MOdals Auxilary

8/10/2019 MOdals Auxilary

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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:

I canride a horse. ability

e canstay with my brother when we are in !aris. opportunity

he cannotstay out after #$ !%.permission

Canyou hand me the stapler& request

'ny child cangrow up to be president.possibility

Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below tolearn how "can" behaves in different contexts.

%odal (se!ositive )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast .

* )uture

-egative )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast .

* )uture

ou can also use:

can

general ability

#. I can spea/ Chinese.

+. 0I)1 12 "C2(34"

I could spea/ Chinese

when I was a /id.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"

I will be able to spea/Chinese by the time I

finish my course.

#. I can6t spea/ wahili.

+. 0I)1 12 "C2(34"

I couldn6t spea/ wahili.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"

I won6t be able to spea/wahili.

be able to

canability during a

specific event

#. ith a burst ofadrenaline, people can

pic/ up cars.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

#. Even with a burst ofadrenaline, people can6t

pic/ up something that

heavy.

be able to


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12"ith a sudden burst of

adrenaline, he was able to

lift the car off the child6s

leg.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"

ith a sudden burst ofadrenaline, he will be able

to lift the car.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E12"

Even the weight lifter,

couldn6t lift the car off the

child6s leg.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"

Even three men wor/ingtogether won6t be able to

lift the car.

can

opportunity

#. I have some free time. Ican help her now.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"I had some free time

yesterday. I was able to

help her at that time.

. I6ll have some free timetomorrow. I can help her

then.

#. I don6t have any time. I

can6t help her now.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E

12"I didn6t have time

yesterday. I wasn6t able to

help her at that time.

. I won6t have any timelater. I can6t help her then.

be able to

can

permission

#. I can drive usan6s carwhen she is out of town.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E

'332E4 12 "I was allowed to drive

usan6s car while she was

out of town last wee/.

. I can drive usan6s carwhile she is out of town

next wee/.

#. I can6t drive usan6s carwhen she is out of town.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E

'332E4 12 "I wasn6t allowed to drive

usan6s car while she was

out of town last wee/.

. I can6t drive usan6s carwhile she is out of town

next wee/.

may

can

request

Can I have a glass of

water&

Can you give me a lift to

school&

Can6t I have a glass of

water&

Can6t you give me a lift to

school&

could, may


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Requests usually refer tothe near future.

Requests usually refer tothe near future.

can

possibility,impossibility

'nyone can become rich

and famous if they /nowthe right people.

3earning a language can

be a real challenge.

This use is usually a

generalization or a

supposition.

It can6t cost more than a

dollar or two.

ou can6t be 789 I thought

you were about # years

old.

This use is usually a

generalization or a

supposition.

could


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Could

"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to ma/esuggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditionalsentences as theconditional form of "can."

Examples:

Extreme rain couldcause the river to flood the city.possibility

-ancy coulds/i li/e a pro by the age of ##.past ability

ou couldsee a movie or go out to dinner.suggestion

CouldI use your computer to email my boss& request

e couldgo on the trip if I didn6t have to wor/ this wee/end. conditional

Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to

learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.

%odal (se

!ositive )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

-egative )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

ou can

also use:

could

possibility

#. ;ohn could be the one whostole the money.

+. ;ohn could have been the one

who stole the money.

. ;ohn could go to


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. If I had more time this winter,

I could travel around the world.

. Even if I had more time thiswinter, I couldn6t travel around

the world.

could

suggestion

#. -2 !=EE-1 )2=%

+. ou could have spent your

vacation in 0awaii.

. ou could spend yourvacation in 0awaii.

-2 -E>'1I?E )2=%

could

past ability

I could run ten miles in mytwenties.

I could spea/ Chinese when Iwas a /id.

"Could" cannot be used in

positive sentences in which youdescribe a momentary or one-

time ability.

esterday, I could lift the couch

by myself.ot Correct

I couldn6t run more than a mile in

my twenties.

I couldn6t spea/ wahili.

"Could" can be used in negative

sentences in which you describea momentary or one-time ability.

esterday, I couldn6t lift the

couch by myself. Correct

be able

to

couldpolite

request

Could I have something todrin/&

Could I borrow your stapler&

Requests usually refer to the

near future.

Couldn6t he come with us&

Couldn6t you help me with thisfor


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Had Better

"0ad better" is most commonly used to ma/e recommendations. It can also be

used to express desperate hope as well as warn people.

Examples:

ou had betterta/e your umbrella with you today. recommendation

1hat bus had betterget here soon9 desperate hope

ou had betterwatch the way you tal/ to me in the future9 warning

Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below tolearn how "had better" behaves in different contexts.

(se

!ositive )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . *)uture

-egative )orms


ou canalso use:

had better

recommendation

#. 0I)1 12 "02(34" 2=

"2(>01 12"

!eople should unplug toastersbefore they clean them.

