MODAL VERBS

Definition
Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary
verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which
behave irregularly in English.
They are different from normal verbs like "work,
play, visit..." They give additional information
about the function of the main verb that follows
it.
They have a great variety of communicative
functions.
 Here are some characteristics
of modal verbs:

• They never change their form. You can't add

"s", "ed", "ing"...

• They are always followed by an infinitive

without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)

• They are used to indicate modality allow

speakers to express certainty, possibility,
willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
 Here is a list of modal verbs:

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

Modal Verb Expressing Example
Strong obligation You must stop when the
traffic lights turn red.
must logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired.
He's been working all day
long.
prohibition You must not smoke in
must not
the hospital.
ability I can swim.
permission Can I use your phone
can please?
possibility Smoking can cause
cancer.
ability in the past When I was younger I
could run fast.
could polite permission Excuse me, could I just
say something?
possibility It could rain tomorrow!
 permission May I use your phone
may please?
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!
polite permission Might I suggest an idea?
might possibility, probability I might go on holiday to
Australia next year.
lack of necessity/absence I need not buy tomatoes.
need not of obligation There are plenty of
tomatoes in the fridge.
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a
doctor. I have a terrible
headache.
advice You should / ought to
should/ought to
revise your lessons
logical conclusion He should / ought to be
very tired. He's been
working all day long.
advice You 'd better revise your
had better
lessons
 Remember

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without

"to", also called the bare infinitive.

Examples:
• You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
• You should see to the doctor.
• There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need
not buy any.
 We can say that

• There are different uses of the Modals

according with what we want to express.
 Possibility

We use may, might and could to say that

something is possible, but not certain:

• They may come by car.

(= Maybe they will come by car.)
• They might be at home.
(= Maybe they are at home.)
• If we don't hurry, we could be late.
(= Maybe we will be late.)
 Be careful!
We do not use can to talk about specific events:
• A: Where's John?
• B: I'm not sure. He may/might/could be (NOT can) in his
office.
Notice the difference in meaning between can and
may/might/could:

• That dog can be dangerous.

(= Sometimes that dog is dangerous. I know.)
• That dog may/might/could be dangerous.
(= Perhaps that dog is dangerous. I don't know.)
 Ability

We use can and can't to talk about someone's skill or

general abilities:

• She can speak several languages.

• He can swim like a fish.
• They can't dance very well.

We use can and can't to talk about the ability to do

something at a specific time in the present or future:

• I can see you.

• Help! I can't breathe.
 Ability

We use could and couldn't to talk about the past:

• She could speak several languages.

• I couldn't see you.
 Asking for Permission
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
• Can I ask a question, please?
• Can we go home now?

Could is more formal and polite than can:

• Could I ask a question, please?
• Could we go home now?

May is another more formal and polite way of asking for

permission:
• May I ask a question, please?
• May we go home now?
 Giving permission
We use can to give permission:
• You can go home now.
• You can borrow my pen if you like.
May is a more formal and polite way of giving
permission:
• You may go home now.
We use can to say that someone has permission
to do something:
• We can go out whenever we want.
• Students can travel for free.
 Refusing permission

We use can't and may not to refuse permission

or say that someone does not have permission:

• You can't go home yet.

• Students may not travel for free.
 Requests

We use could you … and would you … as polite ways

of telling or asking someone to do something:

• Could you take a message, please?

• Would you carry this for me, please?

can and will are less polite:

• Can you take a message, please?

• Will you carry this for me, please?
 Offers and invitations

We use can I … to make offers:

• Can I help you?

• Can I do that for you?

We can also use shall I …:

• Shall I help you with that?

• Shall I call you on your mobile?
 Offers and invitations

We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... or I'll (I will) ... to

make an offer:

I can do that for you if you like.

I could give you a lift to the station.
I'll do that for you if you like.
I'll give you a lift to the station.

We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:

Would you like to come round tomorrow?

Would you like another drink?
 Suggestions

We use should and shouldn't to make suggestions

and give advice:

• You should send an email.

• You shouldn’t go by train.

We also use could to make positive suggestions:

• We could meet at the weekend.

