UNIT 3: MODALS

Week Week 3

Notes Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

Review Notes
What do we use modals or phrasal modals for?

To say:

Prediction

Willingness

Habits and Preferences

Ability

Permission

Possibility

Necessity

Deduction

Obligation and Advice

For each of the aspect above, list all of the modals and phrasal modals that
are used to express it.

Prediction: will, would, be going to, shall

Willingness: will

Habits and Preferences: will and would

Ability: can, could, be able to

Permission: can, could, may, might, be allowed to

Possibility: may, might, can, could

Necessity: must, have to, have got to, need to, needn’t

Deduction: must, have to, have got to, can’t, couldn’t

Obligation and Advice: should, ought to, be supposed to, had better

Compare modals and phrasal modals

UNIT 3: MODALS 1
 Modals: auxiliary + other verbs → express aspects

Phrasal modals: group of verb phrases (e.g. be able to, be allowed to, be
going to, be supposed to, have to, have got to), used instead of modals.

The modals = modal auxiliary verbs

Phrasal modals = periphrastic modals

How many form does each modal auxiliary verb have?

one

Which form of other verb goes after modals?

Base form

How to make questions and negatives with modals?

Use it directly instead of using other auxiliary verbs.

e.g.

Will it work?

Do it work?

I couldn’t swim very fast.

I didn’t could swim very fast.

Fill in the blank:

I didn’t recognize she _____ be so beautiful.
(a) can
(b) could

I didn’t recognize she could be so beautiful.

Clause 1: Past Simple

Clause 2: could/ might (especially in indirect speech)

What modals are usually contracted, unless they are being emphasized?

shall, will, would.

How many modals can we use before a verb?

one

List all structures in which we always use phrasal modals instead of modals.
Give examples and explain them.

UNIT 3: MODALS 2
 After a modal.
e.g.
He will be able to be the winner.

Where an infinitive is needed.

e.g.
I hoped to be allowed to go out.

Where a gerund is needed.

e.g.
I hate having to get up early.

In Perfect forms.
e.g.
I have had to wait for him for 2 hours.

In Continuous forms.
e.g.
We aren’t being supposed to leave the class before 11 am.

What are the forms of complex modals?

Modal perfect = modal + have + past participle

Modal continuous = modal + be + present participle

Modal perfect continuous = modal + have been + present participle

Modal passive = modal + be/ have been + past participle

Explain the use of ‘will’

Prediction.

What we think is most likely.

e.g. I won’t finish this before Friday.

Compare the use of ‘will’ vs. ‘would’

WILL WOULD

Predictable Hypothetical
e.g. e.g.
Situation
He’ll look better without that He’d look better without that
scruffy beard. scruffy beard.

Willingness Definitely willing now (1) In the future

e.g. e.g.
I will give you one more I’d give you one more chance
chance. someday.

UNIT 3: MODALS 3
 WILL WOULD

(2) With conditions → conditional

sentences
e.g.
I’d give you one more chance if
you told me what happened.

(3) Willing but not able to

e.g.
I’d give you one more chance but I
can’t.

(1) Isn’t willing to - refusal (1) Wasn’t willing to - refusal

e.g. e.g.
I won’t forgive you. You She had so many chance to fix it,
Negatives fabricated things about me! but she wouldn’t.
(won’t -
wouldn’t) (2) Items/ machines (2) Items/ machines
e.g.
My computer won’t work for e.g. My computer wouldn’t work
me. for me this morning.

Present/ Typical habits Habitual actions in the PAST

e.g. e.g.
Habit
Her children will break Each summer we would visit my
everything they touch. cousins.

→ Used to
Past states X e.g.
I used to have a dog.

More like actions than states

e.g.
State I will love you forever. X
→ I will do things to prove that I
will love you forever.

(1) Would + like/ love/ prefer, esp.

in offers.
e.g.
I would prefer an early class.
Preferences X

(2) S1 + wish + S2 + would

→ pretend actions

Explain:
I will go to school tomorrow.

UNIT 3: MODALS 4
 I would go to school tomorrow.

I will go to school → predictable situation → it’s a routine, nothing new,

going to school is confirmed.

I would go to school → hypothetical situation → unsure, going to school is

conditional and uncommon.

What’s the difference between ‘will have been’ and ‘would have been’? Give
examples.

WILL HAVE BEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN

Life in the Middle ages was harsh

It’s no good phoning at night.
Example and cruel. You would have hated
everyone will have gone to bed.
it.

For Prediction Prediction

When Future time Past

Happened (BUT expected, based

Happening Happened (actual)
on past experience/ knowledge)

What’s the difference between ‘will’ and ‘ be going to’?

WILL: based on past experience or knowledge.

