Modal Verbs of Possibility

The Modal Verbs

How do we use them?

Index

1. Modals of Present Possibility

2. Modals of Future Possibility

3. Modals of Possibility in the Past

4. Modals of advisability.

5. Confusing Modals

• could
• might/might not
• may / May not
• should / shouldn't
• ought to
• must/ must not
• have to /have got to
• can / couldn't

Modals of present posibility express events that are likely to happen or not likely to happen, such as expectations and guesses, when we are living the situation. For example: Some people say microwave ovens might hurt your brain

Careful! make sure to use them according to level of certainty. Check the arrow, at the top you have the less possible (not quite sure about it) and at the bottom the most (fairly sure this is a good guess)

• could
• might/might not
• may / May not
• should / shouldn't
• ought to
• will / won't

Modals of future posibility express events that are likely to happen in the future, such as predictions of an uncoming situation. For example: Some people say the governments will control our brains with microchips set on the vaccines

Careful! make sure to use them according to level of certainty. Check the arrow, at the top you have the less possible (not quite sure about it) and at the bottom the most (fairly sure this is a good guess) Which Modal verbs were eliminated from this list? Do you know why?

Modals of past posibility express events that were likely to happen or not in the past, such as drawing conclusions from past events. For example: Some people think the nazis might have conquered all the world, fortunately it did not occur.

• could
• might/might not
• may / May not
• should / shouldn't
• ought to

Careful! make sure to use them according to level of certainty. Check the arrow, at the top you have the less possible and at the bottom the most Which Modal verb was eliminated from this list? Do you know why? Notice that we need to add the verb HAVE + Verb in past participle to this form

• could
• might/might not
• may / May not
• should / shouldn't
• ought to
• must
• had better + inf

Modals of advisability express a way toto give our opinion of the best thing to do in a particular situation. For example: You should apply for the job. He'd better study more if he wants to pass the test.

Careful! make sure to use them according to level of strong or weak suggestion. Check the arrow, at the top you have the weak suggestions and at the bottom the strongest. Notice that we generally use them in present. When you use them in past, it sounds more as a regret. "You should have applied for the job, but now it's too late"

Why do I get confused with Modals?

SHOULD

MUST

Must is used basically to express obligations or strong suggestions. It can also be used to hypothesize, for example This must be a mistake, or in past That must have been a mistake. The problem comes when you try to use it in future. They must be solving the problem tomorrow (as a possibility, must has to be used in the continuous form to express future possibility) They must solve the problem tomorrow ( as a strong suggestion). They are not at home, they must be solving the problem ( I am hypothesizing)

Should is used to express suggestion mostly, but it can also express possibilities They should be here soon ( I expect them to arrive) They should be here (They are not in the place they were supposed to be)

PAST MODALS

All modal verbs have to be combined with HAVE + main verb in past participle to express a past situation. Just be carefull!!! The exception is WILL. It does not have a past form