modal auxiliary verbs: basic rules ‘The ‘modal auxiliary verbs’ are can. could. may. might, shall, should. will, would, must and. ought. They are used before other verbs, and in tags and short answers. “You can speak Japanese, can't you?” ‘Yes, Tcan.’ “You shouldn't be here, should you? ‘No, [shouldn’t.’ ‘DONT YOURSELF 1 Compare the modal verbs and the ordinary verbs in the examples, and answer the questions. Check your answers in the key. Could you help me? Do you expect to see her? Do you want to stop? He must be happy. He seems to be happy. Tean’t sing. Lhope to see him. Tt may rain. Shall we stop? She will not go home. Ske doesn’t know much, She wants to go home. ‘They didn’t ask to be here. They shouldn't be here. We ought to tell her. 1 Which sort of infinitive is used after modal verbs? Which is the exception? 2 What is special about the third person present (he/she/it ...) of modals? 3 What is special about the question and negative forms of modals? 2. Use infinitives from the box to complete the sentences. be tobe do todo finish tofinish get toget go togo make tomake pass _ topass play to play When will you ___ school? She hopes —__ a new car. Must you __ so much noise? Could you __ the salt? 1 Can you __ the piano? 2 She seems better today. 3 Iwant____ some shopping. 4 Wemay to Francesoon. wNan 3 Make these sentences into questions, and change the pronouns as shown. Example: Tean swim. (you) - Cant you swim? 1 She can stay here. (1) 4 [shall drive. (we) 2 Imust go. (you) 5 He could doit. (she) 3. They will understand. (he) 6 would like to. (you) See ed“But the good news is that you'll never MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS Modal auxiliary verbs have no infinitives or participles. Instead, we use — other expressions like be able to, be allowed to, have to. 4 Can you complete the examples with expressions from the box? ableto — tobeableto been ableto been allowed to haveto tohaveto —hadto He'd like ____ travel abroad more. (NOT He'dtike to-can ...) I'venever __ understand maths. (Not Fve-never-could ...) ‘The child has always —__ go out alone. (NOT Sac ainors cose - .) I'm sorry ___ tell you this ... (NOT F4 We've ___ get new shoes for both the kids. (NoT Weve ) ‘One day, everybody will ___ travel where they want. I'm afraid you will ___ work next weekend. 1 would hate ____ live in a big city. I would have enioved the holiday more if [had ___ speak Spanish. CeNaueene Complete some of these sentences. I’ve never been able to. Idllike to be ableto —__. One day, people will be able to. Twouldn’t like to have to I've always had to__. I've never had to__. When I am President of the World, people will have to___. NouUbeNe uw 6 What do you think are the missing words in the cartoon caption? smoke, drink or drive a car again.”108 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS must, can, may, might: how certain? We can use must to say that: that we | suppose it is certain. The ‘can't, as If Ais bigger than B, and B is bigger than C, then A must be bigger than C. ‘Mary must have a problem — she keeps crying. There's the doorbell. It must be Roger. No, it can’t be Roger. It’s too early. (NOT ... #t-aenustar’t-be Roger ...) Can is used in questions. There's the phone. Who can it be? Rewrite these sentences using must or can't. I’m sure she's at home. Ii I'm certain you're crazy. I know that isn’t Janet — she’s in America. I'm sure she thinks I'm stupid, I bet I look silly in this coat, ‘They're always buying new cars —I'm certain they make a lot of money. i'm sure he’s not a teacher — he’s too well dressed. You're an architect? I'm sure that's an interesting job. I'm sure you're not serious. I know you're joking. I'm sure he’s got another woman: he keeps coming home late. ist he at home. Beosaueenn ow JUMP Boy! “She must be blind. She’s smiling.” Goo, vour ure ‘Must BE DULL. o bMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS 109 She may be at home. (pechaps a 50% chance} ‘Ann might be there too. (a smaller chance) According to the radio, it may rain today. It might ever snow. * 2 Look at the pictures and write sentences with must/may/might/ + can’t, Example: ¥ ‘She must be ill. OR She can’t be well The game may!might not finish before ten. (Pechaps it won't.) The