English Modal Verbs ?

English Modal Verbs ?

By Bahrom Almardanov

Section FourCompound Modal

Verbs and their functions

Section TwoSimple Modal

Verbs

Section ThreePast forms of

Modal Verbs and their functions

Section OneBasic Information about Modal Verbs

Section FiveFinal Test

What are Modal Verbs ?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

EXAMPLES:He can speak Russian.She should go now.

My wife may join us for the dinner.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

EXAMPLES:You should not be late.

I can not come to at 6pm.

He may not like this idea.

You must not disturb him now, he is busy.

They didn’t must do it. NOT CORRECT

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

EXAMPLES:He will can go with us. NOT CORRECT

She musted study very hard. NOT CORRECT

It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT

1

2

3

Which sentence has a modal verb?

We have been arguing over this issue for half and hour, let’s change the topic.

Do not turn on that computer, it is not working properly. We need to fix it.

Let’s visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Christmas.

Well Done!

Back to the Rule

Please choose the correct sentence

He cans climb the rocks.

He can climb the rocks.

He canned climb the rocks.

Fantastic!

Back to the Rule

Please choose correct negative form of modal verb

I don’t can do it now, I am very busy till 5pm.

You must don’t smoke here, this place is smoke free.

He should not procrastinate his assignments, he may not get good grades.

Great!

Quit Continue

Back to the Rule

Section TwoSimple Modal

Verbs

“Can”

“May”

“Must”

1. to express general ability 2. to express possibility / impossibility 3. to ask a permission (informal)

EXAMPLES:

I can sing and play the guitar. Anyone can learn how to use Computers if

they want to. Can you help me to fix my door?

Take the testBack to section two

1. to express possibility2. to ask or to give a permission (formal)3. to make requests

EXAMPLES:

He may come late today. You may use my Computer now. May I make a phone call?


1. to express certainty 2. to express necessity 3. to make a strong recommendation

EXAMPLES:

You must be tired now, you have worked all day long.

I must have a visa to go to Canada. CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must

take it too.


If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you_______________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront.

Choose the best answer

Will DoCan

See the rules

Can May Must

Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.


May CanDoes

Can May Must

See the rules


Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than 11 hours. He ________________ be exhausted after such a long flight.

May MustCan

See the rules

Can

If you have not studied one of these verbs, click on it.

May Must

If you have, click here

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“Could”

“Would” “Should”

“Might”

Section ThreePast forms of

Modal Verbs and their functions

1. to express general ability in the past, because it is the past form of the “Can”

2. to express possible future actions similar to “May and Might” in meaning

3. to make a request or ask something4. to express unreal or impossible actions

EXAMPLES:

We tried hard but we could not persuade them to come with us.

My grandfather could not swim. When you go to Uzbekistan, you could stay with me. Could you tell me what time it is? I don’t know how she works 14 hours a day in front

of the computer, I could not do this.

Take the test #1Back to section three Take the test #2

1. to express future in the past because it is the past form of “Will”

2. to express unreal action in the present

3. to ask someone to do something (formal), (structure: If + you + would+ verb)

EXAMPLES:

He told me that he would come and fix this computer yesterday.

I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun at me.

If we did not go to their party next week, she would be very upset.

I’d be very grateful if you would come and help me move to my new apartment.


1. to ask or give advice or recommendation 2. often after these verbs: suggest, propose,

recommend, insist, demand.3. If you think that if person is likely to do something

with less certainty or accidentally, you can use this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should + you + verb

EXAMPLES:

I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing around, instead you should do sometime useful.

They insisted that we should have dinner with them. He recommended that I should apologize to her for

what I said. If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him

to call me? or Should you see Tom….. Don’t worry if I should be late tonight.


1. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past, because it is the past form of “May”

2. to express future or present possibility and probability

3. Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no difference in meaning.

EXAMPLES:

She told that he might come in and use her stove. He might be having lunch now. It might rain tomorrow. There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because

the director is ill. I may/might go to Italy this summer.


Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go out for a walk.

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb

Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!!

