Modal verbs

Presentation

MODAL VERBS

CAN

• Abilities

I can ski but I can't swim.

• present

• past

I could ski but I couldn't swim when I was 6.

I will be able to ski but I won't be able to swim next year because I've broken my arm recently.

• future

• Permission

Can I go to the toilet, please? (or May I go...) Yes, of course you can/may.

Modal verbs for deduction

• We can use modal verbs for deduction – guessing if something is true using the available information or evidence, not stating a fact. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility.

MUST We use must when we feel sure that something is true or it’s the only realistic possibility. -This must be her house. I can see her car in the garage. -He must live near here because he always walks to work. -Come inside and get warm. You must be freezing out there!

Modal verbs for deduction

CAN'T We use can’t when we feel sure that something is not possible. -It can’t be far now. We’ve been driving for hours. - It can’t be easy for him, looking after three kids on his own.

MIGHT/MAY/COULD We use might, may or could to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure. - She’s not here yet. She might be stuck in traffic. -He’s not answering. He could be in class. -We regret to inform you that some services may be delayed due to the bad weather. * They all have the same meaning, but may is more formal than might and could.

Modal verbs for deduction

• Note that these verbs, like all modal verbs, are followed by an infinitive without to.
• Different modal verbs tell us how sure about a deduction we are:

*It’s cold in that house.Fact: I know it is. -It must be cold in that house. Deduction: I’m sure it is. -It may / might / could be cold in that house. Deduction: It’s possible that it is. -It may / might not be cold in that house. Deduction: It’s possible that it isn’t. -It can’t be cold in that house. Deduction: I’m sure it isn’t. *It isn’t cold in that house. Fact: I know it isn’t.

Modals for deduction

must

when we are sure that it is

can't

when we are sure that it isn't

He MUST BE sad.

The boy is crying.

He CAN'T BE happy.

could/may/might

when we are not sure, we are presuming, trying to guess

--we can use either of these modals

e.g.

What is it?

1. It could be a giant bird...Or a rug!
2. It may be a butterfly!
3. It might be a giant seen from below...Or some old boots!

They are looking at this man's bold head and discussing what it reminds them of... How would they say it using modals? The man on the left is not so sure so he would say : It could be a duck and Madonna playing ping-pong! (or may/might) The woman is sure-she says It's definitely-so she would say: It must be my father on a sailboat!

They are looking at the stain on the table and discuss what it reminds them of... How would they say it using modals? They are both so sure that they are right and the other one is wrong! So they would both use MUST. It must be a camel wrestling with a butterfly. It must be a woman holding up a pineapple! And she would think: It can't be a camel wrestling with a butterfly!

Which words show us that they are sooooo sure of their answer?

SPECULAYING ABOUT PAST...

should/shouldn't have for regrets

My back hurts! I should have done my morning exercises.

Oh, I'm so sick. I shouldn't have eaten the whole cake!

Choose the correct answer

1. When Jillian came home, her window was broken and her computer was missing. Her house _______ burgled. a. must have been b. couldn’t have been c. has to be 2. Sarah is very angry with her boyfriend. He ________ done something wrong. a. can’t have b. might not have c. may have 3. I noticed when I got to work that I did not have my cellphone. I ________ left it on the bus. a. must not have b. should have c. couldn’t have 4. When I arrived in New York City, I realized I had no idea where my hotel was. I got lost for hours! I __________ brought a map. a. couldn’t have b. should have c. might have d. must have 5. My mother has problems with her lungs. She _________ smoked those cigarettes last night. a. shouldn’t have b. should have c. must have d. might not have

Let's speculate!

Read and speculate!

1. A man lived on the fourteenth floor of a building. Ever day he took the elevator to the ground floor to go to work. When he returned, he took the elevator to the tenth floor and walked up the stairs to his apartment on the fourteenth floor. He hated walking, so why did he do it?

2. A man and his son were in a car accident. The man died on the way to the hospital, but the boy was taken into surgery. The surgeon said, “I can’t operate, that’s my son!” How was this possible?

THANKS!

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