game can't finish before ten. (It's nct possible.)must, should etc: obligation ‘Must is used for orders and for strong suggestions, advice and opinions. Should is used for less strong suggestions, advice and opinions. You must stop smoking or you'll die. You really should stop smoking, you know. It's bad for you. People must realise that the world is in serious trouble. People should drive more carefully. Ought is similar to should, but is followed by to. . People ought to drive more carefully. Orders and instructions can be made more polite by using should. Applications should be sent before 30 June. Which do you think is better — must or should? You know, I think you ___ take a holiday. Tell Mark he tidy his room at once. Visitors are reminded that they ___ keep their bags with them. T'msorry, butyou____ go. We don’t want you here. Ireally ___ go ona diet. I'll start today! I suppose 1 ___ write to Aunt Rachel one of these days. You absolutely check the tyres before you take the car out today. All officers ___ report to the Commanding Officer by midday. You have your hair cut at least once a week. [think men ___ wear jackets and ties in restaurants. Seouauawne = “For your first effort you should write about something you understand. Don’t try to write about yourself.’TON OU RONEN Complete some of these sentences with your own ideas. T think people should T don’t think people should__. I think children should —_. I don’t think children should Lreally must. Peopte really must realise that ___. My father/mother should —__ My husband/wife really must ___. We often use should in questions when we are wondering what to do. Durwn Should I change my job or stay where Lam? Write questions for people who don’t know: how rauch cheese to buy. 7 how tocookacrab. How much cheese should { buy? 8 whether to go to the police. whether to move to London. 9 whether to take a taxi. what she should call her baby. 10 whether to take a holiday. where to put his bicycle. 11 how long to wait. when to pay hec tax bill. 12. what to do at the weekend. whether to invite his mother. Write some similar questions for yourself. Example: Should I go on studying English? “Should we walk upright? Should we continue to live in trees? ‘Should we try to make things? Decisions, decisions!”must and have (got) to: obligation Must usually expresses the feelings and wishes of the speaker/hearer. ‘Have (got) to often expresses obligations that come from somewhere else. Compare: - Imust stop smoking. (I want to.) I’ve got to stop smoking - doctor's orders. ‘Must you wear those dirty jeans? (Is that what you want?) Do you have to wear a tie at work? (Is there a rule?) Put in must or havelhas (got) to. I'mtired, I___ goto bed early. John go to school on Saturdays. We ___ get another dog soon. “This is a great book.’ ‘I____ read it.” ‘Asoldier obey orders. We goto London for a meeting. Tthink we pay in advance. You really ___ visit us soon. 1___ try tospend more time at home. You go through Carlisle on the way to Glasgow. Beauaubens » & 2 Read this with a dictionary; see how must reflects the hearer's wishes. (in a dream, Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard is talking to her two dead husbands, Mr Ogmiore and Mr Pritchard.) ‘MRS 0-P: Tell me your tasks in order. MRO: —_‘Imust put my pyjamasin the drawer marked pyjamas. MRP: I must take my cold bath which is good for me. MRO: I must wear my flannel band to ward off sciatica. mre: I must dress behind the curtain and put on my apron. MRO: I must blow my nose in a piece of tissue-paper which | afterwards burn. I must take my salts which are nature’s friend. I must boil the drinking water because of gerins. Tmust make my herb tea which is free from tannin. T must dust the blinds and then I must raise them. Aut before you let the sun itt usind it wipes its shoes. Dylan Thomas: Under Milk Wood (adapted) Unlike have to, must has no infinitive, participles or past tense. When you leave school you’ have to find a job. (NOT ¥ou2HEsveust ...) don’t like having to cook every evening. We've had to change our plans for the summer. Joe had to go home yesterday. (NOT Joe-mustineusted ...)MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS must not, do not have to etc Students must not leave bicycles in front of the library. Passengers must not speak to the driver. Friday's a holiday ~Tdon't have to work. (NOT Fmustn’t-work:) You needn't pay now — tomorrow's OK. (Not Yowmusén’t-pay-now ..) 