PRESENT MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS

by Anabel Bonilla

index

1. WHAT IS A MODAL VERB?2. TYPES OF MODALS a. Ability b. Permission c. Advice d.Possibility 3. PRACTICE

e. Impossibilityf. Certainty g. Obligation/Necessity h. Lack of obligation

1. WHAT IS A MODAL VERB?

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs like can, will, could, shall, must, would, might, and should. ... Modal verbs add meaning to the main verb in a sentence by expressing possibility, ability, advice, permission, obligation, etc.... eg. John CAN swim ( ability) eg. You MAY come in. (permission)

2. TYPES OF MODALS

a. Ability

Subtítulo genial aquí

Ability Modals

PARTE 3

PARTE 1

PARTE 2

PARTE 4

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

can

could

will be able to

It shows general ability

can't

couldn't

won't be able to

it shows lack of general ability or inability

was/were able to

am/are/is able to

it shows ability at a specific or difficult time

eg. John can swim very well

eg. I am able to swim in very cold waters

eg John could swim very well when he was young

eg. I was able to swim with a broken arm

eg. With some training I will be able to swim 100m. in 1 minute

b. Permission

Permission modals are used to ask for permission. They can be formal or informal

May I come in?

Can you pass me the salt?

CAN

INFORMAL

Could you pass me the salt? May I come in?

COULD MAY

FORMAL

c. Advice

Modal verbs of advice are used to provide counselling and suggest better ways to do something. Their meaning is similar.

NEGATIVE FORM

AFFIRMATIVE FORM

eg You should listen to your parents' advice

SHOULD

SHOULDN'T

eg You shouldn't touch that dog. It bites

eg You ought to listen to your parents' advice

OUGHT TO

OUGHTN'T TO

eg You oughtn't to touch that dog. It bites

eg You had better listen to your parents' advice

HAD BETTER NOT

HAD BETTER

eg You had better not touch that dog. It bites

d. Possibility

Possibility modals express the degree of possibility of an action happening

MORE POSSIBLE

CAN

eg It can rain tomorrow (very possible)

eg It may rain tomorrow ( possible)

MAY

MAY NOT

eg It could rain tomorrow (not very possible)

COULD

COULD NOT

MIGHT NOT

MIGHT

eg It might rain tomorrow (very unlikely)

LESS POSSIBLE

e. Impossibility

The action is impossible to happen

eg. That can't be a dragon. They don't exist.

CAN'T

f. Certainty

You are sure the action is happening.

eg. That must be an eagle. And it's coming down on us!!

MUST

g. Obligation/Necessity

Modals of obligation imply that there's something to be done obligatorily

MUST

eg. You must study harder next term

MUSTN'T

OBLIGATION

eg. You all have to show your ID card to enter the building

HAVE/HAS TO

eg. You need to pay more attention in class to get better marks

NECESSITY

NEED TO

h. Lack of Obligation/Necessity

These modals imply that there's no need to do something

eg. You don't need to carry much luggage for a weekend trip

DO /DOES NOT NEED TO

eg. You don't have to carry much luggage for a weekend trip

• DO/DOES NOT HAVE TO

• NEEDN'T

eg. You needn't carry much luggage for a weekend trip

PRACTICE

ABILITY

OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY

DEDUCTION

MIXED

ADVICE

PERMISSION