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Modal Verbs

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9 views

Modal Verbs

Uploaded by

ilias sunset
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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University Mohammed V, Rabat Tutor: Zineb Bahji

Faculty of Legal, Economic


and Social Sciences,
Sala Al Jadida

Major: Management/ Finance and Banking


Level: Undergraduate
Focus: Grammar
Modal Verbs

Here's a list of some modal verbs in English:

Can could may might will would must shall should ought to

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.

2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?').

3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').

N.B. Have to, ought to and need to are the only modal verbs that include ‘to’

Ability Request Permission probability obligation Necessity Advice

Can/ present Can Can Must Must Need to Ought to


Could/ past Could Could Can’t Should Had better
Will be able would May Must have Have to should
to/future +past
May participle To be
Will*
Ability

The modal 'can' is used to talk about a skill or ability in the present.

Example:

She can speak six languages.

I can't drive.

Can you run three miles every morning?

‘Could’ is used to express ability in the past,

Example:

When I was a kid, I could play video games for hours.

She could reach her destination yesterday.

‘Will be able to’ is used to express ability in the future

Example:

I will be able to get my own farm in two years from now.

Next year, she will be able to move to London.

Probability:

First, these modal verbs can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something
happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or
'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'.

For example:

It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.

I don't know where John is. He is late. He must have missed the train.

This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!

Obligation and Advice

We can use modal verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or
unnecessary, or to give advice.

For example:

Children must do their homework.(strong obligation)

We have to wear a uniform at work. (External obligation)


You should stop smoking.

You are to read the instructions before leaving.

Students are to submit their assignment by next Monday.

Permission

We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use
modal verbs to say something is not allowed.

For example:

Could I leave early today, please?

You may not use the car tonight.

Can we swim in the lake?

May I get your attention, please? (very polite)

Request

Modal verbs used to express a request can vary according to the level of formality and
politeness required

Can you open the door, please?

Could you pass me the salt, please?

Will you give him a hand, please?

Would you help him to conduct this study?

N.B. notice that the modal ‘will’ can change the whole communicative purpose of a
sentence if it is placed at the end of it.

Example:

Open the door, will you? (Impolite/ threatening)

Don’t do it will you!

Advice

Should, ought to , and had better are used to offer pieces of advice. Example:

You should see a doctor soon.


You ought to eat more healthy food.

Had better: We use had better to refer to the present or the future, to talk about actions we
think people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation. The verb form is always
had, not have. We normally shorten it to ’d better in informal situations. It is followed by the
infinitive without to:

It’s five o’clock. I had better go now before the traffic gets too bad. Or

It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad

Practice

1.Use the right modals in the right sentence: can, could, have to, must, ought to, should, need
to, may

a. Father to son: you ……………..go to bed earlier, son! (strong obligation)

b. You …………………….find a job to pay your bills and provide for yourself. (external
obligation)

c. You ………………………take these pills to feel better. (necessity)

d. Hey James, I think that you …………………….see a doctor, friend! (advice)

e. Listen friend, you …………………….do your homework!

f. Mr. President,……………………..I explain my point of view? (very polite request)

g. Yesterday, I ……………………..reach out. She picked up her phone. (ability in the


past)

h. ………………………..she leave now? (request)


2. Use the right modals: MUST, MUSTN’T, DON’T HAVE TO, SHOULD, SHOULDN’T,
MIGHT, CAN, CAN’T

1. Rose and Ted _________________ be good players. They have won hundreds of cups!

2. You ________________ pay to use the library. It’s free.

3. I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She _________________ be at her dance
class.

4. Jerry _________________ be working today. He never works on Sundays.

5. You _________________ be 18 to see that film.

6. You _________________ hear this story. It’s very funny.

7. Dad _________________ go and see a doctor. His cough is getting worse all the time.

8. You don’t have to shout. I _________________ hear you very well.

9. It _________________ be him. I saw him a week ago, and he didn’t look like that.

10. You look pretty tired. I think you _________________ go to bed early tonight.

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