1 Complete the sentences, using must not {mustn't or do not {don’t have to. ‘Campers __ play rnusic after 10 p.m. Students ____ ask permission to stay out after midnight. Bicycles ___ be parked in the front courtyard. Residents __ hang washing ont of the windows. British subjects ___ get visas to travel in Western Enrope. Passengers __ lean ont of the windows. You ___ pay for your tickets now. It's rained a lot. so we __ water the garden. You __ disturb your sister while she's working. You —_ knock before you come into my room. Bomusnneene 2 Make sentences, using must not or do not need to. BECIKNINGS ENDs In rugby football | touch the ball with your hands. In tennis lift your stick above your shoulder. In chess hit your opponent below the belt. In boxing pass the ball forwards. In athletics look at other people's cards. In hockey, touch a piece if you aren’t going to move it. In baseball start before the gun. In football hit the ball before it bounces. lnbridge ‘nit the bail afker its second bounce. throw the bat.316 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS. can (ability): special problems Future: We can use can if we are deciding now what to do in the future. In other cases, we have to use will be able to. can see you tomorrow morning for half an hour, One day we will be able to live without wars. (Nor Oneday- we ean live...) Conditional: We can use could to mean ‘would be able to’. You could get a better job if you spoke a foreign language. 1 Put incan or can’t if possible; if not, use could or will be able to. 1 [___pick it up tonight, if that’s convenient. 2. think I___ speak English quite well in a few months. 3 ‘We need some more oil.’ ‘OK, [____ let you have some this week.” 4 DrParker see you al welve on Tuesday. 5 She walk again in a few weeks. 6 If we took the wheels off, we ___ get it through the back door. 7 Doyou think one day people ___ travel to the stars? 8 This week’s no good, but |___ bring the car in next week. 9 If practised a bit. |___ be pretty good at tennis. 10 Ina few years, computers think better than we do. 11 She __ give youa lesson this evening. 12 I’m free at the weekend. so the kids ___ come round. 13 T'll post your letter, but I don’t think the postman ____ read the address. 14 1___ do your job with no trouble at all. 15 We're busy this week, but we repair it by next Thursday. Past: We do not use could to say that we managed to do something on one occasion. Instead, we use, for example. managed to or succeeded in ...ing. Imanaged to get up early today. (NOT Feouldd etre carly-today:) After six hours, we succeeded in getting to the top of the mountain. (Nor 3, ) BUT: She could read when she was four. (Not one occasion.) He couldn't find the ticket office. (He didn’t manage it.)MODAL AUXILIARY VERES Complete the sentences with could, couldn't or managed to. 1_____ speak French really well when I lived in Paris. He ___. repair the car, but it took him a long time. AtlastI make her understand what J wanted. ‘We wanted to go to the opera, but we ___ get tickets. {_____ swim across the river, but it was harder than I expected. All three children ___ ride as well as they ___ walk. Fortunately. 1 get her address from her office. T don’t know how the cat ___ get through the window, but it did. He ___ already walk when he was ten months old. After the accident. che somehow ___ walk home. BSowmuaunene nw We often use can and could with see, hear. feel. smell and taste. with the same meaning as a progressive form. Team see Susan coming. (SOT Ervseeing-) What's in the soup? | cam taste something funny. Through the window. I could hear a man singing. Complete the sentences. 1 something burning. What do you Ubiuk itis? He opened his eyes, but to his horror he __ nothing. ‘Through my study window I __ mountains. 1___ Susan practising the piano next door: ‘This isn't my coflee —1__ sugar in it. He thought he ____ something crawling up his leg, but when he looked he anything. Spring is coming: you ___ snowdrops in all the gardens. 