Prepared byPrepared byan English teacheran English teacher

O.A. LepertO.A. LepertShostka Shostka School 1School 1

PlanPlan1. Where are modal verbs used?2. Can3. May4. Must5. Should and ought6. To have7. To be8. Shall9. Will and would10. Need11.11. DareDare

Where are modal Where are modal verbs verbs used?used?

Modal verbs are used to show the speaker’s attitude toward the action or the state indicated by the infinitive, i.e. they show that the action indicated by the infinitive is considered as possible, impossible, probable, improbable, obligatory, necessary, advisable, doubtful or uncertain, etc.

CanCanThe verb can has two forms: the present tense (can) and the past tense (could). The form could is also used as Subjunctive II. In this case it refers to the present or future when followed by the Indefinite Infinitive and to the past when followed by the Perfect Infinitive.e.g. e.g. I can swim.I can swim. He could read when he was five ears He could read when he was five ears old.old. Could you eat now?Could you eat now? I could learn Latin very soon.I could learn Latin very soon. You could have gone to the library You could have gone to the library yesterday.yesterday.

The verb can has the following meanings:The verb can has the following meanings:1. Physical or mental ability, capability, possibility

depending on circumstances. The equivalent of can in these meanings is the combination to be able to which has all tenses. The form could followed by the Perfect Infinitive shows that the action was not carried out.

e.g.e.g. He can lift this weight. He can lift this weight. I couldn’t solve the problem.I couldn’t solve the problem. You could have bought this book; it was on You could have bought this book; it was on

sale.sale. He could have guessed it.He could have guessed it. Perhaps this young man will be able to help Perhaps this young man will be able to help

you.you. She wasn’t able to answer.She wasn’t able to answer.

2. Permission. The form could is used in this meaning only in interrogative sentences to express a polite request.e.g.e.g. You can use dictionaries. You can use dictionaries. You can’t use dictionaries.You can’t use dictionaries. Can I sit with you for a little?Can I sit with you for a little? Can I come in?Can I come in? Could I take your pen?Could I take your pen?

3. Doubt, astonishment, incredulity. In these meanings the verb can is used only in interrogative and negative sentences but it may be followed by all forms of the infinitive. The Continuous Infinitive refers to the present. If the verb has no continuous form, the Indefinite Infinitive is used to refer the action to the present. The Perfect Infinitive refers to the past.

e.g. e.g. Can she be working now?Can she be working now? He can’t be waiting for us now.He can’t be waiting for us now. Can he know Japanese?Can he know Japanese? She cannot have said this.She cannot have said this. Could something have happened out Could something have happened out there there to keep her away?to keep her away?

MayMayThe verb may has two forms: the present tense – may and the past tense – might. But the form might is used as the past tense of the Indicative Mood only in subordinate clauses according to the rule of the sequence of tenses.The form might is mostly used as Subjunctive II. It refers to the present or future when followed by the Indefinite Infinitive and to the past when followed by the Perfect Infinitive.e.g. e.g. She asked the doctor if he might use She asked the doctor if he might use his his telephone.telephone.

The verb may has the following meanings:The verb may has the following meanings:1. Supposition implying uncertainty. In this meaning the

verb may is used in affirmative and negative sentences with all forms of the infinitive.

The Indefinite Infinitive mostly refers to the future. The Continuous Infinitive refers to the moment of

speaking and the Perfect Infinitive to the past.e.g. e.g. He may be waiting for you.He may be waiting for you. She may know about it.She may know about it. They may be at school now.They may be at school now. I may have put it on the table.I may have put it on the table.

2. Possibility depending on circumstances. In this meaning may is used only in affirmative sentences. When might is followed by the Perfect Infinitive it shows that the action was not carried out.e.g. e.g. You may go to school by bus.You may go to school by bus. You might find him in between 11 and You might find him in between 11 and 12.12. I might have stayed at home.I might have stayed at home.

3. Permission. In this meaning the verb may is followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.e.g. e.g. You may go – with whom you will.You may go – with whom you will. May I use your phone?May I use your phone? Might I speak a word to you?Might I speak a word to you?4. Reproach, disapproval. In this meaning only might is used.e.g. e.g. You might be more attentive.You might be more attentive. You might have written me a little You might have written me a little something, anyhow.something, anyhow.

