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Modalverbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence. They can express ideas like ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and recommendation. There are three categories of modal verbs: single concept modals which have one meaning, double concept modals which can have two meanings depending on context, and modal verbs used in the past tense. Some common modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

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25 views14 pages

Modalverbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence. They can express ideas like ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and recommendation. There are three categories of modal verbs: single concept modals which have one meaning, double concept modals which can have two meanings depending on context, and modal verbs used in the past tense. Some common modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

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Lyth Lyth
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modal Verbs

M ig u e l Á n g e l
R o d r íg u e z L ó p e z
What is a Modal Verb?
• They are:
• Can They are Auxiliary verbs which
• Could give additional and specific
• May meaning to the main verb of the
• Might sentence
• Must
• Shall
Modal verbs are also called
• Should
Modal Auxiliary verbs since
• Will
they help other verbs
• Would
• Ought to
Use
John can speak English very well

S M V
Subject Verb

• 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
• 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 must come early You had to come early yesterday


What do they express?
They can have more than one meaning
depending on the situations

There are 3 categories of Modal Verbs:


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 (Perfect 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 Meaning 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
Modal Meaning Examples
Shall (1) Educated expression Excuse me, I shall go now
Offer Shall I clean it?

Shall (2) Contractual The company shall pay on January 1st


obligation

Could (1) Request Could you pass me the salt, please?

Could (2) Past Ability She could play the piano, not anymore

Could (3) Possibility He could visit us today

Can (1) Request Can I have a sweet?

Can (2) Ability We can speak English

Can (3) Possibility I can visit you now


Double Concept Modal
Modal Meaning Examples
May (1) Request May I come in?

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

Must (1) Obligation Everyone must pay taxes

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

Would (1) Request Would you open the door, please?

Would (2) Suggestion/Offer Would you like something to eat?


Perfect Modals
• They refer 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
Perfect Modals
Modal Meaning Examples
Must have + a logical Rob has arrived late. He must have
participle conclusion about been in a traffic jam.
a past fact
May/might a supposition She may/might have taken the wrong
have + about something bus.
participle in the past

Could have Ability to do You could have asked the doctor


+ participle something in the before taking the medicine.
past which in the
end was not done
Couldn’t Certainty that He couldn’t have gone to the concert
have + something did not because he was doing the test.
participle happen
Perfect Modals
Modal Meaning Examples
Would have + Desire to do I would have gone to the party, but I
participle something in the was too busy.
past which in
fact could not be
done
Should/ought Criticism or You should/ought to have warned me
to + participle regret after an earlier.
event

Shouldn’t Criticism or He shouldn’t have forgotten about her


have + regret after an birthday.
participle event, showing
that it shouldn’t
have happened
Needn’t have An unnecessary You needn’t have brought anything to
+ participle past action my party.
Modals-like verbs
There are few verbs which often serve as modals too.
These are modal-like verbs. They need to be conjugated.

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 Future plan I look forward to seeing you again


to
The End

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