MODAL VERBS

Wipawee Khantikittikul no.9

Preechaya Phacharoen no.14

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs

that provide additional and

specific meaning to the main

verbs of the sentence

We use modal verbs to show if

we believe something is

certain, probable or possible

and we also use to do things

like talking about ability,making

requests and offers

From..Modal verbs do not have infinitives or -ing forms Ex. to can/caning or to must/musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to Ex. We should have gone the other way.

Modal verbs do not have all the tenses

Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses - Can is complete with be able to - Must is complete with have toEx. They can play the piano They will be able to play the piano You must com early You have to come early

Modal verbs can have more than one

meaning depending on the situations

1.Single Concept Modal : They have one meaning

2.Double Concept Modal : They have two meaning

3.Modals in past : They are used to express a

situation in the past

Single Concept ModalModal Concept Example

Will Future Joe will travel to NY next

week

Might Small probability I might move to Canada

some day

Should Recommendation You should go to the

doctor

Ought to Formal recommendation We ought to know about

first aids

Had better Warning I had better study or I

will fail the test

Double Concept ModalModal Concept Example

Shall(1)

Shall(2)

Educated expression offer

Contractual obligation

Excuse me, I shall go now Shall I clean

it?

The company shall pay on January 1st

May(1)

May(2)

Permission

Good probability

May I come in?

We may visit Mexico this summer.

Must(1)

Must(2)

Responsibility

Assumption

Everyone must pay taxes

She didn’t arrive. She must be sick

Would(1)

Would(2)

Past(used to)

Present unreal

When I was young , I would play soccer

I would buy the car but can’t afford it.

Could(1)

Could(2)

Unreal Ability

Past Ability

I could go if I had time

She could play the piano

Can(1)

Can(2)

Present ability

Permission

We can speak English

Can I have a candy?

Modals in the past

They are modals referred to actions that

happened in the past

Structure

MODAL + HAVE + verb in the participle

Ex.

It must have been a difficult decision.

May , MightWe can use may to ask for permission and we also use may to suggest something is possible.

Ex. May I borrow your pen? It may rain later today.

We use might to suggest a small possibility of something.In the past we use might have

Ex. It might rain this afternoon. I might have dropped it in the street.

Form..Formal Permission / Formal Prohibition - Structure may/may not + base form of the verb Ex. You may start your exam now. You may not wear sandals to work.

Polite Request -Structure May + subject + base form of the verb Ex. May I help you?

Polite Suggestion -Structure might + base form of the verb Ex. You might like to try the salmon fillet.

Possibility / Negative Possibility

- Structure

may/might + base form of the verb

Ex. Our company might get the order if the client

agrees to the price.

may not/might not + base form of the verb

Ex. Adam and Sue may not buy that house.It’s very

expensive.

To make a suggestion (when there is no better

alternative)

-Structure

may as well/might as well + base form the verb

Ex. You may as well come inside.John will be come

soon

Shall , Should , Ought to , had

better

Shall use for obligation in very formal situations.

Should is often used to give an opinion , to make a suggestion , express a preference or an idea.

Ought to is theoretically possible , but is rarely used with this meaning

Had better is used for more urgent advice with bad consequences if you don’t follow it.

Form..To Offer of Assistance or polite suggestion(when

you are quite sure of a positive answer)

- Structure

Shall + subject + base form of the verb

Ex. Shall we go for a walk?

Note: Shall is only used with I or we.It is used

instead of will only in formal English.

(When you are not sure of a positive answer)

- Structure

Should + subject + base of form of the verb

Ex. Should I go for a walk?

A prediction or Expectation that something will happen - Structure Should/Shouldn’t + base form of the verb

Ex. I shouldn’t be late. The train usually arrives on time.

To give advice - Structure Should/ought to + base form of the verb Ex. You ought to have your car serviced before the winter. - To give advice in somethings that unacceptable structure is should’t + base form of the verb Ex. James shouldn’t teach him words like those.

Will , Would We use will when we talk about the future or to say what we believe will happen.

Use when we talk about what people want to do or are willing to do.

To make promises and offers.

Structure: S + will + infinitive +…

Negative form: S + will not + infinitive +…

Example: I will go to Chiang Mai next week.

I will take care of my mom.

It will rain tomorrow.

Negative form Example: He won’t help her. You’ll not be alone.

Will , Would

Would is the past tense form of will

Structure: S + would +infinitive +..

Example:

He said he would do his homework.

If I were a president, I would cut the cost of education.

When I was a kid, I would always go to the beach.

I said I wouldn’t help you.

Will , Would

Will and Would in question sentence.

Structure: Will, would + S + please + infinitive + ..

** mostly we use would and we put please after Subject to make it more polite **

Example: Would you please turn off the light?

Will you please sent me the phone?

Can , Could

Can is used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.

Structure: S + can + infinitive +..

Example: I can speak Chinese.

I have some free time. I can help her now.

Negative sentence: S + cannot + infinitive +..

Example: Frank can’t drive.

I cannot dance.

Can , Could"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests.

Could is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can.”

Structure: S + could + infinitive +..

Example: I could play the piano.

John could go to jail for stealing the money

Conditional sentences:

Ex: If I had more time, I could travel around the world.

Can , Could

REMEMBER: “Could not” vs. “Might not”

"Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens.

Example:

Jack might not have the key.

*Maybe he does not have the key*

• Jack could not have the key.

*It is impossible that he has the key*

Can , Could

Question Sentence

Structure: Can, Could + S + infinitive +..?

*could more polite*

Example: Could I say something please?

Can I use your toilet please?

Must , Have to

Structure: S + must, have to + infinitive +..

**We can use 'must' to show that we are certain something is true.

Ex. There's no heating on. You must be freezing.

You must be worried that she is so late coming home.

• **We also use 'must' to express a strong obligation. When we use 'must' this usually means that some personal circumstance makes the obligation necessary. And we can use ‘have to’ too

• Ex. I must go to bed earlier.

• You have to pass your exams or the university will not accept you.

Must , Have to

Negative form

**Must not**

Must not means you are not allowed to do it.

Structure: S + must not + infinitive +...

Ex. You must not smoke in the hospital.

You must not break the law.

Must , Have to

**don’t/doesn’t have to**

Means it not necessary to do it. You can do or not it’s up to you.

Structure: S + don’t/doesn’t + have to + infinitive

Ex. You don’t have to return the money to me.

He does not have to come to work tomorrow.

**** or you can use need not it’s have the same meaning as don’t have

to ****