Modal Verbs (Kata Kerja Bantu Modal), terutama can, could, may, might, must, should, would, serta beberapa untuk pengganti modal.
1. CAN
Digunakan untuk :
- Menyatakan kemampuan saat ini
- Menyatakan izin secara informal
- Menyatakan kemungkinan tertentu.
Contoh :
- I can speak English
- Can I use your phone?
Catatan : untuk kemampuan di masa lalu, gunakan could.
2. COULD
Digunakan untuk:
- Menyatakan kemampuan di masa lalu.
- Menyatakan kemungkinan.
- Permintaan yang lebih sopan daripada can.
Contoh:
- Mozart could play the piano beautifully.
- I couldn't eat anything yesterday.
- Could you help me?
Pola:
Subject + could/couldn't + Verb 1
3. MAY
Digunakan untuk:
- Meminta izin dengan sopan/formal.
- Menyatakan kemungkinan.
Contoh:
- May I go to the bathroom?
- It may belong to Yuta.
- It may be true.
Ingat: May I...? = Bolehkah saya...?
4. MIGHT
Digunakan untuk menyatakan kemungkinan, biasanya ketika kita belum yakin.
Contoh:
- I might be able to help you.
→ Mungkin saya bisa membantu Anda. - It might rain tonight.
Perbedaan sederhana:
- may = mungkin
- might = mungkin, tetapi lebih tidak pasti
5. MUST
Digunakan untuk:
- Menyatakan keharusan/kewajiban.
- Menyatakan sesuatu yang sangat diyakini berdasarkan bukti.
- Menyatakan kebutuhan yang kuat.
Contoh:
- You must work harder.
- I really must try to get fit.
- She must be home by now.
Must be = pasti/mungkin sangat kuat berdasarkan situasi.
6. MUSTN'T / MUST NOT
Digunakan untuk menyatakan larangan.
Contoh:
- You mustn't forget your sun cream.
- Bags must not be left unattended.
⚠️ Mustn't ≠ don't have to
- mustn't = tidak boleh
- don't have to = tidak perlu
7. SHOULD
Digunakan untuk memberikan:
- Saran/nasihat
- Sesuatu yang dianggap sebaiknya dilakukan.
Contoh:
- You should look at me when I am talking to you.
- You should study harder.
Should = sebaiknya
8. WOULD
Biasanya digunakan untuk:
- Permintaan yang sopan.
- Situasi pengandaian.
- Kebiasaan di masa lalu dalam konteks tertentu.
Contoh:
- Would you help me?
- I would like some coffee.
9. BE ABLE TO
Be able to berarti mampu/bisa, mirip dengan can.
Contoh:
- I can speak English.
- I am able to speak English.
Namun, be able to lebih fleksibel karena bisa digunakan setelah modal atau dalam bentuk tense tertentu.
Contoh: It’s important to be able to speak more than one language.
10. BE ALLOWED TO
Be allowed to = diizinkan untuk
Contoh: Students are allowed to borrow up to 6 books.
Artinya: Mahasiswa diizinkan meminjam hingga 6 buku.
Perhatikan perbedaannya:
May I...? → meminta izin
be allowed to → menyatakan bahwa seseorang mendapatkan izin
11. NEEDN'T vs DIDN'T NEED TO
Keduanya berkaitan dengan tidak perlu, tetapi penggunaannya berbeda.
Needn't
Biasanya digunakan untuk menyatakan bahwa sesuatu tidak perlu dilakukan.
You needn't worry.
Didn't need to
Digunakan untuk masa lalu.
The museum was free. We didn't need to pay.
| Modal | Fungsi Utama | Contoh |
|---|---|---|
| can | kemampuan sekarang / izin informal | I can swim. |
| could | kemampuan masa lalu / permintaan sopan | I could swim when I was five |
| may | izin formal / kemungkinan 50% | May I come in? |
| might | kemungkinan ragu-ragu 30% | It might rain. |
| must | kewajiban / kepastian kuat | You must study. |
| mustn't | larangan = tidak boleh | You mustn't smoke. |
| should | nasihat / sebaiknya | You should rest. |
| would | permintaan / pengandaian | Would you help me? |
| didn't need to | tidak perlu di masa lalu | We didn't need to pay. |
| needn't | tidak perlu | You needn't come. |
| be able to | mampu (pengganti can di semua tense) | She is able to drive.. |
| be allowed to | diizinkan | Students are allowed to leave. |