MODAL VERBS Theory 4º ESO

MODAL VERBS – 4th ESO- Theory
CAN (present) I can speak 3 languages.

ABILITY COULD (past) When I was 5 I couldn’t
BE ABLE TO (other tenses) swim.When I am 20, I will
be able to
drive
PERMISSION CAN (informal) Could I use the
REQUEST COULD (polite) computer,please?
WILL Can you give me a lift to
(neutral) thestation?
WOULD (polite) Could you pass me the
MAY (formal) salt,please?
May I have your attention?
ADVICE SHOULD You look tired, you should have a holiday.
OUGHT TO (formal) What do you think I should do?
POSSIBILITY MAY, MIGHT It may rain later, it’s getting cloudy.
DEDUCTION (weaker The phone is ringing.It must be Mary,she said she would call at
possibility) 5.It can’t be her.She’s left her phone here!
MUST (sure)
CAN’T (impossible)
OBLIGATION MUST You must be on time for the lessons
(present,sense of I had to get up early for the trip on
duty) SundayDid you have to work
HAVE TO (external yesterday?
authority, other tenses)
LACK OF DON’T On Sat you don’t have to get up early
OBLIGATION HAVE TO You needn’t take an umbrella, it is not raining
NEEDN’T
MUSTN’T (sense of You mustn’t drink beer, you are too

PROHIBITION duty) CAN’T young.You can’t take photos in this
(external authority) museum.
The modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall,
should, ought to, must, need and dare.
1. Use: we use modal verbs to talk about, possibility, ability, obligation,

certainty, permission etc.
2.Form: modal verbs take the same form in all persons. There is no –s ending
in the third person singular: She can speak French.
1
- They are followed by an infinitive without –to.: She should study
more.
- We form the negative by putting “not” after the modal verb.: we

can’t do it.
- We form questions by inverting the subject and the modal verb.:

Can she type?
- They lack many tenses and they don’t have an infinitive. Some of
them have a past form but they lack compound tenses. Instead of
modal verbs to make compound tenses we use other verbs: to be
able to, to be allowed to or to have to.
- E.g.: I’d like to be able to play the piano
She had to go to the doctor’s yesterday.
ABILITY - CAPABILITY (CAN- COULD - BE ABLE TO)
• CAN: we use “can” to talk about ability.
• COULD: to express ability in the past.
• The rest of tenses are formed with “to be able to”:
e.g.: He can play football very well / He will be able to talk …
My sister could talk when she was 15 months old.
• E.g. We haven’t been able to find the keys.
I’d like to be able to play the guitar.
OBLIGATION: MUST - HAVE TO
We normally use must when the authority comes from the speaker:
You must be home by 12 o’clock.
We normally use have to when the authority comes from outside

the speaker. ( I have to wear uniform/ you have to wear uniform)
• Must is only used in the present , in the In other tenses we use

“have to”:
e.g. You must come back home now.
She had to come back soon/ She will have to leave her job.
2
• Remember that “have to” uses do/does in the negative and the
interrogative form:
e.g.: Do you have to work today? No, I don’t.
She doesn’t have to come today. We must respect animal rights.
PROHIBITION (MUSTN'T )
ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION ( DON'T HAVE TO - NEEDN'T )
1. Prohibition: you use mustn’t to express this: You mustn’t park here
Absence of Obligation: don’t have to/ needn’t: You don’t have to give
me the money tomorrow. (you can do it next week)/ You needn’t do
those exercises
ADVICE (SHOULD / SHOULDN'T / OUGHT TO )
. Advice : to give some advice you can use should or ought to:
e.g.You should study more / you ought to study more.
You shouldn´t smoke . It’s bad for your health.
IMPOSSIBILITY AND CERTAINTY (CAN'T / MUSTN'T)
1. we use “can’t” when we are certain something is impossible.
e.g. She can’t be at home. She is on a business trip this week. (es imposible)
2. We use “must” when we are certain something is true.
e.g.: Ben must be at home because it’s 9:00 o’clock. (debe estar)
POSSIBILITY
• May, might, may not, might not and could are used to express
possibility in the present and future.
e.g. He might/may/ could be at home but I’m not sure because he always
gets home at different times.
Perhaps he is in the sports centre. He may/ could / might be in the sports

centre.

MODAL VERBS Theory 4º ESO

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MODAL VERBS Theory 4º ESO

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MODAL VERBS Theory 4º ESO

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MODAL VERBS – 4th ESO- Theory

CAN (present) I can speak 3 languages.

MUSTN’T (sense of You mustn’t drink beer, you are too

1. Use: we use modal verbs to talk about, possibility, ability, obligation,

- We form the negative by putting “not” after the modal verb.: we

- We form questions by inverting the subject and the modal verb.:

- E.g.: I’d like to be able to play the piano

She had to go to the doctor’s yesterday.

ABILITY - CAPABILITY (CAN- COULD - BE ABLE TO)

• CAN: we use “can” to talk about ability.

• COULD: to express ability in the past.

• The rest of tenses are formed with “to be able to”:

e.g.: He can play football very well / He will be able to talk …

My sister could talk when she was 15 months old.

• E.g. We haven’t been able to find the keys.

I’d like to be able to play the guitar.

OBLIGATION: MUST - HAVE TO

We normally use have to when the authority comes from outside

• Must is only used in the present , in the In other tenses we use

e.g. You must come back home now.

e.g.: Do you have to work today? No, I don’t.

She doesn’t have to come today. We must respect animal rights.

ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION ( DON'T HAVE TO - NEEDN'T )

ADVICE (SHOULD / SHOULDN'T / OUGHT TO )

e.g.You should study more / you ought to study more.

You shouldn´t smoke . It’s bad for your health.

IMPOSSIBILITY AND CERTAINTY (CAN'T / MUSTN'T)

1. we use “can’t” when we are certain something is impossible.

2. We use “must” when we are certain something is true.

Perhaps he is in the sports centre. He may/ could / might be in the sports

You might also like