Morphology handout 5 January, 2015MODAL VERBSGROUP 1CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ABLE TOABILITY

Modal verbUseSample sentence

CAN*The existence of ability** sense verbs

CANNOT/CANTLack of ability** sense verbs

IS/ARE ABLE TO Surprising present ability, orOvercoming a difficulty is involved Not used in passive

We will be able to ski after this course.

Where can/could is grammatically impossible Perfect aspect Continuous aspect infinitives

Negative : UNABLE TO common in formal English

COULD Ability in the past

In questions

Sentences with Im sorry I could only buy the ingredients, not cook the meal as well.After a long day Ss could hardly speak coherently.

WAS/WERE ABLE TOUse of ability or specific occasionMichael Jackson was able to do Moonwalk. could

COULD/MIGHT HAVE + past participle ability not used in the past

Opportunity not taken

= would have been able to

To make criticism

COULDNT HAVE + past participle+ comparative adjectiveEmphasize past action or feeling

POSSIBILITY, DEDUCTION, and SPECULATION

CAN

MAYGenerally possible things (we know that they may occur)

In academic English

MAYMIGHTCOULD

+ well Specific possibilities (= perhaps, maybe)

Deduction based on experience or on evidence

The possibility is quite strongThe grades may well be already uploaded on Venus system.

COULD MIGHT Possibilities which depend on certain conditions

CAN/COULDSpecific possibilities- in WH-questions Who can/could it be in the office at 7 am?

with adverbs: only, hardlyIt can/could only be the secretary at this hour.

MIGHTMore tentative question

CANTCOULDNT Things we know are impossible

Make negative deductions

Something is impossible because we are unwilling to do it

MIGHT NOTMAY NOTWhen something is not possibly the case

! mightnt may not

PAST

COULD

MIGHTGeneral possibility in the past

In scientific and academic EnglishA lot more children could dance ballroom dances ten years ago.Hungarian landlords might have several estates in the 17th century.

COULD HAVESpecific past possibilityMother could have transferred my tuition fee, I dont know.

MIGHT HAVE Specific past possibility Past opportunity not takenShe might have stolen the pen, I dont know.

I might have majored in psychology but my parents couldnt afford the tuition fee.

CANT HAVECOULDNT HAVE Negative deduction about the pastThey cant have fixed the radiator , its still not working.

Surprise or disbelief

MAY/Might NOT HAVELess certain about the deduction we make

FUTURE

WILL BE ABLE TOWONT BE ABLE TOSmth will be (im)possible in the future

MAY, MIGHT, COULDLess certain predictions

Could - possibility is weaker than with m

MAY/MIGHTHAVE + past participlePossible completed action by a time in the future

ARRANGEMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, OFFERS, ETC.

CANCOULDBE ABLE TOPossible arrangements for a time in the future

CAN, COULD Informal and tentativeSee table 2

MAYMIGHTThe possible arrangements for a time in the future is uncertain

Formal and tentative See table 2

Degree of formalityoffersrequestssuggestions

Can I help you?Can you close the door?We can try that new caf.

I could carry the bag for youCould you pass me the salt?You could lose some weight.

May I help you?Might I be of any assistance?You might bring the projector while youre in the office.You might give your girlfriend a ring.

Table 2. suggestions, offers and requests

Can alwaysCould alwaysAlternative or tentative suggestion

Might as wellSuggestion = theres no better choice available

ASKING FOR AND GIVING/REFUSING PERMISSION

PRESENT

CAN/CANT

MAY, MAY NOT permission granted or refused

permission subject to external authority (e.g. law)

formal situations

COULDMIGHTAsk permission in a more tentative way

PAST

COULDCOULDNTGeneral permission in the past

WAS/WERE ALLOWED TOPermission on a specific occasion in the pastLast year, 2nd year English majors were allowed to use dictionaries during exams.

GROUP 2MUST, SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAVE TO, NEED TOOBLIGATION AND NECESSITYFORMMustHave (got) toNeed toShould/ought to

PresentMustNeed/needs toShould/ought to

Past Had (got) toNeeded to

Futuremust

Need to and have to are. Modal verbs:***Tense/forms Sample sentence

I had to come back to Oradea on the 4th because I had classes on the 5th.