Back to section three

If he were here, he ____ help you.


May CanCouldn’t Could

Back to the Rule

Terrific !!!


Mr. Bond said if she was busy at 10 o'clock, he ____ come to see her later.

# 1. Choose the correct verb

May CanWould Must

Back to the Rule

Super!!!


This house ____ look better if they painted it and cut the grass and planted flowers.


May Can WouldMust

Back to the Rule

Quit

Well done!!!

Quit Continue


Oh, you are seriously ill. I think you ... consult a doctor.


Would Should MayCould

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!!


The Sheriff demands that all the eyewitnesses _____ be questioned immediately.

# 2.Choose the correct modal verb

WouldShouldMust Could

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!!


He said that I ____ play any CD from his collection while he was gone.


May Should Must Might

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!!


Don’t call me at 8:30. I ____ be watching the football match on television.


WouldCanMight Should

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!!


Modal Verbs + Perfectives?

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Section FourCompound Modal

Verbs and their functions

Modal Verbs + Perfective

May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

Must + Have + Past Participle

Should + Have + Past Participle

Would + Have + Past Participle

Examples: When I was sleeping last night, it may/might/could

have rained. I can’t find my notebook in my office, I

may/might/could have left it in the cafeteria.

to express the possibility or probability in the past, it is not certain if it happened or not.

May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle

Take the testBack to section four

A) Why didn’t Tom answer the doorbell? I am sure he was in the house at the time.

B) He ____ have been in the bath.

Choose the incorrect answer

CouldMightMay Can

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!!

Examples: Amira made an excellent presentation, she must

have prepared a lot for it. When I came home in the middle of the night, I

unintentionally made a lot of noise, you must have heard me.

to express the certainty in the past.

Must + Have + Past Participle


When I woke up this morning, the light was on. I _____ have forgotten to turn it off.

Choose the correct modal verb

Couldn’tShouldCan Must

Back to the Rule

Quit

Awesome!!!

Quit Continue

Examples: I feel sick now, I should not have eaten so much

chocolate. I am so sorry to hear that you got a bad grade for

this class, you should have studied more.

to criticize some action in the past that did not happen.

Should + Have + Past Participle


The driver in the front stopped so suddenly without warning, I drove into the back of his car. It wasn’t my fault. He ______ have stopped so suddenly.


Wouldn’tShouldn’tCan’t May not

Back to the Rule

Well Done!!!

Examples: Why didn’t you call me? I would have come and

helped you, and you wouldn’t have received this bill. If I had known that you were in Washington DC,I

would have made arrangements to see you.

to talk about unreal situations in the past, usually in If sentences.

Would + Have + Past Participle


If you had been more careful, you _____ have broken this vase.


Wouldn’t Shouldn’tCan’t May not

Back to the Rule

Yey!!!

I challenge you to take this

Quit Continue

Section FiveFinal Test

Choose a Test Question Number

One

Two

Three

Five

Four

#1. Choose the best answer

You _____ break the body but you _____ break the spirit.

may / can not

could / can not

must / should

can / might not

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!!

Back to section five


He knew perfectly well that he ______ it but he wouldn't admit it.

shouldn't have done

Should do

Must have done

Can do

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!!



Oh, Mary, you ______ a lie to your mother. She _______ you.

shouldn't tell / could have helped

should tell / might have helped

shouldn't have told / could have helped

mustn’t have told / could help

Back to the Rule

Bravo!!!



If I had gone to the University of Miami, I ________ participated in their Spanish immersion program.

Could have

Should have

Must have

Can have

Back to the Rule

Spot on!!!



You have no temperature now, so you needn't stay in bed any longer. You ___ eat what ever you like, but you ... drink any alcohol until you have finished taking tablets. And you ... stay indoors for three-four days. After you ... go out for short walks. If you want to get well soon you ... to follow all these instructions.

could/need/don't have to/must/must

might/could/had to/could/are able

have to/might/had to/could/should

can/mustn't/should/can/will have

Back to review section two

Back to review section three

Back to review section four

Wow!!!


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