MustMustThe verb must has only one form. The infinitive after it may refer to the present or future. It may also refer to the past in object clauses if the verb of the principal clause is in the past tense.e.g. e.g. He must be at school now.He must be at school now. She must come tomorrow.She must come tomorrow. He told that she must consult a He told that she must consult a doctor.doctor.

The verb must has the following meanings:The verb must has the following meanings:1. Obligation, duty, necessity. In these meanings must

is used in affirmative and interrogative sentences with the Indefinite Infinitive.

e.g. e.g. To catch the train I must get up at six.To catch the train I must get up at six. Must we come to school tomorrow?Must we come to school tomorrow? But he had to wait a quarter of an hour.But he had to wait a quarter of an hour.

2. Prohibition. In this meaning must is used in negative sentences and is followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.

e.g. e.g. You must not talk aloud in the reading-hall.You must not talk aloud in the reading-hall. You don’t have to learn the poem by heart.You don’t have to learn the poem by heart. Must we come to school tomorrow? No, you Must we come to school tomorrow? No, you

needn’t.needn’t.3. Order or advice. In these meanings must is used with

the Indefinite Infinitive in affirmative and negative sentences.

e.g. e.g. Tomorrow you must come to school at eight.Tomorrow you must come to school at eight. You must not read this book. It is not You must not read this book. It is not

interesting.interesting.

4. Supposition implying assurance. In these meaning must is used with all forms of the infinitive but only in affirmative sentences. The Continuous Infinitive refers to the present. The Perfect Infinitive refers to the past. The Indefinite Infinitive is used with reference to the present if the verb has no Continuous form.

The verb must denoting supposition never refers to the future and is not used in negative sentences.

e.g. e.g. They must be surrounding the house.They must be surrounding the house. He must be eighty years old.He must be eighty years old. He must have caught cold.He must have caught cold.

Should and oughtShould and ought The verbs should and ought have almost the same modal meaning.The verbs should and ought have The verbs should and ought have the following meanings:the following meanings:1. They express moral obligation, abvisability or desirability from the point of view of the speaker.In combination with the Indefinite Infinitive they refer to the present or future. e.g. You ought to go to the e.g. You ought to go to the moviesmovies more.more. Kate is in hospital. You Kate is in hospital. You should should visit her.visit her.

With the Continuous Infinitive they refer to the present, sometimes to the moment of speaking.e.g. e.g. You oughtn’t to be working for You oughtn’t to be working for thosethose people.people. I think we ought to be starting.I think we ought to be starting.

The combination of the Perfect Infinitive with the affirmative form of should and ought shows that an action which is considered desirable was not carried out. The Perfect Infinitive with the negative form of should or ought shows that an action which is considered undesirable was carried out.e.g. You should have sent her to school.e.g. You should have sent her to school. He ought to have waited for you.He ought to have waited for you. You shouldn’t have left her.You shouldn’t have left her. We have done things we ought not to have We have done things we ought not to have done.done.

2. The verbs should and ought are sometimes used to denote supposition bordering on assurance though the verb must is mostly used for this purpose.

e.g. e.g. He ought to be able to do something.He ought to be able to do something. You ought to be a happy wife.You ought to be a happy wife.3. The verb should is used in rhetorical questions

beginning with why to express astonishment or indignation.

e.g. e.g. Why should I feel guilty about it?Why should I feel guilty about it? Why shouldn’t I go for a walk?Why shouldn’t I go for a walk?

To haveTo haveUnlike other modal verbs the verb to have has the infinitive, the participles and gerund. The interrogative and negative forms of the modal verb to have in the Present Indefinite and in the Past Indefinite are formed by means of the auxiliary verb to do.e.g. e.g. Do we have to sleep with him Do we have to sleep with him inin here?here? You don’t have to go in.You don’t have to go in. You did not have to think about You did not have to think about it.it.