+. 0I)1 12 "02(34

0'?E" 2= "2(>01 12

0'?E"ou should have unplugged

the toaster before you tried to

clean it.

. ou had better unplug the

toaster before you try to clean

it.

#. 0I)1 12 "02(34"

2= "2(>01 12"

!eople shouldn6t cleantoasters without unplugging

them first.

+. 0I)1 12 "02(34

0'?E" 2= "2(>01 120'?E"

ou shouldn6t have cleaned

the toaster withoutunplugging it first.

. ou had better not clean

the toaster until you unplug

should,

ought to


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it.

had better

desperate hope,

warning

1he movie had better end

soon.

1hey had better be here

before we start dinner.

$esperate hopes and

warnings usually refer to thenear future.

1hey had better not be late.

1hey had better not forget1om6s birthday gift.

$esperate hopes and

warnings usually refer to the

near future.

"Had better" is often simply pronounced as "better"in spo/en English.


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Have o

"0ave to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.

Examples:

1his answer has tobe correct. certainty

1he soup has tobe stirred continuously to prevent burning. necessity

1hey have toleave early. obligation

Using "Have to" in Present, Past, and Future

"0ave to" behaves quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how

"have to" behaves in different contexts.

(se

!ositive )orms


-egative )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture

oucan

alsouse:

have to

certainty

#. 1hat has to be ;erry. 1hey said

he was tall with bright red hair.

+. 1hat has to have been the

right restaurant. 1here were no

other restaurants on the street.

. -2-E

#. 0I)1 12 "%(1"

1hat must not be ;erry. 1hey said he

has blond hair, not red hair.

+. 0I)1 12 "%(1"

1hat must not have been the right

restaurant. I guess there was another

one around there somewhere.

. -2-E

must,have

got to

have tonecessity

#. he has to read four boo/s forthis literature class.

#. he doesn6t have to read ">rapes ofrath." It6s optional reading for extra

credit.

must


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+. he had to finish the firstboo/ before the midterm.

. he will have to finish theother boo/s before the final

exam.

+. he didn6t have to write a critiqueof "1he carlet 3etter." he had to

give a presentation to her class.

. he won6t have to ta/e any other

literature classes. 'merican 3iterature#$# is the only required course.

REMEMBER: "!o not have to" vs. "Must not"

"4o not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something. "%ust not" suggests thatyou are prohibited from doing something.

Examples:

ou must noteat that.#t is forbidden, it is not allowed.

ou dont have toeat that. %ou can if you want to, but it is not necessary.


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Have #ot o

"0ave got to" is used to express necessity and obligation.

Examples:

4rivers have got toget a license to drive a car in the (. necessity I have got tobe at wor/ by :$ '%. obligation

Using "Have #ot to" in Present, Past, and Future


learn how "have got to" behaves in different contexts.

(se

!ositive )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

-egative )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture

ou can

also use:

have got tonecessity

#. !eople have got to be on

time if they want to get aseat in the crowded theater.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"

ou had to be on time if you

wanted to get a seat in thecrowded theater.

. ou have got to be there

on time tonight if you want

to get a seat in the crowdedtheater.

#. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"!eople don6t have to be there on time

to get a seat.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"

ou didn6t have to be there on time toget a seat.

. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"

ou won6t have to be there on time to

get a seat.

have to,must

haven6t got 0aven6t you got to be there by @:$$& 4on6t


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to

future

obligation

0aven6t you got to finish that pro


12/25

maygive

permission

#. ou may leave the table now

that you6re finished with your

dinner.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332E412"

ou were allowed to leave the

table after you finished yourdinner.

. ou may leave the table when

you finish your dinner.

#. ou may not leave the table.ou6re not finished with your

dinner yet.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332E4

12"ou were not allowed to leave the

table because you hadn6t finished

your dinner.

. ou may not leave the table

until you are finished with your

dinner.

can

mayrequest

permission

%ay I borrow your eraser&

%ay I ma/e a phone call&

Requests usually refer to the

near future.

-2 -E>'1I?E )2=%can,

might


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Might

"%ight" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in

conditionalsentences. English spea/ers can also use "might" to ma/e suggestions or requests,

although this is less common in 'merican English.

Examples:

our purse mightbe in the living room.possibility

If I didn6t have to wor/, I mightgo with you. conditional

ou mightvisit the botanical gardens during your visit.suggestion

MightI borrow your pen& request

Using "Might" in Present, Past, and Future%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below tolearn how "might" behaves in different contexts.

%odal (se!ositive )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

-egative )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

ou can

also use:

might

possibility

#. he might be on the bus. I thin/

her car is having problems.

+. he might have ta/en the bus.

I6m not sure how she got to wor/.