We must/will have to take an examination in Morphology.

It is nerve racking to have to wait until grades for the exam are communicated.

Having to study for exams is all we have to do in January.

Modal perfect: should have + past participle /ought to have + past participle

Modal verbUseSample sentence

SHOULD HAVE + past participleOUGHT TO HAVE + past participlePast meaning of should, ought to

NEEDUsed without to in negatives and questionsIsnt this enough? Need I say anything else? You need not meet me at the railway station.

NEED TO/ HAVE TO Alternative to needDo you need to shout so?You dont need to/have to turn the projector on.

MUSTHAVE TONEED TOCan be used with a passive phrasePapers must/have to be corrected by the end of January.

OBLIGATION

MUST/HAVE TOcommon form

Have to- obligation outside our control

Must obligation imposed by the speaker

must Give strong personal opinion

Impose obligation on oneself

Give instructions

Face-to-face:

ShouldOught to Alternative to must Weaker, Subjective/moral obligationYou should greet your teachers when you meet them in the school.

Need toFuture external obligationYou will need to take the tram after class because its already dark outside.

Have got to External obligation like have to More informal More common in speech than writing Rare in US EnglishHave we got to watch the movie tonight?

Should/ought to+ have+past participle Unfulfilled obligation in the pastYou should have saved some money to buy a new phone.You ought to have studied more to pass the exam.

NECESSITY

Need toMustHave toRequirement other than commands, rules, lawsOne needs to/must/has to drink 2 liters of water a day.

Need can be used without to in questionsNeed you really eat that much?

Need vb-ingNecessity w/o suggesting who should deal with itThat poor bird this cage needs cleaning.

Other forms of expressing obligation

Be toOrder from a person of authorityInternet users are to pay a monthly fee for the service.

Obliged toRequired toIn formal contextStudents are obliged to get a passing grade in order to complete a course.Students are required to participate actively in seminars.

Supposed toLesser obligationObligation frequently ignored

Be liable toObligation in legal contextMotorists caught speeding are liable to pay a fine.

PROHIBITION AND CRITICISMmust notcannotOther formsShould not/ought not to

PresentMustntCantMay notIs/are not allowed toShouldnt/oughtnt to

Past -CouldntWas/were not allowed toShouldnt have (done)Oughtnt have (done)

FutureMustntCantMay notWill not be allowed toShouldnt/oughtnt to

Must notProhibition imposed by speaker or writer

SHOULDNT/OUGHTNT TOWeaker, often moral prohibition

MAY NOTBE NOT ALLOWEDProhibition by external authority(mustnt too strong)

MUST NOT HAVE + past partic. Present prohibition that relates to the pastCandidates for the scholarship must not have turned the age of 35.

COULDNT/WASNT ALLOWED TOAt the age of 17 we couldnt buy cigarettes because we were underage.

SHOULDNT/OUGHT NOT TO HAVE + past participleCriticize a past action

Wont be allowed to After 10 pm we wont be allowed to stay in the building.

ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION AND NECESSITYNot have toNeed not

PresentDo/does not have toNeed not, do/does not need to

Past Did Did not

FutureWill notWill not

Dont have toDont need toLack of external obligation

Dont need toNeednt

Past forms:Absence of necessity felt by the speakerNeednt speakers opinion

Didnt need to we dont know whether the action happened or notNeednt have done

Neednt have + past part.Action happened but it was unnecessary

Wont have toWont need toNeedntAbsence of obligation in the .In 3rd year we wont have to do gym.

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICEmust ShouldOught toHad better

PresentMust (not)Should (not)Ought (not) toHad better (not)

FutureMust (not)Should (not)Ought (not) toHad better (not)

Must Strong recommendations and advice

SHOULDOUGHT TOLess emphatic recommendationChildren should spend less time playing computer games.

The public opinion ought not to be disregarded.

Had betterThe best thing to be done in a situation-urgency, warning, threatYou had better study for the exam!

LOGICAL DEDUCTION AND PROBABILITYmusthave (got) toShould

PresentMust. (got) toShould (not)

Past Must have + past participle. (got) toShould not have + past participle

FutureMust. (got) toShould (not)

Must Speaker believes to be true based on evidenceOpposite: cantThis must be that house its 55 Maple Street.This cant be it I thought it would be bigger.

