Transcript MODALS - INTRODUCTION

MODAL VERBS can, could, may, might, must, ought to,
shall, should, will and would:
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are always used before another verb in its infinitive
form without to: He can swim.
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never change – they do not add –s, or –ed or –ing.
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are immediately followed by not in the negative:
You should not (shouldn’t) be late.
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go immediately before the subject in a question:
Could you wake me up?
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PRESENT: must and have to
I must/have to go now or I’ll miss the bus.
We only use must in the present tense. In all other tenses we
use have to:
I had to work every day last week. (past simple)
I will have to work longer hours. (future)
When something is unnecessary we use don’t have to, or
needn’t (NOT mustn’t):
You don’t have to / needn’t take your shoes off inside, but
you can if you want to.
Mustn’t is a prohibition (when it’s wrong to do it, it isn’t
allowed): You mustn’t smoke inside.
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PERMISSION:
Can I sit here?
Could I borrow your phone? (more polite)
May I sit here? (more formal)
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REQUESTS (asking someone else to do something):
Can you / Will you pass me the salt?
Could you tell me where the station is? (more polite)
Would you lend me your camera? (more polite)
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OFFERS (offering help to someone else)
Can I help you?
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You should / ought to start looking for a job.
Should and ought to mean the same but we use should more than
ought to, especially in negative forms and questions:
They shouldn’t let their children watch that.
What should I do?
When we talk about the past , we use
should + have + past participle
I should have told the truth (= it was a good idea but I didn’t)
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How many languages can you
speak?
He could read when he was
three.
She was able to finish on time.
She managed to finish on time
You will be able to operate the
machinery at the end of this
course.
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CAN - present ability
COULD - past ability in
general
WAS/WERE ABLE TO or
MANGED TO – specific
occasion in the past (not
COULD)
WILL BE ABLE TO – future
ability
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I haven’t seen the neighbours
all week. They must be away.
The man in the photo can’t be
Peter because he never wears
a hat.
The letter might be / may be /
could be from Tony.
She might come and see you
tomorrow.
Ed may not know how to find
our house.
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MUST – certainty
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CAN’T – impossibility
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MIGHT / MAY / COULD –
present and future possibility
we use MAY NOT and MIGHT
NOT in negative sentences,
not COULD NOT
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I can’t find my keys. I must
have left them at home.
He can’t/couldn’t have got
there yet because it will take
at least two weeks.
I’m not sure what sort of bird it
was that I saw, but it
may/might/could have been
an eagle.
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MUST / CAN’T / COULDN’T
HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE –
when we are certain about the
situations in the past
MAY / MIGHT / COULD HAVE
+ PAST PARTICIPLE –
possibilities in the past
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What time will you be home tonight? – I’m not sure. I _____ late.
a) might be
b) can be
I can’t find the theatre tickets. They _________ out of my pocket.
a) must have fallen
b) should have fallen
Somebody ran in front of the car as I was driving. Fortunately I
_________ just in time.
a) could have stopped
b) managed to stop
We’ve got plenty of time. We ___________ yet.
a) mustn’t leave
b) needn’t leave
I __________ out but I didn’t feel like it, so I stayed at home.
a) could have gone
b) must have gone
I’m sorry I __________ come to your party last week.
a) couldn’t come
b) shouldn’t come
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What do you think of my theory? - I’m not sure. You ______ right.
a) could be
b) must be
I couldn’t wait for you any longer. I __________, and so I went.
a) must go
b) had to go
Do you know where Liz is? – No, I suppose she ______ shopping.
a) should have gone
b) could have gone
I promised I’d phone Gary this evening. I _________.
a) mustn’t forget
b) don’t have to forget
Why did you leave without me? You _______ for me.
a) must have waited
b) should have waited
You look nice in that jacket, but you hardly ever wear it.
_________ it more often.
a) should wear
b) must have worn