MODAL VERBS help us when we want to give a different meaning to the sentence. © They are AUXILIARY VERBS, so all of them have an infinitive following them (MODAL + infinitive without 'to'). "She should go to the dentist." ¢ As they are auxiliaries, we form the negative adding "NOT". "You must not smoke here." ¢ They DO NOT CHANGE between personal pronouns (they always stay the same). ° CAN Remember that in the Round « COULD Up 4, some of these other ¢ MUST structures may appear: ° MAY © HAVETO © MIGHT « NEED ee * OUGHT TO « WOULD « HAD BETTER * SHOULD © SHALLCAN "CAN" is used: © To express ability ("poder hacer algo") in the present or the future. Can you swim? No, | can't. © "CANNOT" to express [im]probability (no es probable). He can't be at home. | saw him at school a few minutes ago! © To ask posibility (;es probable?). Can he be at home? ON \ ¢ To ask or give permission. [eee |] Can | borrow you pen? (Asking permission) You can grab one more candy. (Giving permission). © To request something. Can you help me clean my room? ¢ Informal prohibition. You can't go to the party."COULD" is used: © To express ability or inability ("[no] poder hacer algo") in general for the past. Could you swim when you were five years old? Yes, | could. // No, | couldn't. ¢ We also use "BE ABLE TO" for abilities in the past. What is the difference, then? BE ABLE TO is used when you were able to do something despite a difficulty. “Iwas able to come to class although it was raining." COULD is used for general abilities in the past, such as: “L could swim when | was 5 years old." © To ask posibility (jes probable?). Could he be at home? (It's possible). ¢ To ask for permission (formal). Could | go to the party? © To ask a polite request or say a polite suggestion. Could | have a little more cake, please?"MUST" is used: © To express probability/possibility (it is almost certain). They must be twins, they look alike. * To express a strong personal obligation. You must do you homework. ¢ "MUST NOT / MUSTN'T" expresses a prohibition. You must not take pictures at the museum. "HAVE TO" is used: © To express an obligation such as a rule or a law. You have to wear a uniform at school.REMEMBER THE DIFFERENCE! MUST MUST NOT / MUSTNT Personal obligation. Prohibition. "| must clean my room." "You mustn't smoke here." HAVE TO DONT HAVE TO External obligation It's not necessary. (rule, norm). “You don't have to come "You have to stop ata to the party [if you don't traffic light." want tol." "MAY" is used: © To express possibility/probability. He may be back before 1 p.m. (Perhaps, very possible) © Toask permission (formal). May | have a piece of paper, please? © To give permission (formal). You may go outside now.Might "MIGHT" is used: © To express possibility/probability. There might be some bread on the table. (Perhaps, very possible) © To ask permission (more formal). Might | have your passport, please? "WILL" is used: WL © To make an offer or a request. \\ I'll make you some coffee if you want. (Friendly offer). Will you do me a favour? (Friendly request). © To form the Future, but you already know that. ©¢ Weuse "WOULD YOU LIKE" to make a polite offer. Would you like another cup of tea? You should drink some tea if you have a cold. "SHOULD" is used: © To express advice. « For some specific situations, we can give advice with HAD BETTER. You'd better see a doctor before you get worse."SHALL" is used: ¢ To make an offer or suggestion (always a question). We use this modal with 'l' and 'We' ONLY. Shall | post this letter for you? (Offer) Shall we buy him a present? (Suggestion) We also should talk about "NEED" ¢ NEEDN'T means "it's not necessary". You can also say DON'T NEED/DIDN'T NEED. You needn't take an umbrella, it's not raining. You don't need to take an umbella, it's not raining.