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Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that provide additional meaning about the action of the following main verb. The main modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. They express ideas like ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and advice. Modal verbs are used with the base form of the main verb and have consistent conjugation patterns in both affirmative and negative sentences as well as questions.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
62 views15 pages

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that provide additional meaning about the action of the following main verb. The main modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. They express ideas like ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and advice. Modal verbs are used with the base form of the main verb and have consistent conjugation patterns in both affirmative and negative sentences as well as questions.
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MODAL VERBS.

Part of the auxiliary verbs: verbs that cannot be used on their


own.

Modal verbs: Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Shall, Should, Will, Would.

Provide additional information about the verb that follows it.

They are used to express ability, obligation, permission, assumptions, probability and
possibility, requests and offers, and advice.

● You can go now. (= permission)


● I can play the guitar. (= ability)
Structure with Modal Verbs.
Subject + Modal Verb + Verb (base form of the infinitive)
● I can speak English (NOT: I can to speak English)
● He can speak Spanish (NOT: He can speaks Spanish)
● She can speak Spanish (NOT: She cans speak Spanish)
Modal Verbs in Negative Sentences.
Subject + Modal Verb + not + Verb
● You must not walk on the grass. (= You mustn't walk on the grass.)
● He cannot speak Arabic. (= He can't speak Arabic.)
● We should not be late. (= We shouldn't be late.)
Modal Verbs in Questions.
Modal Verb + Subject
● May I help you?+ Verb + ?
● Can I have another piece of cake please?
● Would you like to come with us?

Modals – permission and obligation.


Permission
Can - could:
Both Can and Could are Modal Verbs. Could: more polite (or formal).

Can: express ability or to say that something is possible.


Ask for and give permission.

Can I sit here? You can use my car if you like. Can I make a suggestion?
Can is the same for all subjects. We don't add an 'S' in the third person.
I can speak Spanish.
He can swim well.
We can see our neighbour in the garden.
They can play the guitar.

The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3)


permission.
1. To express ability: 2. To express a possibility:
It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.
Birds can fly.
I know you can win the competition.
I can speak two languages.
Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be cheap.
He can finish the job
Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you
would use may or might.
3. To offer to do something for others
You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like.
Can I carry your bags for you?
4. To ask for or give permission / To request something.

You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now.


Can I sit in that chair please?
Mary, you can play outside if you like.
Can I ask you a question?

Could. Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.


Could: ask for permission (but not to give it). More formal and polite than can.

Could I ask you something?


Could I interrupt?
Could I borrow your pen for a moment, please?

1. To express ability in the past.


I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.
She could juggle eight balls when she was only 10 years old.
He could read when he was three years old.
2. Ask for permission or to request something. 3. General permission in the past.
Could I please use your bathroom?
Could we move on to the next topic now please? In high school, we could leave the
Could you pass me the salt please? classroom only if we had a pass.
I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?
Last year he could go to the concert
4. A suggestion when asked what to do. because his mother let him.
He could try and fix it himself.
We could go to the movies if you are interested.
Prohibition.
Can't and couldn’t: show that something is prohibited, not allowed.
Can't:
Talk about something that is against the rules.

❖ What does this sign say? Oh, we can't park here.


❖ You can't take photos in the museum. They're really strict about it.
❖ Sorry, we can't sell alcohol to under-18s.
Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed:

❖ We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.


❖ You can’t drive as fast as you want on the
German motorways.
❖ You can't smoke in the restaurant.
❖ You cannot drive a car without a license.
Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or
something is surprising:
❖ It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!
Couldn’t: ❖ They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax.
Sure that something is untrue

❖ That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was hit by a car last week.
❖ He couldn't have painted that. He has no artistic ability at all.
Obligation
Have to and must to express obligation. There is a slight difference between the
way we use them.

● I must write a letter to John.

● I have to write a letter to John.

What is the difference between MUST and HAVE TO?


Both used to express an obligation, responsibility or necessity.

❖ I must write a letter to John. ❖ I have to write a letter to John.

Speaker decides that something is necessary, Somebody else other than the speaker has made the
or needs to be done. decision.
❖ I must book a hotel for my trip next week.
We have to wear a uniform at work.

❖ The Teacher says: You must complete the essay by Friday.


The Student says: We have to complete the essay by Friday.

When we mention someone else’s obligation, then we use the correct conjugation of
Have to.

● Mike can’t come because he has to work tomorrow.


● Susan and Steve have to pay their rent every Friday.

Questions – Must or Have to?


Have to > Must to
❖ When do you have to finish the report? > When must you finish the report?

Note: You may still hear MUST used in questions, though mainly in British English.
● Must you leave right now? Do you have to leave right now?
Have to: Used in conversation.

Must : Used more in formal writing,


What is the difference between MUSTN’T
and DON’T HAVE TO?
Mustn’t: means something is prohibited or it is not allowed.

Don’t have to: means there is NO obligation to do something.

● You must not drink that.


● You don’t have to drink that.

● You mustn’t tell John.


Mustn’t is a negative obligation ● You don’t have to tell John.
Don’t have to is an absence of obligation.
Third Person
● She mustn’t come.
● She doesn’t have to come.
Should - Shouldn't.
Should + Verb (base form of infinitive)

1. To give advice, a recommendation or a suggestion

● Does your tooth still hurt? You should make an appointment with the
dentist.
● I think you should study for the test so that you don't fail.
● Your hair is too long. You should get a haircut.
● You really should go to the new restaurant on Main Street.
2. Expresses that a situation is likely in the present

● Mary should be at home by now. Give her a call.


● He should have the letter by now. I sent it a couple of weeks ago.

3. Expresses that a situation is likely in the future (prediction)

● They should win the game because they are a much better
team.
● I posted the cheque yesterday so it should arrive this week.
● It should be fine tomorrow.

4. Expresses an obligation that is not as strong as Must.

● On hearing the fire alarm, hotel guests should leave their room
immediately.
● Passengers should check in at least 2 hours before departure time.
● You should never lie to your doctor.
● You should be at work before 9.
Shouldn't.
We use shouldn't to advise not to do something.

● You shouldn't throw your litter onto the


street.
● We shouldn't leave without saying
goodbye.
● He shouldn't play with those wires if he
doesn't know what he is doing.
● Are you tired? You shouldn't work so
much.
● You shouldn't talk like that to your
grandmother.

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