Modals

Some important rules :

 Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs. It means that when you ask a question, you
don’t need to add an auxiliary: you simply put the modal in front of the subject.
And negatives are made by putting not immediately after the modal.
 They are used before other verbs to express certain meanings (permission,
ability, possibility, advice, etc.). The same modal verb can be used in different
ways with different meanings, depending on the situation.
 They have a different grammar from other verbs: they are invariable.
 Two modal verbs cannot be put together.
 Modal verbs include: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would,
must, ought to.
 Some verbs are similar to modals in some ways: have to, be able to, used to,
had better, needn’t.
 Modals can be used in a special structure with have + past participle (e.g.
should have phoned). This is used mainly to talk about possibilities in the past.
The exact meaning depends on the particular modal.

1. Ability, certainty and possibility

1.1. Ability
We can use can or can’t for ability (or cannot in formal writing).

- I can swim.
- He can’t draw.

We sometimes use be able to instead of can. Be able to forms tenses

- Will you be able to help me move my furniture tomorrow?

We use could to talk about past abilities.

- When I was younger, I could run 10 miles.

 1.2. Certainty
This is a table of probability:

95%-100% Deduction must, can’t

80% Expectation should
30%-70% Uncertainty may, might, could

We use must and can’t for “deduction.” This is when we know something is certain
because it is logical, or when we make an assumption because of the facts of the
situation.

- He must be stuck in traffic (I’m sure he is – it’s the only possibility)

- She can’t be in Italy! I saw her today! (I’m sure she isn’t – it’s impossible)

We use should when we expect that something will happen.

- They should arrive here at about 6.30.

We use may, might and could when we are uncertain.

- I may not have time to finish my homework tonight. (I don’t know)

- President Jones might win the next election. (It’s possible).
- I may/might have some news for you next week. (Perhaps I will)
- He could be stuck in traffic. (Perhaps he is)

2. Obligations and prohibitions

2.1. Obligations

We use must or have to to explain that something is necessary.

- I must finish my homework before 8.00.

- I have to phone Jan at 9.00.

Have to is not a modal verb and has all the forms of have.

- Ann has to leave now.

- Why does she have to go?
- You don’t have to do it.
There are some differences between must and have to in some situations.

 We use must when the speaker personally feels that something is

important.
o You really must stop working so hard and try to relax.
o You must be here by 8.00, or the bus will leave without you.
 We use have to when the situation makes something necessary, for
example because of official rules.
o At our school, we have to wear a uniform.
o Every player in a football team has to have a number.
o When the traffic lights are red, you have to stop.

2.2. Prohibitions

In their negative forms, mustn’t and don’t have to have different meanings.

 We use mustn’t when an action is prohibited/forbidden

o You mustn’t cross the road when the red light is showing.
 We use don’t have to when the action is not necessary – you have a choice.
o You don’t have to turn on the central heating. It’s automatic.

3. Permissions, requests, and advice

3.1. Permissions and requests

We can ask for permission with can, could (more formal or polite) or may (very
formal).

- Can I ask you a question?

- Could I look at your newspaper?
- May I sit here?

Can and may can also be used to offer to do things for people.

- Can I get you a drink?

- May I help you sir?

We can give or refuse permission with can’t/cannot or may not.

- You can use my car if you want to.

 - I’m sorry you can’t come in here.
- Visitors may park in Elm Road.
- Visitors may not park in front of the hospital.

We can use can and could to ask people to do things.

- Can you put the children to bed?

- Could you help me for a few minutes?

3.2. Advice

We use should and shouldn’t to give an opinion about what is the best thing to do.
When we speak to another person our opinion becomes advice.

- I think the police should arrest hooligans. (opinion)

- I think you should talk to your teacher about it. (advice)

We can use ought to and ought not to to mean the same as should and shouldn’t.
Ought to is not as common as should and is a little more formal, especially in
questions and negatives.

- I think she ought to talk to her teacher about it.

Had better is used for strong opinions. Had is usually a short form.

- I think you’d better talk to your teacher about it.

