MODAL VERBS can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would:  are always used before another verb in its infinitive form without to: He can swim.  never change – they do not add –s, or –ed or –ing.  are immediately followed by not in the negative: You should not (shouldn’t) be late.  go immediately before the subject in a question: Could you wake me up?

 PRESENT: must and have to I must/have to go now or I’ll miss the bus.  We only use must in the present tense. In all other tenses we use have to: I had to work every day last week. (past simple) I will have to work longer hours. (future)  When something is unnecessary we use don’t have to, or needn’t (NOT mustn’t): You don’t have to / needn’t take your shoes off inside, but you can if you want to.  Mustn’t is a prohibition (when it’s wrong to do it, it isn’t allowed): You mustn’t smoke inside.

PERMISSION:  Can I sit here?  Could I borrow your phone? (more polite)  May I sit here? (more formal) REQUESTS (asking someone else to do something):  Can you / Will you pass me the salt?  Could you tell me where the station is? (more polite)  Would you lend me your camera? (more polite) OFFERS (offering help to someone else)  Can I help you?

 You should / ought to start looking for a job.  Should and ought to mean the same but we use should more than ought to, especially in negative forms and questions: They shouldn’t let their children watch that. What should I do?  When we talk about the past, we use should + have + past participle I should have told the truth (= it was a good idea but I didn’t)

 How many languages can you speak?  He could read when he was three.  She was able to finish on time.  She managed to finish on time  You will be able to operate the machinery at the end of this course.  CAN - present ability  COULD - past ability in general  WAS/WERE ABLE TO or MANGED TO – specific occasion in the past (not COULD)  WILL BE ABLE TO – future ability

 I haven’t seen the neighbours all week. They must be away.  The man in the photo can’t be Peter because he never wears a hat.  The letter might be / may be / could be from Tony. She might come and see you tomorrow.  Ed may not know how to find our house.  MUST – certainty  CAN’T – impossibility  MIGHT / MAY / COULD – present and future possibility  we use MAY NOT and MIGHT NOT in negative sentences, not COULD NOT

 I can’t find my keys. I must have left them at home.  He can’t/couldn’t have got there yet because it will take at least two weeks.  I’m not sure what sort of bird it was that I saw, but it may/might/could have been an eagle.  MUST / CAN’T / COULDN’T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE – when we are certain about the situations in the past  MAY / MIGHT / COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE – possibilities in the past

 What time will you be home tonight? – I’m not sure. I _____ late. a) might beb) can be  I can’t find the theatre tickets. They _________ out of my pocket. a) must have fallenb) should have fallen  Somebody ran in front of the car as I was driving. Fortunately I _________ just in time. a) could have stoppedb) managed to stop  We’ve got plenty of time. We ___________ yet. a) mustn’t leaveb) needn’t leave  I __________ out but I didn’t feel like it, so I stayed at home. a) could have goneb) must have gone  I’m sorry I __________ come to your party last week. a) couldn’t comeb) shouldn’t come

 What do you think of my theory? - I’m not sure. You ______ right. a) could beb) must be  I couldn’t wait for you any longer. I __________, and so I went. a) must gob) had to go  Do you know where Liz is? – No, I suppose she ______ shopping. a) should have goneb) could have gone  I promised I’d phone Gary this evening. I _________. a) mustn’t forgetb) don’t have to forget  Why did you leave without me? You _______ for me. a) must have waitedb) should have waited  You look nice in that jacket, but you hardly ever wear it. _________ it more often. a) should wearb) must have worn