. he might ta/e the bus to get

home. I don6t thin/ 5ill will be

#. he might not be on the

bus. he might be wal/inghome.

+. he might not have ta/enthe bus. he might have

wal/ed home.

could,

may
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html


14/25

able to give her a ride.. he might not ta/e the bus.he might get a ride from

5ill.

mightconditional

of may

#. If I entered the contest, I mightactually win.

+. If I had entered the contest, Imight actually have won.

. If I entered the contest

tomorrow, I might actually win.

(nfortunately, I can6t enter it.

#. Even if I entered thecontest, I might not win.

+. Even if I had entered the

contest, I might not havewon.

. Even if I entered the

contest tomorrow, I might not

win.

might

suggestion

#. -2 !=EE-1 )2=%

+. ou might have tried the cheese

ca/e.

. ou might try the cheeseca/e.

#. -2 !=EE-1 )2=%

+. !'1 )2=%(-C2%%2-

. ou might not want to eat

the cheese ca/e. It6s very

calorific.

could

might

requestA5ritishformB

%ight I have something to drin/&

%ight I borrow the stapler&

Requests usually refer to the nearfuture.

-E>'1I?E )2=%(-C2%%2-

could,may,can


15/25

Must

"%ust" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express

necessity or strong recommendation, although native spea/ers prefer the more flexible form

"have to." "%ust not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe spea/ersprefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than

prohibit.

Examples:

This mustbe the right address! certainty Students mustpass an entrance examination to study at this school.

necessity

You musttake some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation

Jenny, you mustnot play in the street!prohibition

Using "Must" in Present, Past, and Future


learn how "must" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use

ositie "orms

#. $ resent %. $ ast

&. $ "uture

'egatie "orms

#. $ resent %. $ ast &.

$ "uture

You can

also

use(

must #. That must be Jerry. #. That must not be Jerry. )e hae to


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certainty

They said he *as tall *ith

bright red hair.

+. 1hat must have been the

right restaurant. 1here are noother restaurants on thisstreet.

. -2 )(1(=E )2=%

is supposed to hae red hair.

+. 1hat must not have been theright restaurant. I guess there is

another one around heresomewhere.

. -2 )(1(=E )2=%

must not

prohibition

You must not s*im in that

rier. +ts full of crocodiles.

ou must not forget to ta/e yourmalaria medication while your

are in the tropics.

(rohibition usually refer to the

near future.

must

strong

recommenda

tion

A'mericans

prefer

the form

"should."B

#. You must take some

time o- and get some

rest.

+. 0I)1 12 "02(34"

ou should have ta/en sometime off last wee/ to get some

rest.

. 0I)1 12 "02(34"

ou should ta/e some timeoff next wee/ to get some

rest.

#. You mustnt drink so

much. +ts not good for your

health.

+. 0I)1 12 "02(34"

ou shouldn6t have drun/ somuch. 1hat caused the accident.

. 0I)1 12 "02(34"

ou shouldn6t drin/ at the party.ou are going to be the

designated driver.

should

must

necessity

A'mericans

prefer

the form"have to."B

#. You must hae a permit

to enter the national

park.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e had to have a permit to

enter the par/.

. e must get a permit to

#. S)+"T T /)012 T/

3e dont hae to get a

permit to enter the nationalpark.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"

e didn6t have to get a permit toenter the national par/.

hae to


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enter the par/ next wee/.. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e won6t have to get a permit to

enter the national par/.

REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "!o not have to"

"%ust not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "4o not have to" suggests that

someone is not required to do something.

Examples:

You must noteat that. It is forbidden, it is not allowed.

You don't have toeat that. You can if you want to, but it is not necessary.

%ught o

"2ught to" is used to advise or ma/e recommendations. "2ught to" also

expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea thatsomething is deserved. "2ught not" Awithout "to"B is used to advise against doing something,

although 'mericans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."

Examples:

ou ought tostop smo/ing. recommendation

;im ought toget the promotion.#t is e)pected because he deserves it.

1his stoc/ ought toincrease in value.probability

%ar/ ought notdrin/ so much. advice against something *notice there is no "to"+

Using "%ught to" in Present, Past, and Future


learn how "ought to" behaves in different contexts.

%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )orms ou


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#. * !resent +. * !ast

. * )uture

#. * !resent +. * !ast . *

)uture

canalso

use:

ought torecommendation,

advice

#. %argaret ought toexercise more.

+. %argaret ought to have

exercised more so shewould be better prepared

for the marathon.

. %argaret ought to

come to the fitness centerwith us tonight.

#. %argaret ought not exercisetoo much. It might cause in


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4

'hall

"hall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences

with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "hall we go&" "hall" is also

frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe

future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "hall" is much more commonlyheard in 5ritish English than in 'merican English 'mericans prefer to use other forms, although

they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formaliDed language.

