Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs
Carmen Torres
What are modal verbs?
✔ They are: • Ought to
• Can
They are Auxiliary verbs that
• Could
provide additional and specific
• May meaning to the main verb of the
• Might sentence
• Must
• Shall Modal verbs are sometimes
• Should referred to as
• Will Modal Auxiliary verbs because
they help other verbs
• Would
How do we use modals?
S M V
Subject Verb
Example: Mary could play the piano

They do not accept conjugation
They do not need other auxiliary verbs
Form
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative
✔ He can ski He cans ski or He can skis

✔ Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
✔ They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious
Form
Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
to can / caning to must /musting
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to
She must study

We should have gone the other way
He could play football in his youth (general ability)
Form
Modal verbs do not have all the tenses
Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses

Can is completed with be able to
Must is completed with have to
You
Theymust
can come
play the
early
piano
They
You will
hadbetoable
cometoearly
play the
yesterday
piano in the future
What do they express?
They can have more than one meaning
depending on the situations
To understand it better we are going to divide them into
3 categories
4 Single Concept Modal: they have one meaning
4 Double Concept Modal: they have two meanings
4 Modals in past:
past They are used to express a situation in the
past
Categories
Single concept Double Concept Modals in Past
Modals Modals
Will May Would have
Might Must Could have
Should Would Might have
Ought to Shall Should have
Had better Could May have
Can Must have
Single Concept Modal
Modal Concept Examples
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 We ought to know about first aids

recommendation
Had better Warning I had better study or I will fail the test
Double Concept Modal
May (1) Permission May I come in?
May (2) Good probability We may visit Mexico this summer
Must (1) Responsibility Everyone must pay taxes
Must (2) Assumption She didn’t arrive. She must be sick
Would (1) Past (used to) When I was young, I would play
soccer
Would (2) Present unreal I would buy the car but I can’t afford
it
Double Concept Modal
Shall (1) Educated expression Excuse me, I shall go now
Offer Shall I clean it?
Shall (2) Contractual obligation The company shall pay on January 1st
Could (1) Unreal Ability I could go if I had time
Could (2) Past Ability She could play the piano, not anymore
Can (1) Present Ability We can speak English
Can (2) Permission Can I have a sweet?

Modals in the Past
✔ They are modals referred to actions that
happened in the past
MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle
It must have been a difficult decision

They should have invited her to their wedding
Modals in Past : Modal + have + past participle
A last tip
There are few verbs which often serve as

modals too.
These are modal-like verbs
They need to be conjugated

Modals-like verbs
Modal Concept Example
Like to Enjoy I like to watch TV
Want to Desire John wants to buy a car
Need to Necessity We really needed to talk to you
Have to Obligation Susan had to pay the rent
Have got to Have to I’ve got to go now
Look forward to Future plan I look forward to seeing you again

Practise
1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could

3. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can

5. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.
a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to

7. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to

9. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.
a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t

Practise
1. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
3. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to
5. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. wouldc. must d. have to
7. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
9. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t
Practise
1. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?
a. Could b. may c. should d. would
3. You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a
surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
5. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need
7. He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must
More practise
✔ Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the
same meaning.
2. I suggest that you get a good lawyer!
should get a lawyer
You ___________________________________________
4. A university degree isn’t necessary for that job.
needn’t have a university degree for that job
You ___________________________________________
don’t have to have a university…
6. Perhaps my father will pick you up.
may / might pick you up
My father _______________________________________
8. 4. Eating is forbidden in class!
mustn’t eat in class
You ___________________________________________
More practise
✔ Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the
same meaning.
2. Look at his dirty clothes! I’m sure he is a poor person.
must be a poor person
He ____________________________________________
4. I don’t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because there’re
many contradictions.
can’t be true
The legend of Hercules ____________________________
Use your imagination
✔ Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.
2. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things

to do)
3. We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)
4. Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)
5. You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)
6. Peter has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him some
advice)
7. You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for permission
politely)
Possible answers
1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower
2. We have to buy a new notebook
3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin
4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York
5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea
6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?

Modal Verbs

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Modal Verbs

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Modal Verbs

Example: Mary could play the piano

✔ He can ski He cans ski or He can skis

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

She must study

Modal verbs do not have all the tenses

Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses

Might Small probability I might move to Canada some day

Should Recommendation You should go to the doctor

Ought to Formal We ought to know about first aids

May (2) Good probability We may visit Mexico this summer

Must (1) Responsibility Everyone must pay taxes

Must (2) Assumption She didn’t arrive. She must be sick

Could (1) Unreal Ability I could go if I had time

Can (1) Present Ability We can speak English

Can (2) Permission Can I have a sweet?

MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle

It must have been a difficult decision

There are few verbs which often serve as

They need to be conjugated

Want to Desire John wants to buy a car

Need to Necessity We really needed to talk to you

Have to Obligation Susan had to pay the rent

Have got to Have to I’ve got to go now

Look forward to Future plan I look forward to seeing you again

a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could

a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can

a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to

a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to

a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t

2. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things

4. Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)

5. You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)

1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

2. We have to buy a new notebook

5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea

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