BE GOING TO:

what we feel or think now

decisions already made

when something is starting to happen.

What’s the difference between ‘can’, ‘could’, ‘be able to’? Give examples.

CAN COULD BE ABLE TO

PAST
NOW
e.g.
General ability (non- e.g. She can
Their son could YES but…
specific sense) fabricate about
swim before he
everything.
could walk.

+ verbs for mental

process (hear, see,
smell, taste, feel, YES YES YES but…
believe, guess, decide,
remember, understand)

Structures (1) Infinitives

e.g.

UNIT 3: MODALS 5
 CAN COULD BE ABLE TO
They want to be
able to practice.

(2) In gerunds
e.g.
She left without
being able to talk
to the teacher.

(3) After modals

e.g.
I won’t be able to
finish.

(4) In the perfect

e.g.
He hasn’t been
able to study.

How do we describe the successful achievement of something difficult in the

past?

We use ‘was/ were able to’ to describe the achievements of something

difficult in the past.
e.g. We had a flat tyre, but we were able to fix it and carry on.

How we talk about an ability or opportunity that wasn’t used?

We use ‘could + have + past participle’ to describe an ability or opportunity

that wasn’t used.
e.g.

He could have done very well, but he was lazy.

She could have been nicer to everyone, but she did not.

What is the difference between ‘was able to’ and ‘could have’?

WAS ABLE TO: means something was achieved.

e.g.
I was able to win the match = I won.

COULD HAVE: means something was not achieved despite having the
ability or opportunity.

UNIT 3: MODALS 6
 e.g.
I could have won the match = I didn’t win.

‘Can’ or ‘Could’, which one can we use to ask for permission? Which one is
more polite?

Both can be used to asked for permission.

‘Could’ is more polite.

In formal situations, how do we ask/ give (not) for permission? Give

examples.

In formal situations, we use ‘may/ might’ to ask for permission.

e.g. May I come in? Yes, you may.

In such situations, we use ‘may’ to give permission, NOT ‘might’.

e.g.
Might I take this one? Yes, you may.

Which modal verb is typically used to talk about laws and rules? Give
examples.

We usually use ‘can’ (not ‘may’) to talk about laws and rules.
e.g.
You can’t park here.

‘May’ (not ‘might) is sometimes used in formal rules.

e.g.
No food or drinks may be brought inside.

In what situations do we use ‘be allowed to’? Give examples.

We use ‘be allowed to’ to emphasize:

receiving permission

on a specific occasion

e.g. No one has been allowed to see the test result.

Special combination: may/ might be allowed to

e.g.
You may/ might be allowed to go.
→ It’s possible you’ll get permission to go.

‘May’ or ‘Might’, which do we use to express that something is possible now

or in the future?

Both.

UNIT 3: MODALS 7
 e.g. Taking these pills may/ might cause drowsiness. You might/ may fall
asleep at the wheel.

What do we use ‘may/ might + have + past participle’ for?

It is possible that something happened in the PAST.

In other words: we express that something may have happened in the past.

e.g. Tanya might/ may have met James when she was in London.

‘May’ or ‘Might’, which do we use to express that a possible situation is

common or usual? Give examples.

‘May’, NOT ‘Might’

e.g. Peppers may be green, yellow, or red.

‘May’ or ‘Might’, which do we use to describe something that was possible in

the past?

‘Might’, NOT ‘May’

e.g. In those days, people might spend their entire lives in the village where
they were born.

In general statements (non-specific), what do we use to talk about what is or

was possible?

‘Can’ → Now - ‘Could’ → Past

e.g.

Some dogs can be very dangerous.

The old house could be quite cold, even in summer.

‘Can and ‘Could’, which modal do we use when speculating about the
possible situations in the present or future?
What do we use when speculating about possible situations in the past?
*speculate: form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.

‘Could’, NOT ‘Can’

e.g.
It could rain tomorrow. (NOT ‘It can rain tomorrow.’)

‘Could have’ + past participle (NOT ‘can have’ + past participle)

e.g.
You could have fallen. (NOT ‘You can have fallen.’)

What’s the difference between ‘may’/ ‘might’ and ‘can’/ ‘could’? Give
examples.

UNIT 3: MODALS 8
 MAY MIGHT CAN COULD

Specific event
yes yes yes
is possible

Before phrasal
yes yes yes
modals

Before
continuous/ yes yes yes
perfect

Irritation at sb
not having yes + perfect yes + perfect
done sth

Concession
yes yes
with ‘but’

Suggestion
about possible yes yes
actions

Ask sb to do
yes yes
sth

Possible not yes (+ NOT) yes (+ NOT)

yes (+ NOT)
Not possible yes (+ NOT)
(PAST)

Which modals do we use to express that something is necessary, especially

in orders and rules? Give examples.

