Modals

Modal verbs

Alejandro Salto 1º Bach-C

Auxiliary verbs [Modal verbs]

Auxiliary verbs are verbs that help (that is why they are auxiliaries) other lexical verbs in presenting the actions and states that they convey. All auxiliary verbs can have a negative form and are inverted in questions.Specifically, modals don't take -s for the 3º person singular. These are the modals we will work in this unit: Can, could, may, might, should, must, have to, ought to, need to, will, would, shall, be, do, and have. Be, do and have differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence. This must be our stop. This film should be very good. May I go to the toilet, please?

Can and Could

CAN:Ability/Possibility: They can control their own budgets. Asking for permission: Can I smoke here? Request: Can you help me?

COULD: Asking for permission / Request /Suggestion: We could try to fix it ourselves. Future possibility: I think we could have another World War. Ability in the past: He gave up his old job so he could work for us.

Alternatives to these modals (+ may): to be able to / to manage

Can't and Couldn't

CAN'T:Impossibility/ lack of ability: I can't dance flamenco. Lack of permission: I can't stay out until late

COULDN'T: Lack of ability in the past: She couldn't sing opera when she was young Impossibility: You couldn't be tired if you have been sleeping all night. Lack of ability in the past: He gave up his old job so he couldn't work for us.

Alternatives to these modals (+ may): to be able to / to manage

May and Might

MAY: Asking for permission: May I have another cup of coffee? Future possibility/probability: China may become a major economic power. Negative form: MAY NOT Impossibility / Unlikelihood: He may not have left.

MIGHT: Present possibility: We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now. Future possibility: They might give us a 10% discount. Negative form: MIGHT NOT Impossibility / Unlikelihood: We might not have called her.

Should and ought to

SHOULD Advice: You should sort out this problem at once. Recommendation: I think we should check everything again. Negative form: SHOULDN'T Regret: I should not have stayed awake until late.

OUGHT TO: Advice: We ought to employ a professional writer, we are overwhelmed by the work load.

Must, need and have to

MUSTObligation (Self-impossed): I must say goodbye now and never see you again. Certainty: They must be home at 9 p.m. because they always watch the TV programme.

HAVE TO: Obligation (external): I have to leave the house now, the bus arrives in an hour. Do you have to go to work?

NEED: Necessity: Something is wrong with me, I need to go to the doctor.

Mustn't, don't need to /needn't and don't have to

MUSTN'TProhibition: I musn't smoke. She mustn't/can't take this course. (She is not allowed)

DO NOT HAVE TO: Lack of obligation: We don't have to go to the gym.

NEEDN'T TO: Lack of permission: My doctor told me that I needn't smoke so much, it is bad for my health.

DON'T NEED TO: Lack of necessity: It sounds rude, you don't need to say that.

Modals of the record

WILL:Instant decisions: I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk. Offer: I'll do that for you if you like. Promise: I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday. Prediction: Profits will increase next year.

WOULD: Request: Would you pass the salt please? Invitation: Would you like to play golf this Friday? Permission: "Would you let me speak?"

SHALL: Willingness: I shall get my money back. Obligation (Legal): The student shall maintain good behaviour between hours.

Modal perfects

May, might and could:IPast possibility/speculation: She may have bought you a present. My brother might have called while we were away. It could have been a catastrophe. In the negative, they express impossibility or unlikelihood: It might not have been the last time we see each other.

Must and mustn't: Deductions: They must have arrived late. They mustn't be available soon.

Should and shouldn't: Advice(also could) : I should have been good to my mom/ I could have been more assertive, don't you think? Regret: The student shouldn't have said that to the teacher.

Alternatives to modals

to be able to:For present abilities: Is she able to play the piano? We use it instead of could when... we express a specific ability or achievement in the past: I was able to make it on time for the flight.

to Manage: It is an alternative to express possibility. Exactly speaking, it refers to achieving something at a specific moment: Criminals managed to escape from the police during the assault.

I wish I had...: Regret: He wished he hadn't told his kid off so severelly when he was young.