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Modal Verbs

The document summarizes the use of modal verbs in English. It discusses how modal verbs are used to express ability, obligation, permission, prohibition, suggestion, and advice. The most common modal verbs and their meanings are explained, including can, must, may, might, will, would, should, and examples are provided to illustrate appropriate usage in different contexts. Key points covered are the forms of modal verbs, their use in questions and negatives, and the differences between similar modals like can and could, should and must, and expressions like have to, must, mustn't, and don't have to.

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70 views25 pages

Modal Verbs

The document summarizes the use of modal verbs in English. It discusses how modal verbs are used to express ability, obligation, permission, prohibition, suggestion, and advice. The most common modal verbs and their meanings are explained, including can, must, may, might, will, would, should, and examples are provided to illustrate appropriate usage in different contexts. Key points covered are the forms of modal verbs, their use in questions and negatives, and the differences between similar modals like can and could, should and must, and expressions like have to, must, mustn't, and don't have to.

Uploaded by

Paula
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Modal verbs

Units 5 and 7
• Modal verbs are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation,
possibility…
• They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without
'to').
• They do not change their form (spelling):
• They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
• They don’t have infinitive or participle (past/present).
• The modals must and can need substitute verbs to express
obligation or ability in the different tenses.
• Modals are auxiliary verbs:
• They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she
go?').
• They do not need an additional auxiliary in negatives or questions.
[Must I come? (Do I must come?), or: He shouldn't smoke (He
doesn't should smoke)].
• The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should, ...
• The most useful modals and their most common meanings are:
Ability
Can Can’t Could Couldn’t
(Can not) (Could not)

• We use it We use can’t • We use it We use couldn’t


when we have when we did not when we had when we did not
the ability (or have the ability the ability (or have the ability
possibility) to (or possibility) to possibility) to (or possibility) to
do something. do something in do something do something in
• It is also used the present. in the past. the past.
for requests. • It is also used
for requests.
Ability now

Now I can swim.


Ability in the past

When I was young, I couldn’t swim.


What do we use when we can’t use CAN?

Be able to
We use be able to when we have the ability to do something in the future.
They are often interchangeable, but not always. Can cannot be used in the
present perfect (has been) or future with will and going to, so in these cases we
have to use be able to.
She has been able to do this.
We will be able to do this.
They are going to be able to do this.
Request
Can Could
• It is used to tell or ask • It is more polite than can,
someone to do something. but has the same function.
It is often used for small
things.
Can
Can you pass the salt please?
Could
Could you close the door, please?
Can vs. Could
Can you turn off the
air conditioner?
(requests from a friend or co-worker)

Could you help me with


my homework Mr.
Johnston?
(it is more polite)
Permission
Can Could
• We use it to ask for permission • It is more formal and polite than
to do something. can, but has the same function.
• We use can to give permission. • BUT: We don’t it to give
• We use it to say that someone permission
has permission to do
something.
Can
Can we go home now? (ask for)

You can go home now if you like. (give)

We can go out whenever we want. (have)


Could

Could we go home now? (ask for - polite)


Allow someone to / Be allowed to
+ do something
Allow means ‘give (someone) permission (to do something)’.

My parents allow me to go out on Saturday nights.

Be allowed to (do something) means ‘have permission to (do something)’. When


we use this structure, it isn’t necessary to say who gave permission.

I’m allowed to use my dad’s computer.


Suggestion
and
advice
Should Must
• We use it to give general • It has essentially the
advice. same meaning but it is
• We use it in questions. used to denote a strong
suggestion.
Other options
Could Ought to Would
• We use it to make • We use it to give • It is used to give
suggestions. general advice. advice. In this
• Do not use could • It is not common situation, the
not in negative in questions. speaker is giving
suggestions. • It’s pretty hypothetical
old-fashioned advice as if
he/she were the
listener.
Could / Should / Ought to / Must / Would

Suggestion:
We could meet at the weekend.
You could eat out tonight.

Advice:
We should go by train.
You ought to show your exam to your parents.
You must do some exercise to get fit.
(If I were you,) I would choose the red shoes.
Prohibition
and
obligation
Don’t
Must Mustn’t Have to
have to
• We use it to • We use it to • We use it to • We use it to
express express express an express no
obligation prohibition. obligation obligation.
(rules or laws). (rules or laws).
• We use it when • We use have to
the obligation is when the
inside the obligation is
speaker. It is a outside the
moral speaker. It
obligation. comes from the
situation.
must / have to / mustn’t / don’t have to

My doctor said that I have to stop smoking or I'll risk serious problems. (I have no choice)
I must stop smoking. It’s costing me too much money. (It’s my decision)

You don't have to wear a tie to go to that restaurant but it would be nice.
Students don't have to wear uniforms to school.
(There is no obligation. You can do something if you want but it is not an obligation, it’s not
compulsory.)

You mustn't use your phone in class.


Children under 16 mustn’t go in there.

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