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Modals 2

can/could must shall/should need

may/might ought to will/would dare

CAN/COULD
(synonymous verb phrase—be able to/be unable to)

1. Ability, capacity, achievement ( = manage, succeed)

Ex.: She can speak Chinese.

She can swim well.

Since can and could lack infinitive and participle forms, we use be able where an
infinitive or perfect form is required.

Ex.: Your teacher will be able to help you. I haven’t been able to go to the
bank yet. I have been unable to go to the bank yet.

2. Possibility/permission (may can also be used but it is more formal)

Ex.: You can find it in the dictionary. (possibility)

You can speak with the headmaster for just a few minutes. (permission)
Can I speak to you for a moment? (asking for permission)
Could I speak to you for a moment? (tentative way, polite form)

3. Impossibility/denial of permission; strong probability/logical conclusion

(expressed in the negative)

Ex.: You can’t speak to the Headmaster at the moment. (= it’s impossible,
you are not allowed to.)

For all that I know he can’t be more than fifty. ( = logical conclusion,
strong probability —can’t is in this case the opposite of must.)

4. Informal requests

Ex.: Can I see your list? Can I have the dictionary for a few minutes?

MAY/MIGHT
(synonymous verb phrase: be allowed to / be permitted to)

1. Asking for permission more formal than can

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Ex. May I speak to you for a moment? (might polite form; tentative way)

2. Possibility/permission (more formal than can)

Ex. It may be found in a good store possibility You may might speak to the
prisoner just for a few minutes permission

Might expresses the tentative way in requests suggestions or recommendations.

Note this:
The opposite of may is expressed in three different ways according to the
speaker’s predominant feelings:
may not — denial of permission:
You may stay in the library all day long but
you may not bring food with you.

May cannot (colloquial) — indicates what is not possible:

You may go by train, but you cannot go direct.

mustn't — stronger than simple denial of permission; prohibition:

You may take all kinds of books with you but the
encylopaedias mustn't be removed from the shelves.

Since may/might lack infinitive and participle forms we use be allowed to,
be permitted to where an infinitive or perfect form is required.

Ex.: She will be allowed to come

She has been allowed to visit him for the time being

3. Probability mixed with doubt or uncertainty

Ex.: He didn’t come to school. He may be ill. (I’ve got no sure indication
that he is, it is a mere probability)

If I ask him he may refuse.

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MUST
(synonymous verb phrase: need, have to)

1. Obligation, necessity

Ex.: Applicants must fill a form (= should fill, ought to fill) — obligation
I must buy a new pair of shoes. — necessity

You must not say anything about it.— necessity for non action
= You needn’t say anything about it
= You aren’t to say anything about it

2. Logical conclusion, strong probability (almost certainty)

Ex.: For all that I know he must be married For all that I know he cant be
married See 13 cant as the negative form of must

In many situations where must lacks the necessary forms we use forms of have
to

Ex.: You will have to see the film tomorrow I’m having to do the washing up
I’ve had to clear up the table No one likes having to pay taxes

3. Must is the most usual verb in spoken English for orders and prohibitions

Ex.: You must be back before midnight

Cars mustn’t be parked here

You mustn’t = you aren’t to

You mustn’t use my phone without asking
You are not to use my phone without asking

SHOULD/OUGHT TO
(used in the same way as must)

1. Probability what is regarded as probable or may reasonably be expected)

Ex.: There should be a lot of people at the meeting

There ought to be a lot of people at the meeting.

2. Advice and recommendation/moral obligation and duty

Ex.: You should try this number.

You ought to try this number.
You should respect your elders.
You ought to respect your elders.
You shouldn’t be so rude.
You ought not to be so rude.
Should I go? I think you should.
Ought I to go? I think you ought to.

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Ought to appears to be stronger and more emphatic than should.

Should is often used in a “that” clause after verbs like suggest, require,
decide, intend, etc.

Should is also often used in “that” clauses after adjectives expressing

emotions such as pleasure, surprise, etc.

Ex.: It’s incredible that they should live here!

SHALL/SHOULD — WILL/WOULD

1. Shall and will can express “pure future”.

Note: will is very often used in place of shall with the first person pronoun.

2. Will can be used in the 1st person to indicate the speakers willingness or
determination

Ex.: I will help you if you need

I will do as I like
I will never speak to him again
I will punish you if you do that again

3. Will/would in the 2nd and 3rd persons interrogative ask about the other per-
son’s willingness

Ex.: Will you participate in the competition? Yes, l will

(= do you want to participate?)

4. Shall/should in the 2nd and 3rd persons are used to express promises and threats

Ex.: You shall get the car next week

He was told he should be punished if he behaved badly

5. Shall I/shall we/shall he are used to ask about the wishes of the person to whom
the question is put.

Ex.: Shall I open the window?

(=Do you want me to open the window?)
Shall we begin?
(=Do you want us to begin?)
Shall the postman wait?
(= Do you want the postman to wait?)

