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Modal Verbs

This document discusses modal verbs used in English to express ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, preference, and logical conclusions. It categorizes modal verbs based on whether they are used for present/future or past tenses. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used and notes about their meanings. Key modal verbs covered include can, may, will, could, might, would, shall, should, have to, had to, must, ought to, had better, and would rather. The document concludes with exercises applying the modal verbs.

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162 views

Modal Verbs

This document discusses modal verbs used in English to express ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, preference, and logical conclusions. It categorizes modal verbs based on whether they are used for present/future or past tenses. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used and notes about their meanings. Key modal verbs covered include can, may, will, could, might, would, shall, should, have to, had to, must, ought to, had better, and would rather. The document concludes with exercises applying the modal verbs.

Uploaded by

SeaBlue
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODAL VERBS

Present/future
modals
can
may
will

Past modals

Perfect modals

could
might
would

shall

should

could have +PP


might have +PP
would have +
PP
should have +
PP
has/have had to
must have + PP

has/have to
had to
Must
Can/cannot (cant)
- Ability: He can write computer programs.
- Permission: Can I make a phone call,
please.
- Possibility: Can you come next
Thursday?
Polite requests :
- May/Could/Can I borrow your pen?
- Would/Will/Could/Can you pass the salt
please?
(may is not used in this case)
Polite requests with do you mind, would
you mind
Ex: Do you mind if we use our dictionaries.

Would you mind closing the


window?
Could/may/might : the speaker is not sure
of the statement made when using these
modals. (less than 50% sure)
It might rain tomorrow.
It will
possibly rain
tomorrow.
It may rain tomorrow.
Maybe it will rain

tomorrow.
It could rain tomorrow.
Should

subject

had better
should
ought to

+ Verb

without to

- Advice: Maria should go on a diet.


Note:
- ought to thng khng c dng trong
cu ph nh. Nu n c dng trong
cu ph nh, i khi to c b i.
Ex: You oughtnt (to) leave your keys in
the car.

- Youd better not be late.


Must
- complete obligation:
Ex: George must call his insurance agent
today.
= George has to call his insurance agent
today.
George had to call his insurance agent
yesterday. (must is not used to mean
a past obligation.)
- Logical conclusion: 95% sure (hn l,
chc l)
Ex: Johns lights are out. He must be
asleep.
Note : When used in the negative, must
and have to have different meanings.
Ex: Tomorrow is a holiday. We dont have to go to
class. (= We dont need to go to class.)
You must not tell anyone my secret.

MODALS + HAVE + PP
could/may/might + have + PP :
- a past possibility or they also mean
possibility in the present.

Ex: It may have rained last night, but Im


not sure.
Should + have + PP
- An obligation that was supposed to occur
in the past, but for some reason it did not
occur.
Ex: Maria shouldnt have called John last
night. ( Maria l ra khng nn gi cho
John vo ti hm qua.) (she did call him.)
Note : was/were supposed to = should +
have + PP
Must + have + PP
- Logical conclusion in the past
Ex: Sandra failed the test. She must not
have studied. ( C ta c l l khng hc
bi ri) (She probably did not study)
Exercise:
1.If I had a bicycle, I (would/will) ride it
every day.
2.George (would have gone/would go) on
a trip to Chicago if he had had time.
3.Marcela didnt come to class yesterday.
She (will have had/may have had) an
accident.
4.John didnt do his homework, so the
teacher became very angry. John (must

have done/should have done) his


homework.
5.Sharon was supposed to be here at
nine oclock. She (must forget/must
have forgotten) about our meeting.
6.Where do you think Juan is today? I
have no idea. He (should have
slept/may have slept) late.
7.George missed class today. He (might
have had/might had had) an accident.
8.Robert arrived without his book. He
(could have lost/would have lost) it.
9.Thomas received a warning for
speeding . He (should have
driven/shouldnt have driven) so fast.
10. Henrys car stopped on the
highway. It (may run/may have run) out
of gas.
Would rather + V = would prefer to do
(negative: would rather not + V)
Ex1 : I would rather stay at home than
go to the cinema.
= Id prefer to stay at home tonight rather
than go to the cinema.
= I prefer staying at home tonight to going
to the cinema.
Ex2: Id rather cook the dinner now.

Id rather you cooked the dinner now.


Do you mind if I smoke? Id rather
you didnt.

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