modal verbs

Celia Granizo y Kawtar Ait-Aicha. 2ºBach A

CAN (puedo/se)

EXAMPLES

ABILITY

COULD (podía/podría)

Let's Try it

BE ABLE (ser capaz de )

CAN (Infromal)

EXAMPLES

REQUEST

modal verbs

COULD

Let's Try it

WOULD (Formal)

CAN (Infromal)

EXAMPLES

PERMISSION

COULD

Rules:

Let's Try it

MAY (Formal)

MUST (Rule)

EXAMPLES

OBLIGATION

HAVE TO (Obligate myself)

Let's Try it

NEED TO (Necessary)

Celia Granizo y Kawtar Ait-Aicha. 2ºBach A

Examples

Not have to

LACK OF OBLIGATION

let's try it

needn't

examples

must

PROHIBITION

MODALVERBS

let's try it

can't

should

examples

ADVICE

ought to

let's try it

had better

must (100%)

examples

should (75%)

PROBABILITY

let's try it

can/could or may/might

can't (0%)

Celia Granizo y Kawtar Ait-Aicha. 2ºBach A

• Ability and capability to do something in the past
• Gentle criticism

EXAMPLES

could have

LET´S TRY IT

• Willingness. Desire to do something in the past which was not accomplished
• Third conditional

EXAMPLES

would have

MODAL PERFECT

LET´S TRY IT

• Certainty

• Logical conclusion

EXAMPLES

must have

LET´S TRY IT

• Guess or speculation about the past

may/might have

EXAMPLES

LET´S TRY IT

Celia Granizo y Kawtar Ait-Aicha. 2ºBach A

• Regret about past mistakes

EXAMPLES

should have

• Recommendations

LET´S TRY IT

• Critique

• Lack of obligation

• Necessity in the past

MODAL PERFECT

EXAMPLES

needn´t have

LET´S TRY IT

• 0% of probability (Imposible to have happened)

EXAMPLES

can´t have

LET´S TRY IT

Structure:

• Subject + Modal + Verb (Infinitive)
• No use "to"
• No "-s" in third person
• No auxiliar
• No tense (no future, no past)

• You must not use your phone during the exam.

• We can't enter that room without permission.

• She may have forgotten about the meeting.

• He might have missed the bus, that’s why he’s late.

• Can I leave early today?

• Could we use your laptop for the presentation?

• May I speak to the manager?

• He must be tired after running a marathon.

• The train should arrive soon.

• It might rain this afternoon.

• She could be at home, but I’m not sure.

• He can't be the thief; he was with me all night.

• You needn’t have bought so much food; we already had plenty.

• She needn’t have woken up so early; the meeting was canceled.

• He can't have finished the exam in just 10 minutes!

• You don’t have to wake up early on Sundays.

• He needn’t worry about the exam, he studied a lot.

• She could have won the race if she had trained harder.

• You could have told me you were going to be late.

• I should have studied more for the exam.

• You should have called her to apologize.

• They should have been more careful with the project.

• Could I have a glass of water?

• Can you help me with my homeworks?

• Would you like to join us for dinner?

• I would have helped you, but you didn’t ask.

• If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.

• She can play the piano very well.

• When I was a child, I could swim for hours.

• One day, I will be able to speak English fluently.

• You should eat more vegetables.

• She ought to be more careful with her words.

• We had better leave now, or we’ll miss the train.

• She must have left early because I didn’t see her at the meeting.

• The ground is wet. It must have rained last night.

• You must wear a seatbelt while driving

• You need to study if you want to pass the exam.

• I have to finish this report before the deadline.