8 [__ the cats fighting in the kitchen: can you go and put them out? sounds nice. OUR eN ew 4. Look around you, and write five sentences beginning I can see ... Listen to the noises around you, and write five sentences beginning I can hear ... 1 can see why they made February the shortest month of the year.” rami by Drucker, © 1971 “The New Yorker Magazne. Ine.116 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS can, could, may: permission etc ‘Cant I ask you a question?” “Yes, of course you ean: I'm sorry, you can't come in kere. We also use could to ask for permission; it is more polite. Could I have a look at your newspaper? May is used in the same way. It is more formal and less common. May I help you, sir? We use can and could (but not usually may) to talk about what is normally allowed. Can you park in this street on Sundays? (Not May you-park ..2) Ps 1 Rewrite these sentences using can, could or may. Td like to talk to you for a minute, Bill. (friendly) Can Cal tw you for a minute. BIE I would like to use your phone. (more polite) 1 would like to stop work early today. (Jorma!) ‘Take my bike if you want to. Are children allowed to go into pubs? I don’t want you to come into my room. I would like to speak to Jane, if she’s there. (polite) I would like to have a beer. (friendly) Are students allowed to use this library? I would like to pay you tomorrow. (polite) Beoanousen ~ ‘Dad, can I borrow the gun tonight?” Draving by Mankafé © 1993 ‘The iew Yorker Magazine neMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS 437 We use can in offers, requests and instructions. meth Cam I carry your bag? Tean baby-sit for you this evening if you like. Can you put ihe children to bed? When you've finished the beds you can clean up the kitchen. Could sounds less definite: it is common in suggestions and requests. Teould do some shopping for you, if that would help. "I'm bored.’ “You could go for a bike ride.” Could you help me for a few rainutes? Common structures in polite requests: Could you possibly help me? I wonder if you could help me? 2. Rewrite these sentences, beginning with Ican .., CanI...? You can..., Can you ...? Could you ...? or I wonder if you could ...? Would you like me to take your coat? Start cooking supper now, please. I'd be glad if you would translate this for me. (friendly) T'dbe glad if you would translate this for me. (polite) Why not watch a video if you don’t know what to do? Why don't you spend the day with us if you're free on Saturday? I don't mind feeding the horses, if you'd like me to. I'd be glad if you would lend me £5. (polite) Tell me when it’s time to go. (friendly) I'd be grateful if you would tell me when it's time to go. (polite) Sveanausune 3 Put the words of the caption in the right order. “Ellis. here my and come could pass coffee me in you Miss ”118 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS, will: willingness etc really will give up smoking tomorrow! Well] by the tickets if you'll make supper after the show. There's the doorbell. PH go. (NOT te) Fi have ... is often used when people order in cafés, restaurants etc. Fi have a black coffee, please. ‘ Will you ...? can introduce instructions, orders and requests. Would you ...? is softer. and can be used to make requests more polite. Will you get me a paper while you're out? Will you be quiet, please? Would you watch the children for a few minutes? Won't can be used to talk about refusals. He won't talk to anybody. ‘The car won't start. 1 Put the beginnings and ends together. Example: UH drive if your ll may-read. BEGINNINGS ENDS Tllidrive Twill. Till wash up Ell answer it. Im tired. I think Ll go to bed now. Ifyou see Ann, jou'll dry. She won't tell us ifyou'll map-read. ‘The cat in the oven at 5.302 ‘The phone's ringing. shouting? This video to this address, please? Who's going to get the tickets? | what's wrong. Will you deliver the furniture | when you're ready to leave? Will you let me know won't eat. Will you stop won't play. . Would you put the meat would you tell her I got her letter? a re oesMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS 119 We can use will to make threats and promises. The simple present is not possible in this case. TU hit you if you do that again. (NOT Hait-youif ...) ‘You'll get your money tomorrow. (NOT ¥au-get ...) I promise P'H stop smoking. (NOT Lpromise-Lstep smoking.) 