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Modals Chart

The document provides examples and explanations of English modal verbs used to express ability, possibility, certainty, obligation, prohibition, necessity, advice, and regret in the present, past, and future tenses. It lists modal verbs such as can, may, must, have to, should, and others along with their meanings and sample sentences to demonstrate their uses for expressing concepts like ability, permission, certainty, obligation, necessity, advice, and regret.

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1K views

Modals Chart

The document provides examples and explanations of English modal verbs used to express ability, possibility, certainty, obligation, prohibition, necessity, advice, and regret in the present, past, and future tenses. It lists modal verbs such as can, may, must, have to, should, and others along with their meanings and sample sentences to demonstrate their uses for expressing concepts like ability, permission, certainty, obligation, necessity, advice, and regret.

Uploaded by

Ana
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MEANING

Ability Possibility

PRESENT
Can / (am/is/are) able to Cant / (am not/isnt/arent) able to Can / May / Might / Could May not / Might not / Couldnt Cant Can / Could

PAST
Could / (was/were) able to Couldnt / (wasnt/werent) able to May / Might / Could + HAVE + part May not / Might not / Couldnt + HAVE + part Couldnt

Examples
I (can/am able to) speak 3 languages When John was young he (could/was able to) run very fast It (can/may/might/could) snow there even in summer! It (may/might/could) have snowed in the mountains Im afraid I cant come to the party on Friday Im sorry but I couldnt come to the party on Friday (Can/Could) you wait a moment, please? Hello, (can/could/may) I speak to Tom, please? You can use the offices phone. You were allowed to use the offices phone. Youve been travelling all day. You must be tired! She has just had lunch. She cant be hungry! The phone rang but I didnt hear it I must have been asleep. He walked passed me without speaking. He cant have seen me. I (must /have to) go to hospital next week. I had to go to hospital last week. You (musnt/cant ) tell anyone what I told you. I (wasnt able to/could) tell anyone what he told me. I (need to/have to) go to the supermarket before going home I (needed to/had to) go to the supermarket before going home Its not raining. You (dont have to/dont need to/neednt) take the umbrella. It was Sunday so you (didnt have to/didnt need to/neednt have to) get up early. You look tired. You (should/ought to/ had better) go to bed now. *It was a great party. You (should have/ought to have) come!

Impossibility Requests Asking or Giving Permission Certainty / Deduction Obligation Prohibition

Can / Could / May

Was/were allowed to

Must / Cant

Must / Cant + HAVE + part

Must / Have to Mustnt / Cant

Had to Wasnt/werent allowed to Coudnt Had to / Needed to

Necessity

Have to / Need to

Not Necessary

Dont have to / Dont need to / Neednt Should / Ought to / Had better Shouldnt / Oughtnt to / Had better not

Didnt have to / Didnt need to / Neednt HAVE + part *Should / Ought to + HAVE + part *Shouldnt / Oughtnt to + HAVE + part

Advice / *Regret

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