1. MODAL VERBS By Marisa Fidalgo

4. A special kind of auxiliary verbs
They give an extra meaning or «mood» to the verb
She can dance (ability) / he must study ( obligation)
Most of them don’t need auxiliaries for negative and questions or aren’t conjugated
she couldn’t do it / he can go ( cans / can goes)
They do not have infinitives or - ing
To can / canning to must / musting
Most are followed by infinitive without to (except have to, ought to, be allowed to, be able to)
she can to go

5. Modal verbs do not have all the tenses
Some complete the tenses with other verbs
can be able to she will be able to go ( will can)
must have to he had to do it ( musted)

6. Meanings ADVICE * should+ verb should have + participle should + verb
Present Past Future
* should+ verb should have + participle should + verb
(shouldn’t)
* ought to +verb ought to have + participle ought to +verb
( ought not to)
* had better+verb would have been better if had better+vb
( had better not)
* Shall we…. ?( asking for advice)

7. OBLIGATION NECESSITY PROHIBITION Present Past Future
Must + verb ( I think so) had to+ verb will have to +verb
( don’t have to+ verb / don’t need to+ verb)
Have to +verb ( I’m obliged) had to +verb will have to +verb
( don’t have to+ verb)
Am, are, is to +verb ( order) was, were to +verb
Ought to / should +verb (it’s the right thing) should have + Particip
NECESSITY
Must / have to ( see above) had to + verb
Need + ing ( passive) / infinitive didn’t need to / needn’t have + particip
( don’t need to, needn’t +verb)
PROHIBITION
Can’t +verb ( you are not allowed) couldn’t +verb
Mustn’t + verb ( it’s forbiddden)
Am, are, is not to + verb (order)
May not + verb (formal)

8. SUGGESTIONS REQUESTS OFFERS Present Past Future
Shall + verb shall + verb
Could + verb could have + participle could + verb
Can + verb can+ verb
REQUESTS
Might I …? ( very formal) May I ….? (formal)
Could I ……? ( polite) Would you mind + ing…? ( polite, formal) ---
Would you….?
Can I ….? (informal) Will you ……? ( friendly)
OFFERS
Can I ….? Shall I ……? ( informal)
Would you like me + verb ? ( formal)

9. ABILITY Present Past Future PERMISSION
Can + verb could + verb will be able to +verb
Am, is, are able to + verb was , were able to + verb
PERMISSION
Can / can’t +verb ( informal) couldn’t + verb (informal)
Am, is ,are allowed to +vb wasn’t allowed to +vb will be allowed to
May + verb ( formal)
Could I …….? Polite ,asking for permission
Might I ……? Formal, asking for permission

10. Could + verb Could have + participle
CRITICISM
Present Past
Could + verb Could have + participle
Should + verb should have + participle
Ought to + verb ought to have + participle
POSSIBILITY / PROBABILITY
Will + verb ( 100% certain, prediction)
Can + verb ( 90% certain)
Should + verb ( 90% probable) should have+ participle
May + verb ( 50% certain) may have + participle
Could+ verb ( 50% certain) could have + participle
Might + verb ( 40% certain) might have+ participle
Am,is,are likely to + verb was, were likely to + verb

11. We should give up smoking
LOGICAL DEDUCTION
Present Past
Must + verb must have + participle
Can’t + verb ( negative assumption) can’t have+ participle
We should give up smoking

12. Modal Perfect These modals refer to the past.
Form: modal+ have+ past participle
May/might/could have+ participle ( express uncertainty in the past)
Could have+ participle ( suggestions, criticism, impossibility in the past)
Would have + participle ( willingness to do something, but it wasn’t done)
Can’t have + participle (certainty that something didn’t happen, impossibility)
Must have+ participle ( certainty about the past)
Should/ ought to have+ participle ( unfulfilled expectations, pieces of advice)

13. Semi modals
In some ways they are formed like modal verbs and in some ways they are like other main verbs.
Dare, need, ought to and used to, be able to,
have to
It used to be so easy. Did you use to play football when you were a child? (uses auxiliaries and to)
It ought to be easy now. It ought not to be easy ( uses to)
She needn’t worry. She doesn’t need to worry. Does she need to get a camera before she goes away? ( two possibilities)
We daren’t tell him. We don’t dare (to) tell him. ( two possibilities)
I’ve got to do it / Do I have to do it?

14. Match the examples to the functions
CAN
Can you open the window, please?
Can I get you something to drink?
Jill can play the piano.
Phil can be very clever
Officer to soldier: You can leave now
She can have got your letter
COULD
Simon could ride a horse when he was 5
Could you get me a glass of water?
Could I come and see you tonight?
Prince could win the race tomorrow
They could have gone away
Making deductions about the present
Describing ability
Making requests
Giving permission
Making offers
Making deduction about the past
Describing possibility in the past
Describing ability in the past
Describing possibility in the future
Making polite request
Asking for permission

15. MAY Describing possibility You may be right Asking for permission
May I take your coats?
May I have one of those leaflets?
Relatives may visit patients between 5 and 8.
MIGHT
It may rain later this afternoon
You might try getting new batteries
He might have told me he wouldn’t be coming
She might have got lost
Describing possibility
Asking for permission
Giving permission
Making polite offers
Expressing annoyance
Describing possibility in the future
Describing possibility in the past
Making suggestions

16. SHALL SHOULD/ OUGHT TO NEEDN’T Shall we go to a Chinese restaurant?
Shall I get you some drinks?
SHOULD/ OUGHT TO
You should take it easy
Carla ought to pass the exam
They should have arrived by now
Philip ought to have worked harder
NEEDN’T
Your needn’t wear a suit
You needn’t have read the whole book
Making offers
Making suggestions
Making criticisms
Making deductions about present
Giving advice
Making deductions about past
Expressing lack of obligation about the present or the future
Expressing lack of obligation about the past

17. MUST Making deductions about the present
I must be there by nine o’clock
You really must see that film
They must be very tired
He must have gone out
WOULD
I would often get up before down when I was a child
Would you like a drink?
Would you close the door, please?
I’d like some mustard, please
Making deductions about the present
Expressing obligation
Making deductions about the past
Giving advice
Expressing wishes
Making requests
Expressing characteristic behaviour in the past
Making offers

18. Exercises Write a modal for the situation Complete with modals
Rephrasing with modals