MODAL VERBS

What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs.

Modal Verbs

Here are some important differences: 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:

He can  speak Chinese.She should  be here by 9:00.

Modal Verbs

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

Examples:

He should not be late.They might not come to the party.

Modal Verbs

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

Examples:

He will can go with us. Not CorrectShe musted study very hard. Not Correct

Common Modal Verbs

Can Could May Might Must

Shall Should Will Would

Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.

Examples:

1. I can ride a horse. ability 2. We can stay with my brother when

we are in Paris. opportunity 3. She cannot stay out after 10 PM.

permission4. Can you hand me the stapler?

request 5. Any child can grow up to be

president. possibility

Can - general ability

I can speak Chinese. Present  

Past   I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.

Future I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course.

- negative form

can’t speak Chinese.

couldn’t speak Chinese when I was a kid.

I won’t be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course.

Can - permission

I can drive Susan's car when she is out of town.

Present  

Past   I was allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.

Future I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.

I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of town.

I wasn't allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week.

I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.

- negative form

can - request

Can I have a glass of water?

Present  

Past   Can you give me a lift to school?

Future Requests usually refer to the near future.

Can't I have a glass of water?

Can't you give me a lift to school?

- negative form

Have To

"Have to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.

Examples:

This answer has to be correct. certaintyThe soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. necessity They have to leave early. obligation

Have To - certainty

That has to be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair.

Present  

Past   That has to have been the right restaurant. There were no other restaurants on the street.Future None

That must not be Jerry. They said he has blond hair, not red hair.

That must not have been the right restaurant. I guess there was another one around there somewhere.

- negative form

have to - necessity

She has to read four books for this literature class.

Present  

Past   She had to finish the first book before the midterm.

Future She will have to finish the other books before the final exam.

She doesn't have to read "Grapes of Wrath." It's optional reading for extra credit.She didn't have to write a critique of "The Scarlet Letter." She had to give a presentation to her class.

- negative form

She won't have to take any other literature classes. American Literature 101 is the only required course.

REMEMBER: "Do not have to" vs. "Must not"

"Do not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something.

"Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something.

Examples:You must not eat that. It is forbidden, it is not allowed. You don't have to eat that. You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.

Must

"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to."

Examples:You must not eat that. It is forbidden, it is not allowed. You don't have to eat that. You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.

Must

This must be the right address! certainty

Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity

You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation

Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition

must - certainty

That must be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair.

Present  

Past   That must have been the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street.

Future NO FUTURE FORM

That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to have red hair.

That must not have been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one around here somewhere.

- negative form

must not - prohibition

You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles.

Present  

Past   You must not forget to take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics.

Future

- negative form

Prohibition usually refer to the near future.

must strong recommendation

You must take some time off and get some rest.

Present  

Past   You should have taken some time off last week to get some rest. 

Future

- negative form

You should take some time off next week to get some rest.

You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health.

You shouldn't have drunk so much. That caused the accident.

You shouldn't drink at the party. You are going to be the designated driver.

must - necessity

You must have a permit to enter the national park.

Present  

Past   We had to have a permit to enter the park.

Future

- negative form

We must get a permit to enter the park next week. 

We don't have to get a permit to enter the national park.We didn't have to get a permit to enter the national park.

We won't have to get a permit to enter the national park.

Can

Ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to)

- I can speak English.

Permission to do sth in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

- Can I go to the cinema?

Request - Can you wait a moment, please?

Offer - I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

Suggestion - Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

Possibility - It can get very hot in Arizona.

Could

- Ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to)

I could speak English. - Permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to)

I could go to the cinema. - Polite question Could I go to the cinema, please? - Polite request

Could you wait a moment, please?

Could

- Polite offer I could lend you my car till tomorrow. - Polite suggestion Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? - Possibility It could get very hot in Montana.

May Possibility

It may rain today.

Permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to)

May I go to the cinema?

Polite suggestion

May I help you?

MightPossibility (less possible than may)

It might rain today.

Hesitant offer

Might I help you?

Must

- force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

- possibility You must be tired. - advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

must not/may not

prohibition You mustn't work on dad's computer.You may not work on dad's computer.

Need not

not necessary I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.

ought to

Use Examples advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather. obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.Shall - instead of will in the 1st person

suggestion Shall I carry your bag?.

should

advice You should drive carefully in bad weather. obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

will

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would)

Will you please shut the door?

prediction, assumption –

I think it will rain on Friday.

promise - I will stop smoking.

spontaneous decision - Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.

habits - She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.

Would

- wish, request (more polite than will)

Would you shut the door, please?

- habits in the past

Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

Thank you