MODAL VERBS

SEMESTER 2 - GRAMMAR 2 - GROUP C

PROF. NOAMANE
 Ability
Present & Future Ability

■ Both can and be able to express ability in the present:

My brother can hold his breath for a long time
Can she play tennis?

■ If the ability is surprising or involves overcoming some

difficulties, we use be able to:
Despite his handicap, he is able to drive.
■ We should avoid be able to:
1. When we talk about something that is happening as
we speak:
Watch me, mum; I can stand on one leg. (not…I am able to
stand on one leg.)
2. Before Passives
■ CDs can now be copied easily. (rather than CDs ae now
able to be copied)
■ To emphasize difficulty or to suggest effort, we use
manage to or succeed in + ing

Do you think she’ll manage to get a visa? (informal)

She succeeds in creating a positive atmosphere in every

meeting (more formal)
■ To describe a future ability we use will be able to, NOT
can:

I Will be able to speak fluently by the end of the course

I Can speak fluently by the end of the course
Will I be able to use modal verbs as good as a native
speaker?
 Ability
Past Ability

■ To talk about a general ability in the past, we use could/was

able to
He could play the guitar quite well (or….was able to….general
ability)
■ But if we talk about a single achievement, we usually use was
able to rather than could:
She swam strongly and was able to cross the river easily, even
though it was swollen by the heavy rain
(NOT She swam strongly and could cross the river; a specific
achievement)
 Possibility
Present Possibility

■ We use can to talk about things which are generally

possible:

Grammar exams can be very tricky (=they are sometimes

tricky, but not all of the times)
■ May, might and could to talk about specific possibilities
This rash may/might/could be a symptom of something
more serious.
There may be life on Mars (NOT there can be life on
Mars)

■ When we ask about possibility, we often start the

question with Do you think:
Do you think the shops might be open today?
■ To express a strong possibility, we use may well, might
well, and could well:
The scholarship could well be sent this month

■ To express that something is not possible, we use may

not or might not
The shop may not/might not open today; it’s a public
holiday
■ But when we know that something is Definitely Not
possible, we use can’t:
You really can’t drive to Marrakech in under one hour
(I’m sure about this, it’s impossible)
 Possibility
Future Possibility
■ Will/won’t be able to or can/cannot are used to talk about future
possibility and impossibility

We’ll be able to get a coffee at the theatre but we won’t be able to

eat until after the show.

■ May, might or could are used when we are less certain:

The directors may call a stockholders’ meeting next week (=Perhaps
they will call a meeting)
■ Could is used for a weaker possibility than may or might
You never know; she could find a perfect job tomorrow (it’s
possible, but unlikely).

■ However, couldn’t cannot be used to say something is

definitely impossible in the present or future:
The optician couldn’t see you tomorrow.
We instead use will not be able to or cannot:
The optician won’t be able to see you tomorrow.
The optician can’t see you tomorrow.
■ Note that we can still use can and will be able to when
we talk about future arrangements:

The doctor can’t/won’t be able to see you before six as

he’s busy till then

■ If the arrangement is less certain we use could, may or

might (be able to)
The dentist might be able to see you later today; I’ll have
to check the diary
■ May/might + have + Past Participle to talk about a
possible completed action by a time in the future
(Future Perfect):

Call me next Tuesday; I might have finished the project by

then.
 Possibility
Past Possibility
■ Could + have + Past Participle is used to talk about
general possibility in the past
We could have studied together for the exam (= it was
possible for us to study together)
She could have paid by credit card but she didn’t use it
■ Might + have + Past Participle (Might is more formal
than could in this case)
I might have done Physics, but I chose English instead (=I
had the opportunity but I didn’t go).
■ We use couldn’t have been + comparative adjective
when we emphasize a past action or feeling:

I couldn’t have been more pleased when I heard about the

results
(= I was very pleased about your results)
 Advice and criticism
Present advice and criticism
■ Should/should not, ought to/ ought not to or had better
(not) are used to talk about advice in the present
You look terrible. You ought to see a doctor
That looks hot. You’d better not touch it
To ask for advice, use should:
Should I ask my boss for a pay rise?
■ We use must/must not to give strong advice or warnings
You must try this cake – It’s delicious
You mustn't swim there - it’s dangerous
 Advice and criticism
Past advice and criticism
■ We can use should/should not + have + past participle to
criticize someone’s past actions:
You should have done more revision.
You shouldn’t have bought such a cheap machine.

