MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS

Tania Ardila

Modal verb +

Infinitive

STRUCTURE: + - ?

ABILITY

BE ablE to

1. jACK CAN / CAN'T SPEAK CHINESE. 2. jACK IS / ISN'T ABLE TO SPEAK SIX LANGUAGES. 3. i WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FINISH THIS. 4. i HATE NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE. 5. SUE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO WALK SINCE HER ACCIDENT. 6. SUE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK SEVEN LANGUAGES IF she keeps STUDYING.

CAN

BE ablE to

ABILITYIN THE PAST

1. I COULD READ WHEN I WAS FOUR. 2. CARLA COULDN'T READ UNTIL SHE WAS SEVEN. 3. I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT THE TEACHER WAS SAYING. 4. were they able to win the match? 5. SUE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO WALK SINCE HER ACCIDENT.

COULD

REQUESTS

MAY

May I come in?

Could you take me to Victoria Station?

COULD

CAN

advice - opinion

ought to

1. YOU SHOULD DRIVE MORE CAREFULLY. 2. YOU OUGHT TO DRIVE MORE CAREFULLY. 3. I SHOULD DO MORE EXERCISE.

OUGHT NOT TO

should

SHOULDN'T

1. You must be back at 10 o’clock. (Obligation) 2. I really must start going to bed earlier. (Strong advice to ourselves) 3. You must try this pasta, it’s delicious! (Strong recommendations) 4. Look at the snow. It must be cold outside. (Certainty that something is true)

MUST

have to

1. i HAVE TO WORK TONIGHt. 2. HE haS to leave school at 2:30 pm. 3. You have to be back at 10 o’clock.

MUST

HAVE TO

Things we strongly feel we should do. (Speaker's opinion) Example: I must start walking to school. It would be good exercise. i MUST GO TO BED (I'M FEELING REALLY TIRED)

Things that we are obliged to do.THE OBLIGATION IS EXTERNAL Example: I have to start walking to school. They have cancelled the only bus. i HAVE TO GO TO BED (MY MUM HAS TOLD ME TO).

Prohibition

1. You mustn’t touch those flowers. They’re very delicate.

2. I mustn't talk to strangers.

MUSTN'T

lack of obligation

1. You don’t have to pay me back now. Give me the money tomorrow.

2. Good news, he doesn't have to sleep in my car.

don't have to

Necessity or lack of necessity

1. You need to study a lot.

2. You needn’t have a university degree. You don't need to have a university degree.

need to needn't don't need to

CAN'T

MUST

Certainty that something is impossible. Example: 1. That story can’t be true. 2. she can't be abroad because she hasn't got a passport.

Certainty that something is true. Example: 1. Look at the snow. It must be Cold outside. 2. he must be at work then.

ABOUT AN EVENT IN THE PAST THAT STILL AFFECTS THE PRESENT

MUST have + past participle

CAN'T have + past participle

Things we can deduce are definitely true.Example: 1. The driver must have lost his way because he never came.

Certainty that something is impossible. Example: 1. They can’t have gone far. They only left two minutes AGO. 2. She can’t have left the house yet because her car is still outside.

possibility

MIGHT have / MAY have /COULD have + past participle

MIGHT/ MAY /COULD

Speculating about something in the past/ possibility in the past.

it is used to express possibility

1. Police think the robbers may have escaped through the window. 2. YOU COULD HAVE DONE BETTER.

It might be quicker to travel by train.

P. 78 SB p. 77 W

CHAITO, kisses!!