Must
e.g.

Plants must have lights.

You must come to class on time.

How do we express that something is prohibited or a bad idea? Give

examples.

Must not/ Mustn’t

e.g. Empty boxes must not be stacked in front of the emergency exit.

Which modals do we use to encourage someone to do something important?

Give examples.

Must
e.g. We must have a party at the end of term.

UNIT 3: MODALS 9
 Which modals do we use to emphasize a strong feeling or opinion? Give
examples.

Must
e.g. I must disagree with that.

What’s the difference between ‘must’ and ‘have to’/ ‘have got to’? Give
examples.

MUST HAVE TO HAVE GOT TO

in control of what is
yes
necessary/ required

yes (more
question yes yes
formal)

past yes yes

with phrasal modals yes yes

yes (don’t have

opposite of must yes (don’t have got to)
to)

yes - form negatives and

informal (ONLY in
questions with ‘have’,
present tense)
NOT ‘do’

Compare the use of ‘no need’ and ‘have to’.

No need = Have to

Something is necessary.

Compare ‘needn’t’/ ‘need not (without -to) and ‘don’t need to’:

NEEDN’T/ NEED NOT (without -to): particular occasion.

e.g.
You needn’t pay me now.

DON’T NEED TO: general.

e.g.
Students don’t need to pay to use the library.

*American English: ‘don’t need to’.

Compare ‘didn’t need to’ and ‘needn’t have + past participle’. Give
examples.

DIDN’T NEED TO: not necessary to do something.

e.g.

UNIT 3: MODALS 10
 I knew there wouldn’t be a test, so I didn’t need to study. I watched TV
instead.

NEEDN’T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: something unnecessary was done.

e.g.
I studied all night, then found out the test was cancelled. I needn’t have
studied at all.

Explain the use of ‘must’ in deduction? Give examples.

*deduction: deduce, subtract or take away (an amount or part) from a total.-

Very likely/ certain.

Based on evidence.

e.g.

You’re shivering — you must be cold.

Look at that car! Ali’s parents must have a lot of money!

In informal: ‘must’ = ‘have to’/ ‘have got to’

e.g.
They’ve got to be yours.

Explain the use of ‘must + continuous’. Give examples.

Deduction about what is happening now.

e.g.

Listen. It must be raining outside.

I think I must be getting the flu.

Explain the use of ‘must + perfect’. Give examples.

Deduction about what has happened already.

e.g. Someone must have taken the key because it isn’t here.

Explain the use of ‘must’ and ‘must + perfect’ in indirect speech. Give
examples.

Past tense verbs, ‘must + perfect’ → no longer true.

e.g.
We realized he must have lied.

UNIT 3: MODALS 11
 Past tense verbs, ‘must’ → still true.
e.g.
He said she must be Italian.

In negative deduction, what do we use? Give examples.

CAN’T - COULDN’T (NOT ‘mustn’t’)

e.g.
The bill is over £50 — that can’t be right.

CAN’T/ COULDN’T + have + past participle: earlier event.

e.g.
You can’t have finished already!

What’s the difference between ‘can’t have + past participle’ and ‘couldn’t
have + past participle’? Give examples.

CAN’T HAVE + past participle: certainty that something did not happen in
the past.

COULDN’T HAVE + past participle: a high degree of certainty that

something was impossible or did not happen in the past.

Describe the use of ‘should’. Give examples.

Obligation: an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally

bound; a duty or commitment.
e.g.
The police should crack down on speeding.

What is expected.
e.g.
You’re a student. You should be studying!

What we think is a good or appropriate idea.

e.g.
Teachers should get more pay.

Advice or warning.
e.g.

You should take notes during lectures.

You shouldn’t go swimming right after eating.

We have planned it/ expect it.

e.g.

UNIT 3: MODALS 12
 If all goes well, we should be there before it gets dark.

Describe the use of ‘should + perfect’. Give examples.

Some thing good/ desirable did not happen.

e.g.
They should have rehearsed before playing.

Expressing regret.
e.g.
We should have been more careful with our money.

Compare ‘ought to’ and ‘should’.

Nothing different.

‘Oughtn’t to’/ ‘Ought not to’

What can we use ‘be supposed to’ instead of ‘should’?

Informal situations.

Report others’ belief.

e.g. Killing a spider is supposed to be unlucky. (NOT ‘Killing a spider should

be unlucky.’)

When can we use ‘had better’ instead of ‘should’?

Stronger, when we recommend/ warn against.

e.g.
You have failed two tests. you had better start working harder or you won’t
pass the course.

UNIT 3: MODALS 13