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Modals and Semi-Modals

This document summarizes the use of modal verbs and semi-modals in English. It discusses their use for obligation, permission, possibility, making deductions, certainty vs uncertainty, ability, and asking for and giving advice. Key points include how modal verbs show attitude and have different meanings depending on context, cannot be combined or inflected, and are followed by the infinitive without "to".

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GEORGIANA VIOLETA CRISTACHE
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65 views

Modals and Semi-Modals

This document summarizes the use of modal verbs and semi-modals in English. It discusses their use for obligation, permission, possibility, making deductions, certainty vs uncertainty, ability, and asking for and giving advice. Key points include how modal verbs show attitude and have different meanings depending on context, cannot be combined or inflected, and are followed by the infinitive without "to".

Uploaded by

GEORGIANA VIOLETA CRISTACHE
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals and Semi-modals

Modal Verbs
• MUST
• MAY • modal vеrbs show thе spеakеr’s attitudе or fееlings about a situation;
• MIGHT • thе same modal vеrb сan bе usеd in diffеrеnt ways with diffеrеnt
mеanings - you only know from thе situation;
• WILL
• two modal vеrbs сannot bе put togеthеr;
• WOULD
• modal vеrbs arе followed by thе infinitivе without to;
• modal vеrbs do not havе third pеrson s;
• CAN
• COULD • modal vеrbs do not form tеnsеs with -ing, -ed etс.
• modal vеrbs usе invеrsion in quеstions (like the vеrb be), not do/does.
• SHALL Quеstions arе madе by putting thе modаl in front of thе subjесt.
• SHOULD • nеgativеs arе made by putting not immеdiatеly aftеr thе modal;
Semi-Modals (phrases that we use as modals)

• OUGHT TO • Like modals, ought to doesn’t change.


• HAVE TO
• NEED TO • Have to and need to change for person
and tense like normal verbs and have
infinitives.
OBLIGATION/ DUTY/ NECESSITY
• MUST (internal obligation, written rules and instructions)
I must lose some weight. / Seat belts must be worn.

• HAVE TO (external obligation)


You have to wear a tie. / You can’t turn right here. You have to turn left .

• SHOULD / OUGHT TO (weak obligation, duty)


You should wear a helmet. / You ought to call your parents more often.

• NEED (it is necessary to)


Need I apply for the job in writing?
LACK OF NECESSITY
• NEEDN’T/ DON’T HAVE TO/ DON’T NEED TO + present infinitive
(= it isn’t necessary to do sth in the present/future)
At our school, we don’t have to wear a uniform.

• DIDN’T NEED TO/ DIDN’T HAVE TO


(= It wasn’t necessary to do something. We don’t know if it was done or not.)
She didn’t need to / have to prepare the report for the meeting.

• NEEDN’T + perfect infinitive


(= it was not necessary to do something but it was done)
You needn’t have typed the whole thing again, it was saved on the computer.
PERMISSION

Asking for permission


Giving Permission

CAN > COULD > MAY > MIGHT CAN > MAY

A: Can I help you?


You can go out.
B: Of course.

A: Could/May/Might I have a look at this


file? You may send the email when you
B: Certainly. like.
POSSIBILITY

CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT + Present Infinitive COULD/MIGHT/WOULD + Perfect


(= it is possible/it is likely) Infinitive
(= it was possible but it didn’t happen)
For the main course you can have pasta or
pizza.
The driver could have died. Luckily, he
You could buy this dress if you like. didn’t.

You should keep that picture, it may be She might have passed the exam if she
valuable some day. studied harder.
MAKING DEDUCTIONS - Present

MUST + Present Infinitive CAN’T / COULDN’T + Present Infinitive


(positive logical assumptions) (negative logical assumptions)

They can’t be strangers.


They must know each other.

You couldn’t be hungry. You’ve just had


your dinner.
MAKING DEDUCTIONS - Past

CAN’T / COULDN’T+ Perfect Infinitive


MUST + Perfect Infinitive
(negative logical assumptions)
(positive logical assumptions)
How did she fail that exam? She can't have
An earthquake? That must have studied very much.
been terrifying!
She couldn’t have typed it. She cannot type.
Certainty and Unсertainty

• IОО% - сеrtainty –will

• 95 % -1ОО % - dеduсtion - must, сап’t

• 8О % - ехpесtation – should

• ЗО % -7О % - unсertainty - mау, might, сould

• О% - сertainty – won’t
ABILITY
• CAN (ability now or generally)
He can cook delicious meals.

• COULD (past repeated action)


He could play the piano well when he was six.

*We use was/were able to to express what someone managed to do in a specific situation in the past
(past single action)
He was able to win the race.

**We use could rather than was/were able to with see, hear, feel, smell, taste, understand, remember
and guess.

*** We use the negative form couldn’t for both cases (past repeated action and past single action)
ASKING FOR AND GIVING ADVICE
• SHOULD
Liam should watch less TV.

• OUGHT TO
The school ought to listen to students’ opinion.

• MUST
You must talk to your lawyer. (I strongly advise you to.)

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