2 Aboy left home for the first time to go to university. Look at the pictures, and write the promises he made to his parents. Begin: I promise I'll... ox I promise I won't ... For will as a future auxiliary, see page 130.420 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS will and would: typical behaviour ‘She'll sit talking to herself for hours. If something breaks down and you kick it, it will often start working again. If'we stress will it can sound critical. She will fail in love with the wrong people. Wouldis used to talk about the past. On Saturdays, when I was a child, we would all get up early and go fishing. y He was anice boy, but he would talk about himself all the time. 1 Complete the sentences with will/would + verbs from the box. be drive ‘fall, keep listen’ = make — play —ring take talk tell - “Dad, I've broken my watch.’ ‘Well, you __ playing with it.” On Sundays when we were kids, Mother ___ us pancakes for breakfast. He's no trouble — he ___ by himself for hours. She's nice, but she ___ about people behind their backs. - People to you if you listen to them. We lived by a lake, and sometimes Dad ___us fishing. I'm not surprised you had an accident ~ you __ too fast. Ifyou drop toast, it____ butter side down every time. Ifyou're having a bath, the phone __.. And if you answer it, it__a wrong number. 10 He __ you one thing one minute and the opposite the next — he’s crazy. CON AnRONE 2. Here are some laws of nature, Join the beginnings and the ends. BEGINNINGS ENDS | After you have bought it will. something, somebody will. Ifanything can go wrong. they will both be on at the same Ifthere are two good TV shows, time. Ifyou explain so clearly that will always move faster. | nobody can misunderstand, will fall asleep first. Ifyou throw something away. you will find it somewhere else No matter how much you do, cheaper. | ‘The one who snores you'll need it the next day. | ‘The other queue you'll never do enough. TsMODAL AUXILIARY VERES shall in questions What on earth shall we do? What time shall we come and see you? Shall I carry your bag? Shall we go out for a meal? 1 Can you complete the sentences? (They are from a discussion about holiday plans.) Use shall we? 1 where? Where shall we qo? 6 fly/train/drive? 2. seaside/mountains? 7 hotel/camp? Shall we go to the seaside 8 stay in one place / travel around? or the mountains? 9 take Granny? 3. thiscountry/abroad? 10 gowith the Jacksons? 4 when? 11 what do with dogs? 5 how long for? 2. Write three questions asking for advice for yourself. If you can work with other students, ask them your questions and get their advice. What shall t soy How can | hide the tears inside? when our neighbours How can | face the crowd? want us to come to tea? can make lips of mine be still, They don’t know you're not with me. _but my heart sighs too loud. What shall! say? I could explain that What shail 1 say you're gone for only a week to shop. when the phone rings But after the week is up and someone asks for you? What shall { say? They don’t know I ask for you too. What shall | say? Peter Tinturin For shall as a future auxiliary, see page 130.122 MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS: should have, could have etc We can use should have, could have etc + past participle to talk about ‘unreal’ past situations that are the opposite of what really happened. You should have been here an hour ago. (But you weren't.) Alice should never have bought that car. (But she did.) Iwas so angry I could have killed her. (But I didn’t.) She could have married anybody she wanted to, (But she didn't.) Jumping out of the window like that—he could/might have broken his leg. I'd known you were coming, | would have stayed in. ‘ We can use this structure to criticise people for not doing things. Youcould have helped me! (Why didn't you?) Youmight have let me know you weren't coming — I stayed in all evening. 1 Complete the sentences with should have ..., could have ..., might have ... or would have ... More than one answer may be possible. 