MODAL VERBS

SOFIA M.C.

CAN• USES:– Ability– Request– Possibility

• EXAMPLES:

—Jesse can run very fast.

—Can I call you tonight?

—Women’s sports can be exciting to watch.

BE ABLE TO

• USES:– Ability.

• EXAMPLE:—Her brother is

able to skate very well.

—They are able to go to that shop.

CAN’T

• USES:– Certainty that

something is impossible.

• EXAMPLES:—You can’t be 40

years old, you look much younger!

COULD

• USES:– Past ability.– Polite request.– Polite suggestion.– Possibility.

• EXAMPLES:

— She could run fast when she was a child.

— Could you help me with the suitcases?

— You could exercise and eat healthier food.

— It could be dangerous for women to compete with men.

MAY

• USES:– Possibility– Polite request

• EXAMPLES:—It may rain

tomorrow.—May I open the

window?

MIGHT

• USES:– Possibility.

• EXAMPLES:— She might win

the gold medal in the competition.

WOULD

• USES:– Formal request.– Offer.

• EXAMPLES:—Would you open

the window, please?

—Would you like a cup of tea?

MUST

• USES:– Obligation.– Certainty that

something is true.

• EXAMPLES:

—You must train hard for the match.

—She’s got a great job. She must be very happy.

HAVE TO

• USES:– Obligation.– Necessity.

• EXAMPLES:• You have to buy

the tickets today.

NEED TO

• USES:– Obligation.– Necessity.

• EXAMPLES:—You need to

practise harder.

NEEDN’T

• USES:– Lack of

obligation.

• EXAMPLES:—You needn’t

bring any cake to the party, but you’ve done it, so… lets eat it!

DON’T HAVE TO

• USES:– Lack of obligation.

• EXAMPLES:—I don’t have to

get up early tomorrow, so I’m not going to do it.

MUSTN’T

• USES:– Prohibition.

• EXAMPLES:—You mustn’t

exceed the speed limit.

SHOULD

• USES:– Advice, opinion.

• EXAMPLES: — You should try

it, it’s delicious!

OUGHT TO

• USES:– Advice, opinion.

• EXAMPLES:—You ought to

warm up before training.

MODAL PERFECT

MUST HAVE

• USES:– Certainly that

something was true.

– EXAMPLES:• Linda has arrived

late. She must have been in a traffic jam.

MAY/MIGHT HAVE

• USES:– A guess about a

past action.

– EXAMPLES:

• She may/might have taken the wrong bus.

COULD HAVE

• USES:– Ability to have

done something but in fact did not.

– EXAMPLES:• You could have

asked the doctor before taking that medicine.

COULDN’T HAVE

• USES:– Certainly that

something did not happen.

– EXAMPLES:• He couldn’t have

gone to the concert because he was doing a test.

WOULD HAVE

• USES:–Willingness to

have done something but in fact could not.

– EXAMPLES:• I would have

gone to the party, but I was too busy.

SHOULD/OUGHT TO HAVE

• USES:– Criticism or regret

after an event.

– EXAMPLES:

• You should/ought to have warned me earlier.

SHOULDN’T HAVE

• USES:– Criticism after an

event.

– EXAMPLES:

• He shouldn’t have forgotten about her birthday.

NEEDN’T HAVE

• USES:– An unnecessary

action in the past.

– EXAMPLES:

• You needn’t have brought anything to my party.