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6. Shall/shan’t are used in the 2nd and 3rd persons to indicate the speaker’s
determination concerning the person spoken about.

Ex.: You shall study further!

(= I want you to study further, I insist on your studying further)
You shan’t go so early

NEED

1. It can be used both as a regular verb and as a modal auxiliary. As a modal auxiliary
it occurs chiefly in the negative and interrogative

You may say: Need she cry? or does she need to cry?
She needn’t cry or she doesn’t need to cry

2. It expresses absence of obligation or necessity corresponding to the affirmative

must and remains unchanged in Reported Speech

Ex.: He needn’t start yet, need he?

He must start at once, mustn’t he?
He said he needn’t start yet.
Need you go yet Yes I must.

3. When it is used as a modal auxiliary it has no past tense form but it may be
used with present infinitives

Ex.: You needn’t have hurried

4. Where needn’t lacks the necessary verb forms we use negative forms of have to
and need to (didn’t have to, didn’t need to)

Ex.: They didn’t need to go

They didn’t have to go

DARE

1. It may be used both as a regular verb and as a modal auxiliary. As a modal it

occurs chiefly in the negative and in the interrogative and is frequent after
how.

Ex.: How dare you speak to me so rudely

She daren’t leave the car in the street during the night

2. Daren’t is used for present past and future time.

Ex.: I met him but I daren’t tell him the news.

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Exercícios

A. Insert the adequate modal verbs (negative forms may be necessary)

Sometimes more than one form is correct

1...........I borrow your car? Yes, you...........

2. You............do your homework carefully.

3. You............he joking.

4...............you do a bit of overtime sometimes.

5...............I borrow your diamond bracelet? No, you............ .

6...............you be back early this evening?

7. I............get into the car because I had forgotten the key.

8. She..............see quite well what the children are doing.

9. The police recognized him and so he..............escape.

10. Teachers..............be able to help students in their difficulties.

It is their duty.

11. Food and lodging are not free. Students..............pay for it.

12. You..............speak so loud. I’m not deaf.

13.I..............do it for you if you like.

14...............we go swimming?

15. Lets go for a swim,..............we?

16...............you like me to drive you to the airport?

17...............I use your phone?

18. I..............go into hospital if I were you.

19. Your work needs revision if I..............say so.

20. I think he..............be ill. Yesterday he had a strong headache.

21...............I ask a favour of you?

22. Students..............smoke in the corridors.

23 . Do you think I..............give up consuming sugar? They say it is so

prejudicial.

24...............you have some more cake?

25. Ask the policeman over there. He..............be able to help you.

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26...............I go for a swim this afternoon, mother?

27. You..............park here between 8 a m and 6 p m. It is forbidden.

28. You..............be hungry after your long walk.

29. You..............come to school on Monday as there is a teacher's strike

30. How..............you speak to your parents like that?

31. He..............go there at once he Its quite urgent.

32...............I suggest a different approach.

33. Keep me a seat,..............you?

34. You..............face the reality of facts.

35. Why didn’t he come to the office today? I don’t know he..............be
ill

36. Dreams..............or..............not come true

37. I..............leave now. It's getting late.

38. You..............pay me the money at once. I need it badly.

39. Take an umbrella. It..............rain before evening.

40. We have been here for a long time now. It..............be getting on for
ten o'clock

41...............you drink so heavily? It won't do you any good.

42. How..............you beat your wife?

43. Food..............cost a lot these days.

44. Why hasn’t he arrived yet? He..............have missed the train

45...............I speak to you for a moment?

46. That’s top secret. You..............say anything about it.

47. You..............be alarmed. Everything’s all right.

48. He..............be very nasty when he is drunk.

49. He said he..............do as I wanted.

50...............I help you, Madam?

51. He was very independent and..............never ask for help.

52. You..............leave work earlier this morning if you want to.

53. Have a cup of tea,..............you?

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54. The meeting..............have finished by now.

55. Lets start now,..............we?

56. I..............like to help you with the luggage.

57. Students..............register within the next fifteen days. It will be too

late after that

58...............you mind opening the window?

59. You..............read that book. You’d enjoy it.

60. My little brother loves watching television. He..............sit for hours

in front of the box motionless and silent

61. I..............win that prize. I'll do my best.

62. He..............be badly paid, but he has got lots of other compensations

63. The doctor..............have seen you yesterday. He had few patients.

64. I..............say I don’t like borrowing money from my parents but I'll have
to go to my father.

65. We are confident the disease..............be controlled.

66. Excuse me,..............you tell me the way to the men’s medical ward?

67. Poor eaters..............need extra vitamins.

68. She..............have gone far because she didn’t have much money.

69. Jane hasn’t come yet. She..............have met somebody I know her.

70. The walls are getting dirty. .............we afford to have them painted? They
say it's very expensive.

71. All I..............do for him was to make him comfortable.

72. It occurred to me that you..............like to go out somewhere and so I

called.

