modals

Modal Verbs

Carmen Torres

What are modal verbs?

• They are:
• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Must
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would

• Ought to

They are Auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the sentence

Modal verbs are sometimes referred to as Modal Auxiliary verbs because they help other verbs

How do we use modals?

Example: Mary could play the piano

S Subject

V Verb

They do not accept conjugation They do not need other auxiliary verbs

Form

• He can ski He cans ski or He can skis
• Would you like to come with me?

Do you would like to come with me?

• They can’t be serious

They don’t can be serious

There is no “s” in singular There is no “do / does” in the question There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative

Form

to can / caning to must /musting She must study We should have gone the other way He could play football in his youth (general ability)

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

Form

Modal verbs do not have all the tenses

Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses Can is completed with be able to Must is completed with have to

They can play the piano

You must come early

They will be able to play the piano in the future

You had to come early yesterday

What do they express?

They can have more than one meaning depending on the situations

To understand it better we are going to divide them into 3 categories

1. Single Concept Modal: they have one meaning
2. Double Concept Modal: they have two meanings
3. Modals in past: They are used to express a situation in the past

Categories

Single concept Modals

Double Concept Modals

Modals in Past

Will Might Should Ought to Had better

May Must Would Shall Could Can

Would have Could have Might have Should have May have Must have

Single Concept Modal

Modal

Concept

Examples

Will

Future

Joe will travel to NY next week

Might

Small probability

I might move to Canada some day

Should

Recommendation

You should go to the doctor

Ought to

Formal recommendation

We ought to know about first aids

Had better

Warning

I had better study or I will fail the test

Double Concept Modal

Modal

Concept

Examples

May (1)

Permission

May I come in?

May (2)

Good probability

We may visit Mexico this summer

Must (1)

Responsibility

Everyone must pay taxes

Must (2)

Assumption

She didn’t arrive. She must be sick

Would (1)

Past (used to)

When I was young, I would play soccer

Would (2)

Present unreal

I would buy the car but I can’t afford it

Double Concept Modal

Modal

Concept

Examples

Shall (1)

Educated expression Offer

Excuse me, I shall go now Shall I clean it?

Shall (2)

Contractual obligation

The company shall pay on January 1st

Could (1)

Unreal Ability

I could go if I had time

Could (2)

Past Ability

She could play the piano, not anymore

Can (1)

Present Ability

We can speak English

Can (2)

Permission

Can I have a sweet?

PROBABILITY/ POSSIBILITY

ABILITY

PERMISSION

OBLIGATION/ ADVICE

OFFERS

CAN

I can play the piano

Can I go out tonight?

CAN’T

She can’t be his mum. She ‘s too young

I can’t speak German

Can I borrow the car? No, I can’t.

MIGHT

It might rain tomorrow

COULD

It could rain tomorrow

I could already read when I was two

Could I see your passport please, sir?

MAY

It may rain tomoroww

May I leave the table?

MUST

She must be his sister because they look alike.

You must leave before the clock strikes twelve.

HAVE TO

I have to study tonight.

SHALL

You shall pay on Tuesday

Shall I help you?

SHOULD / OUGHT TO

You should see it. It’s excellent.

HAD BETTER

You had better sleep more.

WOULD

Would you like a drink?

Modals in the Past

• They are modals referred to actions that happened in the past

It must have been a difficult decision They should have invited her to their wedding

MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle

MODAL PERFECT

USES

EXAMPLES

MUST HAVE + P.P.

Conclusión lógica sobre un hecho del pasado

Peter has arrived late. He must have been in a traffic jam

MAY / MIGHT HAVE + P.P.

Una suposición sobre algo pasado

Joe may / might have taken the wrong train.

COULD HAVE + P.P.

Habilidad de haber hecho algo pero finalmente no lo hizo

You could have played better

COULDN’T HAVE + P.P.

Certeza de que algo no pudo haber sucedido

He couldn’t have passsed because you hadn’t studied enough

WOULD HAVE + P.P.

Quiso haber hecho algo, pero no pudo hacerlo por causas externas

I would have visited you, but I forgot your address

SHOULD / OUGHT TO HAVE + P.P.