- We’d better not forget to turn off the computer.
Complete the table
Meaning Modals Difference, explanation, etc.
-

-
Ability
-

-
-

-
Certainty
-

-
-
Obligation
-

-
Prohibition
-

Permission -

-
-

-
Advice
-

-
 Exercises
Exercise 1. Match the meanings with the example sentences.

a. I’m not sure but my camera may be broken. ____ 1. asking for permission: very polite
b. I don’t know where your gloves are. They might be 2. a guess about the past
in the kitchen. ______
3. asking for permission: formal
c. We’re late. The play may have started. _____
4. a guess about the present
d. I’m afraid you might have broken your arm. _____
5. no permission: formal
e. May I have your attention please? ____
6. a guess about the present
f. Might I have a word in private please?____
7. a guess about the past
g. You may make one telephone call. _____
8. giving permission: formal
h. Boy and girls may not wear jewellery._____

Exercise 2. Complete the following sentences with modals of ability, possibility or

certainty.
1. Why is that man looking around like that? He ______________________ be lost.

2. That woman _____________ be a doctor! She looks far too young.

3. What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You _____________ really like gardening.

4. He's amazing. He _________________ speak 5 languages including Chinese.

5. Where's Lucy? She _____________ be at the library, as she often goes there at
this time.

6. I _____________ see you later if I finish my work, but don’t count on me!

7. You've already eaten enough for three people! You _____________ still be
hungry!

8. Sue says she’s stuck in traffic and she’s not sure but she _____________ be late.

9. _________________ you swim when you were 10?

10.I read the book three times, but I _________________ understand it.

11. The food is really good at that restaurant. They _____________ have a great
chef.
12.We _________________ get to the meeting on time yesterday because the train
was delayed by one hour.

13.We’re not sure but we _________________ go to Prague for Christmas this year.

14.Her life _____________ be easy. She has four children and very little money.

15.When the car broke down, I was really pleased because I _________________
solve the problem even though I had never done it before.

16.Bill cooked the lunch and he’s really bad at cooking, so you _________________
expect anything special!

Exercise 3 - Fill in the blanks with affirmative or negative forms of must, have to or
has to.
1. It's raining outside. Tim _____________ take his umbrella.
2. I can give you my car, so you _____________ buy a new one.
3. They ___________ be in a hurry, because they have got more than
enough time.
4. Tomorrow is Sunday. You ________________get up very early.
5. Mrs. Parks can't see very well. She ______________ wear glasses.
6. You _______________ return them. They are too small for you.
7. I am broke, I ______________ borrow some money to buy a car.
8. You ________________ stop smoking. It is very harmful.
9. Mr. Dickson is travelling abroad this summer, so he ___________ get his passport
soon.
10. All the students ______________ obey the school rules.

Exercise 4. Rewrite each sentence using can, can’t, might or must and beginning
and ending as shown.
1. Sarah is really good at swimming.
Sarah _______________________________ well.
2. It’s possible that our team will win.
Our team _________________________ win.
 3. I’m sure this isn’t the right road.
This __________________________ the right road.
4. I’m sure you work very hard!
You __________________________ very hard!
5. Caroline isn’t allowed to come to our party.
Caroline _______________________ to our party.
6. It’s possible that I’ll see you tomorrow, but I’m not sure.
I ________________________________, but I’m not sure.
7. I’m afraid that your teacher is unable to come today.
I’m afraid that _______________________________ today.
8. I’m sure it’s very hot here in summer.
It _____________________________ here in summer.
9. Excuse me, is it all right if I open the window?
Excuse me, _______________________________ the window?
10. I suppose you’re Mrs Perry. How do you do?
You ____________________________ Mrs Perry. How do you do?

Exercise 5. Decide whether each pair of sentences have a similar meaning or

whether they are different. Write S for same or D for different.

1 You’d better go. You should go.

You don’t have to press this
2 You mustn’t press this button.
button.
3 You should have a rest. You ought to have a rest.
4 You must be crazy! You should be crazy!
5 You must be here before 8.30. You have to be here before 8.30.
6 You mustn’t do that! You don’t have to do that!
7 You shouldn’t eat so much. You ought not to eat so much.
8 We have to work harder. We must work harder.
9 I’d better write my emails. I must write my emails.
10 I ought to leave now. I have to leave now.
Exercise 6. Rewrite each sentence so that it has a similar meaning and contains the
word in bold.

1. It would be a good idea for you to see a dentist.

ought

___________________________________________________________________

2. It’s not necessary for us to go to school tomorrow.

have

___________________________________________________________________

3. I’m sure that it isn’t John, because he is in Paris.

be

___________________________________________________________________

4. Perhaps Ann is at home.

be

___________________________________________________________________

5. You ought to wear a warm coat today.

had

___________________________________________________________________

6. It’s possible that I’ll be late.

may

___________________________________________________________________

7. I wouldn’t go skiing if I were you.

think

___________________________________________________________________

8. It is forbidden to leave your bike here.

can’t
___________________________________________________________________