MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS FOR SPECULATION

06/10/18

INTRODUCTION

The concept of SPECULATION simply means 'making guesses' and in order to express speculation we can use some MODAL VERBS that aim at this purpose.

LIST OF MODAL VERBS used for speculation

MIGHT NOT

MUST

MIGHT

MAY NOT

CAN'T

MAY

COULD

When speculating about PRESENT or FUTURE SITUATIONS we use MUST / MIGHT / MAY / COULD / MIGHT NOT / MAY NOT / CAN'T + INFINITIVE.

When speculating about PAST SITUATIONS or EVENTS we use MUST / MIGHT / MAY / COULD / MIGHT NOT / MAY NOT / CAN'T + PERFECT INFINITIVE ( have + Past Participle )

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

MUST expressses a STRONG BELIEF that something is or was true. Ex: There must be something wrong with the engine. She must have made a mistake in her calculations. MIGHT , MAY, and COULD express a POSSIBILITY that something is, will be or was possible or probable. Ex: This might/may/could be the article I'm looking for. Life on Earth might/may/could have been originated from another planet.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

MIGHT NOT and MAY NOT express a WEAK POSSIBILITY that something is not , will not or was not true. Ex: Black holes might not / may not exist at all. Here are some facts you might not / may not have heard about. CAN'T expresses a STRONG BELIEF that something is not, or was not true. Ex: He can't be English; his accent is too strong. This book can't have been written by a real expert.

Do you still have any questions on modal verbs for speculation ? 1. If it is not the case, CONGRATULATIONS! 2. If it is the case, watch the following video to have a different view of modal verbs for speculation. 3. In any case your teacher recommends everybody watching the video for many reasons.

GENERAL REVIEW OF MODAL VERBS

INTRODUCTION

MODAL VERBS are verbs that function in a very different way than normal verbs such as 'play ' or 'watch '. In a way there are called 'auxiliary verbs' as they can express a particular meaning when going with a main verb. They also have some characteristics such as no-s in the third person singular, they can make their own negative and questions, they are followed by an INFINITIVE without TO ( except in some verbs 'don't have to' ) . Ex: You don't have to come tomorrow. ( It is NOT NECESSARY for you to come tomorrow.)

LIST OF MODAL VERBS

• CAN
• COULD
• MUST
• HAVE TO
• DON'T HAVE TO
• MAY/ MIGHT
• SHOULD/ OUGHT TO

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

CAN and COULD express several meanings : 1. ABILITY. Ex: Can you speak French? 2. POSSIBILITY. She can go with you later. 3. PERMISSION. Can I go to the toilet, please? 4. REQUEST. Could I have some more coffee, please? COULD is the PAST FORM of CAN and it is used in a much more formal or polite way than CAN. Ex: Could I speak to you for a minute, please? ( FORMAL PERMISSION ) Ex: When she was five she could swim ver well. ( A PAST ABILITY)

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

To some extent we can use BE ABLE TO to express ABILITY in PRESENT, PAST and FUTURE time. Ex: One day people will be able to go to the moon on holiday. (FUTURE ABILITY) MUST It is used to express: 1. OBLIGATION : Students must register at the office during the first week of term. 2. CERTAINTY: You must be tired after the whole day of work.

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

MUSN'T It expresses PROHIBITION: Ex: Books must not be taken out of the library. SHOULD / OUGHT TO Both express ADVICE or RECOMMENDATION. Ex: You should stay home if you don't feel well. HAD BETTER + INFINITIVE without TO In a way it is similar to SHOULD and OUGHT TO in the sense that it means ADVICE ( Sería mejor que...) Ex: You'd better go now.

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

DON'T HAVE TO /DOESN'T HAVE TO It expresses ABSENCE OF NECESSITY ( NO HACE FALTA QUE...) Ex: He doesn't have to bring any food. In the same way we can use NEEDN'T. It is not normally followed by a TO INFINITIVE. We can also use DON'T/DOESN'T NEED TO. Ex: You needn't reserve seats. She doesn't need to work tonight.

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

HAVE TO It means OBLIGATION. In this sense it is quite similar to MUST . However we can have some little differences. MUST expresses the feelings and wishes of the speaker , for example to give or ask for orders. HAVE TO is used to talk about obligations that come from the 'outside'; for example , laws, regulations or people's orders. Ex: I must stop smoking. ( I want to.) I have to stop smoking ( Doctor's orders.)

MEANINGS & EXAMPLES

MAY / MIGHT Both express POSSIBILITY. The idea that there is a chance that something is true, or that there is a possibility of it happening. Ex: We may go climbing in the Alps next summer. MIGHT suggests a smaller chance than MAY. Ex: I may go to London next month. ( 50% chance ) John might come with me. ( 30% chance) Both are used to ask for and give PERMISSION in a more polite way. Ex: Do you think I might borrow your typewriter?

SOME CONSIDERATIONS: MODAL PERFECTS

These MODAL VERBS can be followed by a PERFECT INFINITIVE ( have + Past Participle ) with special meanings. MUST HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses a deduction about something that has happened. We feel quite sure about it. Ex: I didn't hear her voice. She must have gone out. CAN'T HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses a deduction about something that didn't happen in the past based on a present evidence. Ex: She can't have passed such a difficult test.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS: MODAL PERFECTS

SHOULD HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses the idea that something was desirable or needed but it didn't take place. Ex: You shoud have driven more slowly. We almost had an accident. SHOULDN'T HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses the idea that something took place and it wasn't desirable. Ex: She shouldn't have talked to me like that. NEEDN'T HAVE + PARTICIPLE It means that something was done but it wasn't necessary. Ex: When the party was over I realized you needn't have cooked so much food as most of it was untouched.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS: MODAL PERFECTS

MAY HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses the possibility that an action took place in the past. Ex: The little girl may have lost her keys. MIGHT HAVE + PARTICIPLE It expresses a past possibility. Ex: Our neighbours might have heard some noises when our car was stolen. COULD HAVE + PARTICIPLE It means a past reference about something that was not carried out. Ex: She could have called the doctor early in the morning.

LET'S HAVE SOME PRACTICE

THANKS A LOT!

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