Queja de que algo haya ocurrido en el pasado o lamento de que no se haya cumplido lo que esperábamos

You should / ought to have warned me earlier

SHOULDN’T HAVE + P.P.

Crítica sobre un acontecimiento pasado que no debería haber ocurrido

He shouldn’t have told them

NEEDN’T HAVE + P.P.

No había necesidad de hacer lo que se hizo en el pasado

You needn’t have bought it .

Modals in Past : Modal + have + past participle

Modal

Concept

Example

Would have

Past unreal action

I would have bought the car, but I didn’t have money

Could have

Past unreal Ability

She could have taken the flight

May have

Past unreal Possibility

We may have passed the test, but it was in French

Might have

Past Unreal Small Probability

You might have sold the house, if you really needed the money

Should have

Past unreal Recommendation

You should have listened to the doctor

Must have

Past unreal Assumption

We must have been crazy!

A last tip

There are few verbs which often serve as modals too. These are modal-like verbs

They need to be conjugated

Modals-like verbs

Modal

Concept

Example

Like to

Enjoy

I like to watch TV

Want to

Desire

John wants to buy a car

Need to

Necessity

We really needed to talk to you

Have to

Obligation

Susan had to pay the rent

Have got to

Have to

I’ve got to go now

Look forward to

Future plan

I look forward to seeing you again

Practise

1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?

a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could

1. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.

a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can

1. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.

a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to

1. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!

a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to

1. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.

a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t

Practise

1. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.

a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t

1. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!

a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to

1. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.

a. Can b. would c. must d. have to

1. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.

a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t

1. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!

a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t

Practise

1. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?

a. Could b. may c. should d. would

1. You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!

a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can

1. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?

a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need

1. He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus

a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must

More practise

• Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the same meaning.
• I suggest that you get a good lawyer!

You ___________________________________________

1. A university degree isn’t necessary for that job.

You ___________________________________________

1. Perhaps my father will pick you up.

My father _______________________________________

1. 4. Eating is forbidden in class!

You ___________________________________________

should get a lawyer

don’t have to have a university degree for that job

may / might pick you up

mustn’t eat in class

More practise

• Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the same meaning.
• Look at his dirty clothes! I’m sure he is a poor person.

He ____________________________________________

1. I don’t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because there’re many contradictions.

The legend of Hercules ____________________________

must be a poor person

can’t be true

Use your imagination

• Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.
• We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things to do)
• We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)
• Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)
• You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)
• Peter has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him some advice)
• You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for permission politely)

Possible answers

1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

2. We have to buy a new notebook

3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin

4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York

5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea

6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?

4. MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING OBLIGATION

MUST expresses a personal obligation ( imposed by the speaker ). The speaker thinks it is necessary to do as he says

I must study harder if I want to pass the test

She must eat salad to lose some weight

I must help my mum with the housework

MUSTN’T expresses prohibition: it forbids someone from doing something.

People mustn’t drink alcohol if they are going to drive

You mustn’t park here

You mustn’t jump a red light

HAVE TO expresses a impersonal obligation. It is used for external rules

Do you have to get your hair cut to join the army?

Students have to wear uniforms in this school

He has to put his seatbelt

DON’T/ DOESN’T HAVE TO express that is not necessary to do something

You don’t have to water the plants everyday. It is enough to do it every four days

He doesn’t have to make his bed. His mum does it for him

YOU don’t have to do the washing up. Those plates are clean.

Complete the sentences with the most suitable modal

1. You ……………………… (mustn’t / don’t have to) drive a car if you don’t have a driving license. 2. They ………………….. (don’t have to/must) be quiet in class 3. In France, you ………………… (have to /mustn’t ) drive on the right 4. He …....… (doesn’t have to/must) pay for the tickets. They are free 5. John……………………..(has to /mustn’t) wear a tie at work. 6. People ………………….. (must /mustn’t ) brush their teeth after every meal if they want to prevent tooth decay 7. You …………………..(mustn’t / don’t have to) wash the car. Mum did it early in the morning 8. Students ……………(mustn’t / don’t have to) run along the corridor 9. When you enter a new country, you …………………….(have to / don’t have to) show your passport

mustn’t

must

have to

doesn´t have to

has to

must

don’t have to

mustn’t

have to