3 Modals (1)

Grammar

Can/could
We'll get wealthy people from the mainland who can afford second homes. (= general ability)
Before the bridge was built we could only get to the island by ferry. (= general ability in the past)
May/could/might
Up to 700,000 people may experience delays. (= its possible this will happen)
Air passengers could be hit badly today. (= it's possible)
It might be a number of months before the sports centre is back in operation. (= it's possible this is true; less
certain than may or could)
Will/would
That will push up house prices. (= prediction about the future)
If schools highlighted the importance of physical exercise, this would have a major positive impact on children's
attitudes to sport. (= prediction about an imaginary situation)
Must
The cabin staff must accept the new working conditions. (= a rule or order)
This negative attitude to sport mustn't be allowed to continue. (= it's not allowed or not a good idea)
Don't need to / needn't / don't haw to
Parents don't need to / needn't be very interested in sport themselves. (= it's not necessarily true)
I'm sure I don't have to spell out the chaos being caused in the airline industry. (= it's not necessary)
Ought to/ should
Parents ought to / should give their children whatever encouragement they can. (= obligation and
recommendation)

la Can, could, be able to: ability

We can use be able to instead of can or could, particularly in more formal contexts:
The hotels on the island are able to accommodate hundreds of visitors. (more formal) or The hotels on the island
can accommodate ... (less formal)
We use be able to to talk about ability on a specific occasion in the past:
Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control fairly quickly (not Firefietters-eauld-6Fing ...)
We can use either could or be able to in negatives in the past:
They couldn't / weren't able to prevent the fire damaging the school's sports centre.
We usually prefer can or could with verbs of sense (e.g. feel, hear, see, smell, taste) and verbs of thinking
(e.g. believe, remember, understand):
I can't believe Mr Wade is being so confrontational.
We use be able to in perfect tenses, -ing forms, infinitives and after modal verbs:
We've now been able to contact him.
The film star hates not being able to leave her house.
They've got to be able to adapt to change.
Parents might be able to help.
We prefer can and could in passives:
The news can be read on our webs ite.
To talk about a future ability, we use will be able to:
Islanders won't be able to buy properties.

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 Modals (1)

We use can or be able to to talk about possible future arrangements and can (or more politely could) to ask
for permission:
The President can't / is not able to visit the country until next month.
Can/Could ! ask you what you think of the new bridge?

In May, might, can, could: possibility

To talk about a more general possibility of something happening we can use can or may
The temperature in the mountains can/may fall below freezing even at this time of year.
We use could to say that something was possible in the past:
It could be a very rough journey, too.
We don't use may to ask questions about the possibility of something happening. Instead we use could or the
phrase be likely to:
Could the negotiations finish today, do you think?
What time is the meeting likely to finish?
Might is sometimes used in questions, but is rather formal.
We can use these modals in negative sentences, including those with words like only or hardly, to say that things
are not possible or that it is possible that things are not the case
The company can hardly be described as a success. (= it is not possible to describe it as a success)
I think we should call off the strike, but other people may/might not agree with me. (= its possible that people
don't agree with me)

pa Will, would, used to: conclusions, willingness, habitual events

We can use will to draw conclusions or state assumptions about things we think are true:
No doubt you will have heard the news by now.
We use will (not) to talk about (un)willingness or refusal to do something
The minister says he will resign if no solution is found.
We will not be bullied by management.
The computer won't let me print documents. (We can say that inanimate objects, such as machines, can be
unwilling or refuse to do something.)
We use would to talk about willingness in the future, in conditionals, and when we say that we are willing but
unable to do something
Many people would be happy to pay higher taxes for better public services.
The minister would be pleased to accept the invitation if it were not for other commitments.
We don't use would to talk about willingness on a specific occasion in the past:
David Wade agreed to meet the union representatives. (not Eravid-Werde-would-agree
We can use will (present) and would (past) to talk about characteristic behaviour or habits, or about things that
are true now or were true in the past:
Some parents will actually discourage their children from taking up a sport.
Many passengers would get seasick during the crossing
We can use either would or used to to talk about things that happened repeatedly in the past:
The crossing would/used to take over an hour at least.
We don't use would to talk about past states:
We used to be terribly isolated here because the ferry service was so bad. (not

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 Modals (1)

2.4 Must, have (got)to: necessity, deduction

We can use either must or have to to say that it is necessary to do something, although have to is less formal and
is also preferred in questions:
The cabin staff must / have to accept the new working conditions if the airline is to compete.
When we say that something was necessary in the past we use had to, not must
Up to 200 teachers and pupils had to be evacuated from a school in South Wales today.
To say something is necessary in the future we use will have to:
To stay in business we will have to cut our costs.
We use must when we decide that, in our opinion, something is necessary or important:
I must give you my email address.
Have to suggests that the necessity comes from outside; for example, from a rule or official order
The council has to close two city centre car parks following a health and safety report.
We usually use must, rather than have to, when we conclude that something (has) happened or that something
is true.
The bridge must have cost a fortune.
When we conclude that something is impossible, we use can't or couldn't
That can't be right, surely? (not Thot-mustk-befightr surely?)
Sometimes we can use either have to or have got to, although have got to is more informal. We use have to with
frequency adverbs and with other modal verbs:
Islanders normally have to queue for half an hour to get on the ferry.
The airlines will have to return to the negotiating table.
If have is contracted (e.g. I've), then we must include got
They've got to be changed. (not Theiive-fe-be-ehangecli)
When we use the past simple we prefer had to rather than had got to:
The manager seemed to be doing a good job. Why did he have to go? (not Whrhad-he-get-to-ge?)