73. I..............say, I’m not very keen on violent films.

74...............you he quiet, please?

75. How did you know there was a fire? I..............smell it.

76. When do you think she..............have gone?

77. Leave it, you are getting tired. You..............do it later.

78. There..............have been some confusion. The book is not the one I ordered.

79. We are rather late. We..............have left twenty minutes ago.

80. Here, wait for me! I..............be a moment.

81. Oh, I..............be doing something wrong. It doesn’t work.

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82. He thought he..............do any more work for the rest of the holidays as
he had already made a reasonable amount of money.

83. He..............hardly believe his eyes when he saw that the car had
disappeared

84. You..............have been there yesterday. Your presence was indispensable

85. You..............have apologized for what you said.

86. How much did you pay for your new car if I..............ask?

87. They fear that fruit and vegetables sprayed with chemicals..............have
some poisonous effect upon people.

88. There..............be a law against demolishing nice old buildings like that.
They are precious symbols of other times.

89. Old-age pensions..............have risen considerably but they haven't kept

pace with the cost of living.

9O. Things are getting dark but patience and determination..............still

avert the disaster.

B. Rewrite the following sentences inserting the adequate modal verb in the place
of the underlined phrase and make the necessary transformations.

1. Not all teenagers are able to choose a career all by themselves.

2. Some of them get even likely depressed when they think of the problem.

3. The firm is likely to lend me the money I need.

4. Most people aren’t able to find valid alternatives for television.

5. Kids are forbidden to watch television till late in the evening.

6. How have you got the courage to say such things?

7. Children don’t have to be rude to get what they want.

8. David Bowie recorded lots of LPs and he has surely made a fortune.

9. In some schools students are obliged to wear uniforms.

10. Andy Pansor certainly is a very competent worker.

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11. They sang as a band in unknown pubs before they succeeded in making a

fortune.

12. Visitors are prohibited from using the passengers lounge.

13. The workers are ordered to leave the entrance unhindered.

14. You’re always to knock before opening the classroom door.

15. I wish you’d be more tolerant with the children.

16. Are you likely to be back in time for the concert?

17. Don’t you want to stay for the session?

18. They’d better retire and rest.

19. Do you mind my bringing a friend with me to your birthday party?

20. Women are not allowed to intervene in the debate.

21. Am I allowed to take the day off?

22. It's likely that he will be invited.

23. Is he free to choose the most rewarding job?

24. The questions were so difficult that it was impossible for me to answer them
in time

25. I intend to authorize the students access to my private library.

26. We are not required to follow all the instructions.

27. Ask her where you are to keep your clothes

28. I am determined to set up an investment company whatever happens.

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29. Many young musicians don’t have the nerve to give live concerts.

30. It is not necessary for parents to give too many orders to be obeyed.

31. Mothers have the duty to look after their children’s needs.

32. I forbid you the use of my computer because you can damage it.

33. You are not allowed to bring children in.

34. Do you think you have the possibility of fixing it up?

35. You are to write your complete name and address at the top of the application
form.

36. Most service companies are forced to raise wages because there are more jobs
than workers.

37. Viewers are required to fill a form and send it to the direct-broadcasting-
-satellite.

38. Britain is to add 4 commercial channels to serve ethnic minorities' cultural

interests.

39. Is there any need for me to take my car or are there enough cars?

40. Children are obliged to attend school till the age of 16.

41. I insist on your staying with us.

42. Do you think it’s my duty to send them a visiting card?

43. Disasters like that are likely to happen in those circumstances.

44. There’s a possibility of their reaching Mars soon.

45. She has probably hurt herself because she began working out too soon after
her daughter's birth.

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46. Employers had better raise wages otherwise they will have to confront severe
agitation.

47. They are probably trying to conceal the athlete's situation once it would
obviously mean a disadvantage.

48. The climatic conditions have been excellent so they expect to have a bumper
crop.

49. Is it possible for them to send unmanned rockets to space stations in earth
orbit?

50. The Guggenheim art gallery is not expected to reopen to the public until 1992.

51. They are now likely to have found the right place to exhibit the collection.

52. The advantage of not having to confront the workers antagonism has to be
pondered as well.

53. National support Is difficult to sustain in such unfavourable conditions

54. His domineering role is all too likely to arouse animosity over time.

55. They knew about the crisis ahead of time and so had the possibility of having
avoided it.

56. Economic conditions are expected to deteriorate and cause social unrest.

57. Tourists are invading the nature reserve and so the area's irreplaceable fauna
is likely to be endangered.

58. Do Olympic athletes need to be given extra financial support?

59. It is impossible for you to fool all the people all the time.

60. A consensus is taking shape that he is to be deterred from further aggression.

61. Perhaps they are looking for supplemental income.

62. In order to attract new employees some firms are obliged to offer incentives
such as free trips, job training and a pension plan.

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63. Some business owners are forced to turn away customers because it is impossible
for them to find the workers they need.

64. A manned trip to Mars now appears to be just a matter of time.

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