Modal auxiliaries are used to express a wide variety of meanings in English. For example, they can be used to defend arguments and explain preferences.
Modal auxiliaries cannot be used alone. They are added to the base form of verbs in order to express possibility, ability, desire etc.
Forms of the infinitive
The infinitive is the base form of the verb. Infinitives can be in the active or passive form.
The table given below shows the active and passive forms of the infinitive ‘take’ in different tense forms.
| Form | Active | Passive |
| Simple | To take | To be taken |
| Continuous | To be taking | …………………… . |
| Perfect | To have taken | To have been taken |
| Perfect continuous | To have been taking | …………………… . |
Active and passive forms of infinitive take without to
| Form | Active | Passive |
| Simple | Take | Be taken |
| Continuous | Be taking | ………………… . |
| Perfect | Have taken | Have been taken |
| Perfect continuous | Have been taking | ………………… . |
By adding a modal auxiliary verb to the base form of the infinitive, we can form a verb.
Using the modals may and might
The modals might and may both show possibility. The express indecision or uncertainty about present, future, or past actions or states.
Simple
Might take / might be taken
May take / may be taken
- I may take a vacation sometime soon.
- I might take a break now.
This sentence can refer to both present and future time.
Simple continuous
Might be taking
May be taking
- John isn’t in his office. He might be taking a break.
Perfect
Might have taken / might have been taken
May have taken / may have been taken
- I might have taken the wrong decision.
This sentence refers to the past.
Perfect continuous
Might have been taking
May have been taking
- Susie wasn’t home when I called. She might have been taking a rest.
This sentence refers to the past.