The verb to have has the following meanings:The verb to have has the following meanings:1. To have as a modal verb expresses obligation or

necessity depending on circumstances.e.g. e.g. I have to get up the next morning at I have to get up the next morning at

seven.seven. I had to sell most of my things.I had to sell most of my things.2. The expression to have got is also used with

modal meaning expressing obligation or necessity.

e.g. e.g. I’ve got to get up early.I’ve got to get up early. Have you got to get up early?Have you got to get up early?

To beTo beTo be as a modal verb is used in two tenses: the Present Indefinite and the Past Indefinite.e.g. e.g. He is to come at five.He is to come at five. He was to come at five.He was to come at five.The present tense of to be can be followed only by the Indefinite Infinitive. The Perfect Infinitive can be used with the past tense of to be to show that the action was not carried out.e.g. e.g. He was to have come at five.He was to have come at five.

The verb to be has the following The verb to be has the following meanings:meanings:

1. Obligation resulting from a previous agreement, plan, schedule, time-table, etc.

e.g. e.g. We were to work two hours everyWe were to work two hours every morning.morning. We are to meet at the theatre. We are to meet at the theatre.

2. Order or instruction.e.g. e.g. You are to go to sleep.You are to go to sleep. You’re not to come here any You’re not to come here any

more.more. The medicine is to be kept in a The medicine is to be kept in a

coolcool dark place.dark place.3. Possibility. In this case to be is mostly

used with the Passive Infinitive.e.g. e.g. He was not to be found.He was not to be found. They were to be seen upon theThey were to be seen upon the principal streets.principal streets.

ShallShall

The verb to be has the following meanings:The verb to be has the following meanings:1. In affirmative and negative sentences the modal

verb shall is used in the second and third persons to express an order, warning, threat, promise.

e.g. e.g. You shall go into the dining-room first.You shall go into the dining-room first. You shall not do that again.You shall not do that again. Whatever I know, you shall know.Whatever I know, you shall know.

The modal verb shall is used with the Indefinite Infinitive which denotes an action referring to the future.

2. In interrogative sentences the modal verb shall is used in the first and third persons to get an order or instruction from the person addressed.

e.g. e.g. Shall I come to see you there?Shall I come to see you there? Shall I turn on the lights for Shall I turn on the lights for

you?you? Shall he go home?Shall he go home?

Will and wouldWill and wouldThe verbs will and would have the following The verbs will and would have the following

meanings:meanings:1. The principal meaning of the modal verbs will

and would is that of will, intention, determination. In this meaning will and would are used with the first person in affirmative and negative sentences.

e.g. e.g. We will help you.We will help you. I won’t go there.I won’t go there. I often write him but he won’t answer.I often write him but he won’t answer.

2. In interrogative sentences will and would are used to express a polite request.

e.g. e.g. Will you have a cup of tea?Will you have a cup of tea? Won’t you sit down?Won’t you sit down? Would you help me?Would you help me? Would you like some coffee?Would you like some coffee?

3. If will and would used in negative sentences refer to lifeless things, they show that the thing fails to perform its function.

e.g. e.g. The knife won’t cut.The knife won’t cut. The window wouldn’t open.The window wouldn’t open.4. Will and would as modal verbs can be used in

adverbial clauses of condition.e.g. e.g. If you will allow me, I will see you If you will allow me, I will see you

home.home.

NeedNeedThe verb need expresses necessity. It can be used both as a modal and as a notional verb.As a modal verb need forms its interrogative and negative forms without the verb to do and is followed by the infinitive without the particle to.e.g. e.g. You need not trouble about that at all.You need not trouble about that at all. You needn’t hurry.You needn’t hurry. Need we go there?Need we go there? I’ll need this magazine.I’ll need this magazine.

The Perfect Infinitive used with the verb need shows that an unnecessary action has been performed.e.g. e.g. You needn’t have done this You needn’t have done this exercise exercise in written form.in written form. I needn’t have told it at that I needn’t have told it at that moment.moment.

DareDareThe verb dare means to have the courage or impertinence to do something. It is used mostly in interrogative and negative sentences.e.g. e.g. How dare you say it?How dare you say it? For a while he dared not move.For a while he dared not move. Neither George nor I dared to turn round.Neither George nor I dared to turn round.