Examples:

'hallI help you&suggestion

I shallnever forget where I came from.promise

0e shallbecome our next /ing.predestination

I6m afraid %r. mith shallbecome our new director. inevitability

More E(am)les o* "'hall"

%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )orms ou

can


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alsouse:

shall

future actionA5ritish

formB

I shall be replaced by someone

from the -ew or/ office.I shall be there by :$$.

I shall not be replaced after all.

I shall not be there. I have aprevious obligation.

will

shall

suggestions

hall we begin dinner&

hall we move into the livingroom&

should

shall

volunteering,promising

A5ritishformB

I shall ta/e care of everything foryou.

I shall ma/e the travel

arrangements. 1here6s no need toworry.

I shall never forget you.

I shall never give up the fight

for freedom.

will

shall

inevitabilityA5ritish

formB

%an shall explore the distantregions of the universe.

e shall overcome oppression.

%an shall never give up theexploration of the universe.

0e shall not be held bac/.


21/25

'hould

"hould" is most commonly used to ma/e recommendations or give advice. It

can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.

Examples:

hen you go to 5erlin, you shouldvisit the palaces in !otsdam. recommendation

ou shouldfocus more on your family and less on wor/. advice

I really shouldbe in the office by @:$$ '%. obligation

5y now, they shouldalready be in 4ubai. e)pectation

Using "'hould" in Present, Past, and Future


learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.

%odal (se

!ositive )orms


-egative )orms

#. * !resent +. * !ast. * )uture

ou canalso use:

shouldrecommendation,

#. !eople with high cholesterolshould eat lowfat foods.

#. arah shouldn6tsmo/e so much. It6s not

ought to


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advisability

+. )ran/ should have eaten lowfat

foods. 1hat might have preventedhis heart attac/.

. ou really should start eating

better.

good for her health.

+. arah shouldn6t have

smo/ed so much.

1hat6s what caused her

health problems.

. arah shouldn6t

smo/e when she visits

%artha next wee/.%artha hates when

people smo/e in her

house.

should

obligation

I should be at wor/ before F:$$.

e should return the video before

the video rental store closes.

"hould" can also e)presssomething between

recommendation and obligation.

"e supposed to" e)presses asimilar idea and can easily be

used in the past or in negative

forms.

-2 -E>'1I?E

)2=%

be

supposed

to

should

e)pectation

#. usan should be in -ew or/ by

now.

+. usan should have arrived in-ew or/ last wee/. 3et6s call her

and see what she is up to.

. usan should be in -ew or/ by

next wee/. 0er new


23/25

+ill

"ill" is used with promises or voluntary actions that ta/e place in the future.

"ill" can also be used to ma/e predictions about the future. )or more information on using

"will" and associated exercises, visit the imple )uturesection of our ?erb 1ense 1utorial.

Examples:

I promise that I illwrite you every single day.promise

I illma/e dinner tonight. voluntary action

0e thin/s it illrain tomorrow.prediction

More E(am)les o* "+ill"

%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )ormsou can

also use:

will

future action,

prediction

1he mar/eting director will bereplaced by someone from the -ew

or/ office.

)red will be there by :$$.

1he mar/eting directorwill not be replaced after

all.

)red will not be there. 0e

has a previous obligation.

shall
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html


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willvolunteering,

promising

I will ta/e care of everything for you.I will ma/e the travel arrangements.

1here6s no need to worry.

I will never forget you.I will never give up the

fight for freedom.

shall

+ould

"ould" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves

as the past form of the modal verb "will." 'dditionally, "would" can indicate repetition in thepast. )or more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit the following

tutorials: Conditional 1utorial,)uture in the !ast, and ould 'lways.

Examples:

If he were an actor, he ouldbe in adventure movies. conditional

I /new that she ouldbe very successful in her career.past of "will"

hen they first met, they ouldalways have picnics on the beach. repetition

Using "+ould" in Present, Past, and Future

%odal (se

!ositive )orms


-egative )orms


ou

canalsouse:

wouldconditional

#. If I were president, I would cutthe cost of education.

#. If I were president, I wouldnot raise taxes.
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/would.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/would.html


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+. If I had been president, I wouldhave cut the cost of education.

. If I were elected president next

year, I would cut the cost of

education.

+. If I had been president, Iwould not have raised taxes.

. If I were president, I would

not sign the tax increase next

wee/.

would

past of "will"

I said I would help you.

0e told me he would be herebefore :$$.

I said I wouldn6t help you.

0e told me he would not behere before :$$.

wouldrepetition in

past

hen I was a /id, I would alwaysgo to the beach.

hen he was young, he would

always do his homewor/.

hen I was a /id, I wouldn6t gointo the water by myself.

hen he got older, he would

never do his homewor/.

used

to

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