■ We also use should/shouldn’t + have + past participle to

express regret for a past action:
I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I am sorry.
I should have phoned you, but I was busy.
 Permission
■ To ask, give or deny permission, we use can, may, might, could or be
allowed to:
May I leave early today? (to your boss)
Could we stay an extra night? (to a hotel clerk)
Are we allowed to take photos in the museum?
Passengers may not use electronics on airplanes.
■ Can is the least formal. Might is the most formal.
■ To talk about permission in the past, only could or be allowed to are to be
used:
Women were not allowed to vote in elections in the 19th century
You could wear whatever you want in my old school
 Requests
■ Can, could, would and will can be used to make requests:

Can you help me with these bags, please?

Can we have mint tea, please?
Could you help me with my homework?
Would you sign this form for me?
Speculation & Expectation
 Present Speculation

■ When we strongly believe that something is true, we use must or have got
to:
This must be the place-It is the only restaurant in the street.

■ Have got to is used to add emphasis:

There has (got) to be a mistake. I didn’t order this furniture
You have got to be joking. That was not a foul!
■ When we strongly believe that something is NOT true, we use
can’t/couldn’t
He can’t/couldn’t be the senior doctor, he’s far too young (I’m certain he isn’t)

■ When something is possible or probable, we use could, may, and might:

He always wears a suit. He could be a business (I might be wrong)

■ To make a speculation stronger, we add well

Let’s call the hospital. There may well be some news now.
 Present & Future Speculation
■ Should/shouldn’t or ought to/ought not to are used to express an
expectation to happen in the future because of our prior
knowledge or the current circumstances
The plane took off on time so it should/ought to be landing about
now and there shouldn’t/ought not be any delays.

■ Will is ’naturally’ used when we predict a negative (unpleasant)

situation.
There’ll be problems with traffic at that time. The roads will be
awful.
 Past Speculation
■ If we strongly believe that something was true because we have evidence,
we use:
Must + have + past participle
There was a terrific noise last night. It must have been an explosion.
I couldn’t wake you this morning. You must have been sleeping really soundly.

■ If we strongly believe that something was NOT true because we have

evidence, we use:
Can’t/couldn’t + have + past participle
She can’t have fixed the computer, it’s still not working properly. (= I’m sure she
didn’t fix it)
■ To express surprise or disbelief, we use:
■ Can’t + have or couldn’t + have

She couldn’t have done it; she’s such a nice woman.

You can’t have been waiting for long- I only went out five minutes
ago!
■ If we believe that something possibly or probably
happened, we use
■ May (not)/ might (not) + have + past participle
We’d better hurry- the hotel might have given our room away
by now!

■ To make this stronger, add well:

We’d better phone them, they might well have had some news
by now.
 Past Expectation
■ We use should (not)/ought (not) to + have + past
participle to talk about an action that we expected to
happen in the past:
I don’t know where our main speaker can be. He
should/ought to have arrived hours ago. (= We expected
him to arrive hours ago)
After a long illness, his father’s death shouldn’t/ought not to
have come as a surprise.
Obligation & Necessity
 Present & Future Obligation
■ Have to is used when the obligation is seen as outside of our control-rules
imposed by an authority:
We have to pay if we want to put luggage in the hold (it’s a rule of the airline)

■ Must is used to express an obligation imposed by the speaker:

I must get up earlier- I waste so much time in the mornings

■ We do not often use you must for obligation in face to face conversation as
it can seem impolite.
■ We can use must and should to express obligation in the future:
I really must get to the dentist next week.
You should pay the amount due by 25th October.

■ If the obligation is external, we use will have to or will need to:

The children will have to stay at home next week while the school is closed for
building work.
We’ll need to get our visa sorted out or we won’t be able to stop over in the
states.
 Present and Future Necessity

■ These are expressed through the use of

Need to, must and have to

 Past obligation & Necessity
■ Had to is used

■ For an unfulfilled obligation in the past, we use:

■ Should/ought to + have + Past Participle
You really should/ought to have registered before the year started. (But you
didn’t)

■ Didn’t need to/didn’t have to are used to express no obligation in the past:
You didn’t need to/didn’t have to finish the washing up. I could have done it.