1111 Didn't need to, didn't have to, needn't have: 'not necessary'
To say it was not necessary to do something in the past, we use didn't need to or didn't have to:
He didn't have to wait long for a response. (= he didn't actually wait long)
When we think something that was done in the past was not necessary, we use need not (needn't) have
The event organisers expected the bad weather to affect ticket sales. However, they need not have worried, as
every ticket was sold (= they worried but it was not necessary)

2.6 Should, ought to: obligation

We can often use either should or ought to to talk about obligation (in giving advice and recommendations,
saying what we think is a good idea and talking about responsibility):
I think we ought to / should keep Borland for the islanders! (= it's a good idea)
The authorities ought to / should prosecute companies that cause pollution. (= talking about responsibility)
We can use either should or ought to to say that something is likely because we have planned it or expect it
to happen:
They say the road will be ready in five years, but they should / ought to be able to build it faster.
We use shouldn't rather than oughtn't to if something is unlikely:
If you're in the south of the country, you shouldn't be troubled by any rain today.

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 Modals (1) 3
Grammar exercises
Choose the correct verb.

1 Adult ladybirds may / might be black, red or yellow.

2 We can / be able to get to the airport in 20 minutes when the new line is finished next year.
3 I left home because I wasn't able to / can't find a job there.
4 A: I can't find my purse anywhere.
B: May / Could you have left it in the restaurant?
5 Not so long ago, more than 20 species of fish could / were able to be found in this river.
6 k. Apparently, there's been an accident in the High Street.
B: That might / is able to explain why the bus is taking so long.
7 k Lena says she'll definitely pay the money back.
13: I wish I was able to / could trust her.
8 This camera is a bit cheaper than the other one, but it mightn't / can't be as good, of course.

Amir is talking to Martha just before and after a job interview. Choose the correct verb.
Before the interview
A: What time (1) have you to / have you got to/must you be there by?
M: 10.30.
A: You (2) must / have to / have got to be really nervous.
M: Terrified! But it doesn't matter, I know I won't get the job.
A: You (3) haven't got to / mustn't / can't be sure of that. You've got just the right experience and qualifications.
M: But I feel tense. I'm worried 1(4) can't / couldn't / mightn't make a good impression in the interview.
A: I'm sure you'll be okay.

After the interview

M: I got it!
A: Congratulations! What (5) had you got to / must you / did you have to do?
M: Well, mainly 1 (6) had got to / had to / must tell them why I wanted to work there.
Az And does the job sound good?
M: Fantastic. I'll (?) have to / must / have got to do a lot of travelling.
A: Well that (8) oughtn't to) shouldn't / mustn't be a problem for you.
M: No, and I may (9) must) have to / have got to spend some time in Barcelona.
A: Well, I think we should certainly go out for a meal to celebrate.
M: Great idea.

Ina Choose the correct sentence ending. Sometimes both are possible.

1 I have to get up early tomorrow, so I ...

a mustn't be too late going to bed tonight

b don't need to be too late going to bed tonight.
2 When we got to the station, we found that the train was half an hour late, so we ...
a didn't need to rush after all,
b needn't have rushed after all.

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3 Modals (1)

3 The meeting will be quite informal, so you ...

a don't need to wear a suit.
I, don't have to wear a suit.
4 Fortunately, he wasn't badly hurt in the accident, so he ...
a needn't go to hospital.
b didn't need to go to hospital.
5 Gwen has lost a lot of weight during her illness, so you ...
a needn't look surprised when you see her again.
b mustn't look surprised when you see her again.
6 The tennis courts are open to the public, so you ...
a needn't be a member of the club to play here.
b mustn't be a member of the club to play here.
7 The house was in good condition when I bought it, so I ...
a didn't need to decorate before I moved in.
b didn't have to decorate before I moved in.
8 As it turned out, the exam was quite easy, sot ...
a didn't have to spend all that time revising.
b needn't have spent all that time revising.

3.4 Match a sentence beginning with one of the endings. You won't need to use all the endings.

1 I said I'd pay for her ticket but she a could cause dangerous driving conditions.
2 In just a few years from now people b shouldn't take me too long.
3 I still remember how they c can do 3D printing in their own homes.
4 Forecasters are warning that heavy snow d wouldn't accept my offer.
5 Here's some really nice cheese that I don't think you e would play together so well as children.
6 We live in an old house that f would be a school.
7 Writing my geography assignment g will be able to control their car using an app.
h used to belong to a politician.
i will have tasted before.
j might have tried.

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 Exam practice Modals (1) 3
Listening Part 1
ag You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1 —6, choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits
best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two people on a radio programme discussing music education for children.
1 They agree that young children should
A learn an instrument that requires a lot of concentration.
be started on instruction at an early age.
C focus largely on music theory.

2 What does the woman say about the piano?

A It is not possible to play simple tunes on it.
Playing it can discourage children from learning another instrument.
C Most young children are not mature enough to learn it.

Extract 1Wo

You hear part of an interview with a rock climber called Ben.

3 In Ben's view, what is the best way to improve as a climber?
A take the advice of other climbers
learn from the mistakes you make
C watch more experienced climbers

4 Why does Ben prefer not to climb alone in icy conditions?

A He can learn new techniques from other people.
He gets nervous when rocks have ice on them.
C He lacks experience of climbing on ice.

Extract Three

You hear part of an interview with a restaurant critic called Amanda Downing.
5 How do most waiters react when they realise who Amanda is?
A They give her special attention.
They are overcome with nerves.
C They provide her with free food.

6 In what way, according to Amanda, are most restaurant owners completely wrong?
A They think customers choose a restaurant only for its quality of service.
They don't understand customers' motivation for eating in restaurants.
C They think their priorities are different to those of their customers.

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