan do.
Can you swim? (not…Do you can swim?)
He shouldn’t be doing that, should he? (not…He doesn’t should…)
c. Setelah kata kerja modal, kita gunakan infinitive tanpa to terhadap kata kerja lainnya, kecuali ought.
I must water the flowers. (not…I must to water…)
Kata kerja modal ini juga bisa digunakan dalam tenses continous, perfect, dan pasif.
I may not be working tomorrow.
She was so angry she could have killed him.
The kitchen ought to be painted one of these days.
d. Kata kerja modal tidak memiliki infinitive atau participle (to may, maying, mayed, tidak ada sama sekali) dan mereka tidak memiliki bentuk lampau/past walaupun would, could, should, dan might terkadang bisa digunakan dalam bentuk past tense dari will, can, shall, dan may. Ekspresi dalam bentuk lain bisa digunakan ketika diperlukan.
I’d like to be able to skate. (not…to can skate)
People really had to work hard in those days. (not…People really musted work…)
e. Bagaimanapun, kalimat dalam bentuk past bisa diekspresikan dengan menggunakan modal verb yang diikuti dengan perfect infinitive (have + past participle)
You should have told me you were coming.
I think I may have annoyed Aunt Mary.
f. Modal verb memiliki bentuk negative singkat (can’t, won’t etc) yang biasa digunakan secara informal. (Shan’t dan mayn’t hanya digunakan dalan British English; bahkan mayn’t sangat jarang digunakan). Will dan would juga memiliki bentuk afirmasi singkat (‘ll, ‘d)
g. There biasa digunakan sebagai preparatory subject dengan modal verbs, terutama ketika diikuti oleh be
There may be rain later today.
3. Makna
Modal verb tidak digunakan untuk mengatakan bahwa suatu keadaan benar-benar terjadi atau peristiwa tersebut benar telah terjadi. Kita gunakan modal verb, sebagai contohnya, untuk mengatakan suatu hal yang kita harapkan, yang mungkin atau tidak mungkin, yang kita anggap penting, yang kita inginkan terjadi, yang kita tidak yakin mengenainya, yang cenderung akan terjadi, atau yang tidak terjadi.
He may arrive any time.
She could be in London or Paris or Tokyo – nobody knows.
I can’t swim.
I think you ought to see a lawyer.
We really must tidy up the garden.
What would you do if you had a free year?
Edinburgh can be very cold in winter.
I think they should have consulted a doctor earlier.
You might have told me Frances was ill.

WH Question Words

We use question words to ask certain types of questions (question word questions). We often refer to them as WH words because they include the letters WH (for example WHy, HoW).

Question Word	Function	Example
what	asking for information about something	What is your name?
	asking for repetition or confirmation	What? I can't hear you. You did what?
what...for	asking for a reason, asking why	What did you do that for?
when	asking about time	When did he leave?
where	asking in or at what place or position	Where do they live?
which	asking about choice	Which colour do you want?
who	asking what or which person or people (subject)	Who opened the door?
whom	asking what or which person or people (object)	Whom did you see?
whose	asking about ownership	Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it?
why	asking for reason, asking what...for	Why do you say that?
why don't	making a suggestion	Why don't I help you?
how	asking about manner	How does this work?
	asking about condition or quality	How was your exam?
how + adj/adv	asking about extent or degree	see examples below
how far	distance	How far is Pattaya from Bangkok?
how long	length (time or space)	How long will it take?
how many	quantity (countable)	How many cars are there?
how much	quantity (uncountable)	How much money do you have?
how old	age	How old are you?
how come (informal)	asking for reason, asking why	How come I can't see her?