1 He___ me last week. (pay) le should have paid me lase week. 2 You somebody, driving like that. (Kill) 3. I___ you, but I didn’t have your number. (phone) 4 Sfmy parents hadn't been so poor, I___ to university. (go) 5. It's his fault she left him; he nicer to her. (be) 6 1___ more garlic in the soup. (put) 7 Ifyou needed money, you____ me. (ask) 8 ‘We got lost in the mountains.” “You fools— you ____@ map.’ (take) 9 It’sa good thing they got her to hospital in time. She ___. (die) 10 When he said that tamel him. (hit) 11 You me you were bringing your friends to supper! (tell) 12 You __ my jeans after yon borrowed them. (wash) ‘This structure can also be used to talk about things that are not certain to have happened. or that we suppose (but don't know definitely) happened. May have... is common in these senses. Imay have left my keys here this morning —have you seen them? He should have arrived home by now. Let’s phone him. So you went to Australia. That must have been nice. Where is she? She can't have gone out— the door’s locked. to eeMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS N Complete the sentences with may have ..., should have ..., must have ... or can't have ... More than one answer may be possible. “Where's Phil?’ ‘I don't know. He home.’ (go) “How are the builders getting on?’ ‘They __ by now. I'll go and see.’ Ginish) “Ann isn't here.’ ‘Surely she ___—I reminded her yesterday.’ (forget) ‘The garden’s all wet. It___ in the night. (rain) “We went to Dublin for the weekend.’ ‘That ___ a nice change.’ (be) “Who phoned?’ ‘She didn’t give her name. It___ Lucy.’ (be) He all his money. I gave him £10 only yesterday! (spend) I___ a new job. I'll know for certain tomorrow. (find) The car's got a big dent in the side. Bernie ___ an accident. (have) ‘They're not at home. They —__ away for the weekend. (go) Ne Bowmrscausye They may not have arrived yet. (= Pethaps they haven't arrived,) ‘They can’t have arrived yet. (= They certainly haven't arrived.) Joe had to go home. { = It was necessary for him to go home.) Joc must have gone home. (= Itseems certain that he has gone home.) Put in may not have..., can't have ..., had to... or must have .. Shakespeare been to Australia because it hadn't been discovered. King Arthur existed — nobody's sure. Castles in the Middle Ages ___ been cold places. People in those days ___ get their water from wells and streams. Poor people five hundred years ago ___ had easy lives. But they ___ been unhappier than us. Duk wee w “All the exits have been sealed off. He must have got out through the entrance.” Por wil! have ... (future perfect tense), see page 139. For would have ..., see page 262.MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS revision of modal verbs wen we VRUNe Nn Correct the mistakes. Tdon’t can sing. I would like to can travel more. He should to work harder. Could you telling me the time? Imust work last Saturday and Sunday. : Choose the best form. (Sometimes both may be possible.) We ___ win, but I don’t think there's much chance. (may, might) ___ ask you to help me later. (may, might) ‘That ___ be her daughter — they're nearly the same age. (can’t, mustn't) We decide to go camping again at Easter. (can, may) ‘There ___ be enough room for everybody on the bus — we'll have to wait and see. (may not, can't) You __ get in without a ticket — not a chance. (may not, can’t) You absolutely ___ go and see Liz. (should, must) [think you try to relax more. (should, must) You ___. passa special exam to be a teacher. (must, have to) In this country, boys __ do military service. (must not. don't have to) {____see you at eight tomorrow. (can, will be able to) One day, everybody ___ say what they like. (can, will be able to) It took a long time, but 1___ repair the car. (could, managed to) When I was younger I ___ sing quite well. (could, was able to) At what age __ you get a driving licence? (ean, may) [promise I smoking. (stop. will stop) [don’t know why she’s not here. She have got my message. (may not, can’t) He's not answering the phone. He ___ have got home yet. (may not, can’t) When I was eighteen we ___ two years in the army. (had to do, must have done) She ___ very quietly — I didn’t hear her go. (had to leave, must have left) Write sentences about three things that you should have done last week but didn't, and three things that you shouldn't have done but did.