• You could eat out tonight.
 Obligations

We use must and mustn't to say that it is

necessary (or not) to do something:

• You must stop at a red light.

• Everyone must bring something to eat.
• You can wear what you like, but you must look
neat and tidy.
• I’m sorry, but you mustn't make a noise in here.
 Obligatios
We use had to (positive) and couldn't (negative)
if we are talking about the past:

• Everyone had to bring something to eat.

• You couldn't make a noise in the library.
Analyze the following sentences
• 1. Rose and Ted _________________ be good
players. They have won hundreds of cups !
• 2. You _________________ pay to use the library.
It’s free.
• 3. I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment.
She _________________ be at her dance class.
• 4. Jerry _________________ be working today. He
never works on Sundays.
• 5. You _________________ be 18 to see that film.
• 6. You _________________ hear this story. It’s
very funny.
• 7. Dad _________________ go and see a
doctor. His cough is getting worse all the time.
8. You don’t have to shout. I
_________________ hear you very well.
• 9. It _________________ be him. I saw him a
week ago, and he didn’t look like that.
• 10. You look pretty tired. I think you
_________________ go to bed early tonight.
• 11. Let me look. I _________________ be able
to help you.
• 12. “Children, you _________________ cross
the street if the lights are red !”
• 13. You _________________ sit so near the
TV. It’s bad for your eyes.
• 14. I’m sorry but I _________________ give
you a lift because my car is broken.
• 15. I _________________ stop and talk to you
now. I have to get to the library.
 Check your answers
• 1. Rose and Ted MUST be good players. They have won hundreds
of cups ! 2.
• You DON’T HAVE TO pay to use the library. It’s free.
• 3. I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She MIGHT be at
her dance class.
• 4. Jerry CAN’T be working today. He never works on Sundays.
• 5. You MUST be 18 to see that film.
• 6. You MUST hear this story. It’s very funny.
• 7. Dad SHOULD go and see a doctor. His cough is getting worse all
the time.
• 8. You don’t have to shout. I CAN hear you very well.
• 9. It CAN’T be him. I saw him a week ago, and he didn’t look like
that.
• 10. You look pretty tired. I think you SHOULD go to bed early
tonight.
• 11. Let me look. I MIGHT be able to help you.
• 12. “Children, you MUSTN’T cross the street if the
lights are red !”
• 13. You SHOULDN’T sit so near the TV. It’s bad for your
eyes.
• 14. I’m sorry but I CAN’T give you a lift because my car
is broken.
• 15. I CAN’T stop and talk to you now. I have to get to
the library.
 Auxiliary verbs

Are those words that can be used as VERBS and also

in some structures they are used as AUXILIARIES
 Definitions

Auxiliary verbs are so called because they help to

form the various tenses, moods, and voicesof
other verbs. The principal ones are be, do,
and have. (They are also verbs in other
structures)
 Be
Be is used with other verbs to
form continuous tenses and the passive voice:

• She is reading a magazine.

• We were talking to them for ages.
• England were beaten by Germany in the final.
 Have
Have is used to make perfect tenses:

• The judge had asked her to speak up.

• In two years, we will have established
community gardens.
 Do
Do is used:

• for emphasis:
• He did look tired.

• to make questions:
• Do you want a coffee?
•
• to form negative statements or questions:
• I don’t like meat.
• Didn’t he know how to play football?
•
 Conversation Activity
Create a conversation using as much modals as
possible.
Directions:
Make groups of 5
1. Be creative
2. Practice
3. Handle the script pf the conversation
4. 70% evaluated
Example
Problem: He can’t find his bag.
Advice: He should put a bigger label on his bag.
Problem: He might get hit by a car.
Advice: He ought to cross the road at the traffic
lights.
Problem: He has a problem with his computer.
Advice: He needs to get a computer
expert/technician to help him.
EXAMPLE
Problem: It’s really hot and the bags are really
heavy.
Advice: They should call a taxi.
Problem: They are in too much of a hurry when
they go shopping. Advice: They need to be more
careful.
Problem: She is too talkative. Advice: He has to
explain to her carefully that she shouldn’t talk so
much.