Have (got) toEmphatic logical deductionThere has got to be some mistake, this is not my coat.

Must have + past partic.Logical deduction about the past

Negative: cant/couldnt have + past partic.My neighbour had loud music on yesterday. (S)he .

ShouldOught toProbabilityPrior knowledge

ShouldntOught not toPrior knowledge

WillPredict negative, unpleasant situation shouldIf it keeps raining therell be problems in traffic.

Should (not)/ ought (not) to have + past participle

Probability of an action in the pastThe train/coach should have arrived hours ago.

GROUP 3WILL, WOULD, SHALLPREDICTION AND CERTAINTY

Modal verbUseSample sentence

WILL/WONTPredictions about the future

Would/ wouldntPrediction about the future that was made in the past Use related to reported speech

WILL/WONTPrediction about the present based on experience or knowledge

We believe smth is certain in the presentIts 12 oclock in Romania so Granny will have lunch now in Hungary.

Certainty about smth ongoing: -ingThe 1st year Ss will be having a hard time stepping in the footsteps of present 2nd year.

Will have We feel certain that it happened but do not actually know

= Must have done

Negative: wont have + past participle Mustnt have + past participleIm sorry I could only buy the ingredients, not cook the meal as well.After a long day Ss could hardly speak coherently.

CHARATERISTICS, HABITS, and ROUTINES

PRESENT

WILL/WONTActions that have become routine, predictableEvery class starts the same way: shell call the roll.

Habits and characteristicsStudents will always sit in the last row.

To talk about characteristics of capacity or abilityThe Olympic stadium in Sydney will hold 110,000 people.

Describe an annoying habit or to make a criticism no contraction!I like the 2nd year but they will always chatter during class.

Criticize inanimate objects *for no or little annoyance use present simpleMy computer wont stop making that weird noise!

PAST

WouldWouldnt

Habits in the past

Annoying habits in the past

Criticize inanimate objects

WILLINGNESS and REFUSAL

WILLWillingness to do smth

= be willing toIf youll follow me please, .

Wont Shant unwillingnessI shant lend you any money.She wont do as a I say.

WouldWouldntWillingness or refusal in the past (general willingness not on 1 specific occasion)My parents would always see me off when I came back for the week in 1st year.

Would notRefusal of a single occasion in the pastThe teacher wouldnt change the date of the exam in January.

OTHER USES OF WILL/SHALL/WOULD

OFFERS AND PROMISES

WILL/SHALL

offers

shall: more tentative offers - questions

will: promises

Will / wont/ wouldOffer smth to sm1Will you take sugar with your coffee?Wont you like some sugar?Would you have a piece of cake as well?

SUGGESTIONS

SHALLWith we in questionsShall we dance?

With question word ask for suggestion, adviceWhat shall we do with the drunken sailor?

US English should instead of shall for suggestionsShould I stay?

In question tags after letsLets talk about smth else, shall we?

Wouldsuggestions or answers to invitationsIt would be a good idea to have an oral exam.

REQUESTS

WillInformal with people we know

More insistent: will you in question tag(the answer is expected to be YES)

Would More tentative or polite requests

Orders and instructions

Will/shallOrders and informal instructionsYou will clean the blackboard.

Rules You will stop writing at 10:30.

DISAGREEING

Would/WouldntPoliteI wouldnt go there.

DESIRES AND PREFERENCES

would+ verbs of liking and preference for desires we can realizeWe would love to come to your party.

Would + ratherPreference

Use of objectIts raining so I would rather stay in the house than go out tonight.I would like you to call me.

HYPOTHETICAL WOULD

PRESENT/FUTURE

Would+be/vbs of liking desire fulfillment impossible or improbable

It would be so nice if it snowed!I would like a piece of cheesecake.

Would like toUnfulfilled desireI would like to stay in a five-star hotel.!!!!I like to stay in a five-star hotel.

Wish + wouldDesire for another person not to do smthI wish you wouldnt chatter so much during class!

PAST

Would/ wouldnt +have + past participleIt would have been best if you invited her too.

Perfect infinitiveIn British EnglishIt would have been best to have invited her too.