MODAL VERBS

Can/ Be able to / Cant CAN CAN Different uses: Different uses: Abilities or capacities (to know or to be able to). Abilities or capacities (to know or to be able to). Mary can swim very fast. Mary can swim very fast. Request, ask or give permission Request, ask or give permission Can you call me tonight. Can you call me tonight. Possibility Possibility I can meet you later. I can meet you later. It can also be used for suggestions. It can also be used for suggestions. You can eat ravioli if you like pasta. You can eat ravioli if you like pasta.

Be able to Be able to It expresses abilities like can and it is used in all the verbal tenses where can is not used. It expresses abilities like can and it is used in all the verbal tenses where can is not used. I was able to finish my homework on time I was able to finish my homework on time Cant Cant Different uses: Different uses: Impossibility in the present Impossibility in the present Mary cant swim very fast Mary cant swim very fast Lack of ability (not to know) or capacity (not to be able to): I cant eat a whole cake by myself Lack of ability (not to know) or capacity (not to be able to): I cant eat a whole cake by myself Prohibition Prohibition You cant drive without a licence You cant drive without a licence Disbelief Disbelief That cant be the price – its much too cheap. That cant be the price – its much too cheap.

Could It is the past of can and it is used to express: It is the past of can and it is used to express: Ability or capacity in the past Ability or capacity in the past She could run fast when she was a child She could run fast when she was a child Polite request Polite request Could you help me with these suitcases? Could you help me with these suitcases? Polite suggestion Polite suggestion You could exercise and eat healthier food You could exercise and eat healthier food Possibility –less probable than with can- Possibility –less probable than with can- Mark could join us the cinema. Mark could join us the cinema.

May/ might Both of them express possibility, but might is more remote. Both of them express possibility, but might is more remote. It may/ might rain tomorrow It may/ might rain tomorrow In questions, may is the polite way of asking for things. In questions, may is the polite way of asking for things. May I have a coffee, please? May I have a coffee, please?

Would In questions, it is a formal way of asking for things. In questions, it is a formal way of asking for things. Would you open the window, please? Would you open the window, please? With the verb like is used to make offers and invitations. With the verb like is used to make offers and invitations. Would you like something to drink? Would you like something to drink?

Must / Have to Both express obligation, but must is only used in the present and have to in the other tenses. Authority people use must, while have to is used by everybody. Both express obligation, but must is only used in the present and have to in the other tenses. Authority people use must, while have to is used by everybody. You must bring your books to class You must bring your books to class I have to buy the tickets today. I have to buy the tickets today. Must is also used to express a logical deduction about present fact. Must is also used to express a logical deduction about present fact. Shes got a great job. She must be very happy. Shes got a great job. She must be very happy.

Need to / Neednt Need to is not a modal, but it is used in affirmative sentences, like have to, to express obligation and necessity. Need to is not a modal, but it is used in affirmative sentences, like have to, to express obligation and necessity. I need to cook dinner tonight. I need to cook dinner tonight. Neednt, on the contrary, is a modal and indicates lack of oblication and necessity, like dont have to Neednt, on the contrary, is a modal and indicates lack of oblication and necessity, like dont have to You neednt bring anything to the party. You neednt bring anything to the party.

Musnt / Dont have to Musnt shows prohibition. Musnt shows prohibition. You musnt exceed the speed limit You musnt exceed the speed limit Dont have to means not have to, i.e., lack of obligation and necessity, like neednt Dont have to means not have to, i.e., lack of obligation and necessity, like neednt I dont have to get up early tomorrow I dont have to get up early tomorrow

Should /Ought to Both of them express advise or opinion, but should is used more frequently, since ought to is quite strange in negative and interrogative. Both of them express advise or opinion, but should is used more frequently, since ought to is quite strange in negative and interrogative. You should/ought to improve your pronunciation You should/ought to improve your pronunciation

Shall It is used in the interrogative to offer oneself to do something and to make a suggestion. It is used in the interrogative to offer oneself to do something and to make a suggestion. Shall I help you with your luggage? Shall I help you with your luggage?

ABILITYREQUESTPOSSIBILITYINABILITY CANMary can swim very fastCan you call me tonight?I can meet you later BE ABLE TO I was able to finish my homework on time CAN'T I can't eat a whole cake by myself COULD She could run fast when she was a child (past) Could you help me with the suitcases? (polite) Mark could join us at the cinema MAY/MIGHT It may/might rain tomorrow MAY May I join this team? (polite) WOULD Would you open the window, please? (formal) MUST HAVE TO NEED TO NEEDN'T DON'T HAVE TO MUSTN'T SHOULD /OUGHT TO SHALL

CAN BE ABLE TO CAN'T COULD MAY/MIGHT MAY WOULD MUST HAVE TO NEED TO NEEDN'T DON'T HAVE TO MUSTN'T SHOULD /OUGHT TO SHALL PROHIBITIONDISBELIEF SUGGESTION/ OFFER OBLIGATION/ NECESSITY You can't drive without a licence That can't be the price - it's much too cheap You could exercise and eat healthier food (plite) Would you like something to drink? You must bring your books to class (strong) I have to buy the tickets today I need to cook dinner tonight. You musn't exceed the speed limit Shall I help you with your luggage?

CERTAINTY OF TRUE LACK OBLIGATION/ NECESSITY ADVICE/ OPINION She's got a great job. She must be very happy. You needn't bring anything to the party I don't have to get up early tomorrow You should/ ought to improve your pronunciation CAN BE ABLE TO CAN'T COULD MAY/MIGHT MAY WOULD MUST HAVE TO NEED TO NEEDN'T DON'T HAVE TO MUSTN'T SHOULD /OUGHT TO SHALL

MODAL PERFECTS Must have + participle Must have + participle It expresses a logical conclusion about a past fact. It expresses a logical conclusion about a past fact. Rob has arrived late. He must have been in a traffic jam. Rob has arrived late. He must have been in a traffic jam. May/might have + participle May/might have + participle We use it to make a supposition about something in the past. We use it to make a supposition about something in the past. She may/might have taken the wrong bus. She may/might have taken the wrong bus.

Could have + participle Could have + participle Ability to do something in the past which in the end was not done Ability to do something in the past which in the end was not done You could have asked the doctor before taking the medicine. You could have asked the doctor before taking the medicine. Couldnt have + participle Couldnt have + participle Certainty that something did not happen Certainty that something did not happen He couldnt have gone to the concert because he was doing the test. He couldnt have gone to the concert because he was doing the test.

Would have + participle Would have + participle Desire to do something in the past which in fact could not be done. Desire to do something in the past which in fact could not be done. I would have gone to the party, but I was too busy. I would have gone to the party, but I was too busy. Should/ought to + participle Should/ought to + participle Criticism or regret after an event Criticism or regret after an event You should/ought to have warned me earlier You should/ought to have warned me earlier Shouldnt have + participle Shouldnt have + participle Criticism or regret after an event, showing that it shouldnt have happened Criticism or regret after an event, showing that it shouldnt have happened He shouldnt have forgotten about her birthday He shouldnt have forgotten about her birthday

Neednt have + participle Neednt have + participle An unnecessary past action An unnecessary past action You neednt have brought anything to my party. You neednt have brought anything to my party.

Should /Had better Should/had better Should/had better Had better is used in a more colloquial way of expressing what someone has to do, to give advise or opinions. Had better is used in a more colloquial way of expressing what someone has to do, to give advise or opinions. Youd better go to the doctor. Youd better go to the doctor. It also it is used to express a warning It also it is used to express a warning Youd better tidy your room now Youd better tidy your room now