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Modal verbs

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fatima.simon@educa.madrid.org

Modal verbs

Type of auxiliary verbs used to indicate modality

START

Types of modal verbs

MODAL PERFECTS

ABILITY

obligation

prohibition

permission

recommendation

possibility

CAN / COULD / BE ABLE TO

ABILITY IN THE PRESENT- I can speak Japanese. ABILITY IN THE PAST - I could play tennis very well when I was younger. - I have been able to play tennis well for many years. - They had been able to speak Japanese before they travelled to Japan. ABILITY IN THE FUTURE - They will be able to speak Japanese if they study hard. - I would be able to go abroad if I spoke English.

ABILITY

MUST / HAVE TO / SHOULD / OUGHT TO / SHALL

NECESSITY- I must / have to finish my work by today. OBLIGATION / DUTY - I ought to / should finish my work by today. PROMISE - I shall finish my work by today. LACK OF OBLIGATION - I don't have to finish my work by today. - needn't / don't need to

OBLIGATION

MUSTN'T

MUSTN'T- Silence! You mustn't talk in here.

PROHIBITION

CAN / COULD / MAY

USED AS QUESTIONS

CAN- Can I go to the toilet? COULD - More polite. - Could I go to the toilet, please? MAY - More polite. - May I go to the toilet, please?

PERMISSION

SHOULD / OUGHT TO

SHOULD- If you don't feel well, you should go to the doctor. OUGHT TO - If you don't feel well, you ought to go to the doctor.

RECOMMENDATION

MAY / MIGHT / CAN / MUST / CAN'T

POSSIBILITY IN THE PRESENT- Tim may / might / can help you. He studied science. CERTAINTY IN THE PRESENT - You haven't eaten since breakfast. You must be hungry. - We did the exam yesterday. The teacher can't have the results today. POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST - His car isn't here. He must have gone home. - He can't have gone home. His car is here. - The thief may / might / could have taken the jewellery from the safe. - Prices could be high in 1925. (general possibility)

POSSIBILITY

Modal perfects

speculation about an impossible past event

Speculation about a possible past event

deduction about a past event that it is true

Past advice

She can´t have been in town because she's on holiday

You should have been listening

He could have got lost on the way

You must have felt very worried when your cat disappeared.

MODAL PERFECTS

WOULD VS USED TO