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Unit 3 - Modal Verbs

The document provides an overview of modal verbs and their characteristics, including their invariable nature and usage with bare infinitives. It covers different functions of modal auxiliaries such as ability, obligation, prohibition, recommendations, certainty, and possibility in both present and past contexts. Additionally, it distinguishes between modal and semi-auxiliary verbs, highlighting their conjugation and specific applications.

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5 views4 pages

Unit 3 - Modal Verbs

The document provides an overview of modal verbs and their characteristics, including their invariable nature and usage with bare infinitives. It covers different functions of modal auxiliaries such as ability, obligation, prohibition, recommendations, certainty, and possibility in both present and past contexts. Additionally, it distinguishes between modal and semi-auxiliary verbs, highlighting their conjugation and specific applications.

Uploaded by

irenebridiaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODAL
VERBS
UNIT
3
1º Bachillerato
I.E.S. Floridablanca
Murcia

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Modal Auxiliaries

n BASIC CHARACTERISTICS

n They are INVARIABLE as they never change in form.


n She can play the guitar. / She cans play the guitar.

n They are always followed by a BARE INFINITIVE.


n You mustn’t bring your phones to school.

n In negative and interrogative sentences they WORK AS AUXILIARIES.


n You shouldn’t be late.

n Should I phone Chris?

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Modal Auxiliaries

n SEMI-AUXILIARIES
n They do not share all the former characteristics.
n They are conjugated.
n be able to and have to
n Does she have to hand in the project?
n N.B.- Has she got any siblings? GOT = possession

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Modal Auxiliaries
n ABILITY & REQUESTS
n CAN / CAN’T are used in present.
n Matt can skate very well, but he can’t surf.
n COULD / COULDN’T are used in past and for hypotheses.
n Maggie couldn’t play the piano when she was at school, but I don’t know if
she could do it now.
n We use BE ABLE TO (semi-auxiliary) in other tenses:
n PRESENT PERFECT: She has been able to design clothes since she was 14.

n PAST PERFECT: They had been able to buy everything before they arrived.
n FUTURE: She will be able to study design if she passes her exams.
n CONDITIONAL: We wouldn’t be able to read and write if we hadn’t had an
education.

NB.- was/were able to = managed to

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Modal Auxiliaries

n OBLIGATION
n We use HAVE TO / DON’T HAVE TO (semi-auxiliary) to talk about
things we’re are obliged to do or which we feel are necessary for us to do:
n James has to wear helmet when he’s cycling.
n Do you have to go to sewing class on Sunday?
n MUST and HAVE TO are similar:
n Must is only used in the present tense. We use have to for the rest:
n They didn’t have to study grammar for the exam.

n NEED TO and NEEDN’T are used to indicate the necessity or lack of


necessity.
n We needn’t / don’t have to wear a uniform at school.

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Modal Auxiliaries
n PROHIBITION
n MUSTN’T is used for this mode.
n You mustn’t use the mobile phone in class.

n RECOMMENDATIONS/ADVICE
n We use SHOULD and OUGHT TO to give advice
n If you don’t feel well, you should / ought to go to
the doctor’s.

n CERTAINTY
n We use MUST and CAN’T.
n They must be at home. Their window is open.
n The teacher can’t have the marks already – it’s
too early.

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Modal Auxiliaries
n POSSIBILITY IN THE PRESENT
n We use MAY, MIGHT and COULD*.
n Mike may/might/could help you. He studied French.
n We may not / might not go out.We have an exam tomorrow.
n *Could is only used in the affirmative.

n POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST


n We use a MODAL PERFECT:
n MAY (NOT) / MIGHT (NOT) /COULD + HAVE + P.P.
n He may/might/could have cheated in the exam. This is not his style
of writing.

n PERMISSION
n CAN and CAN’T
n You can go to the toilet but you can’t last more than five minutes.

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