WILLINGNESS

POSSIBILITY
CERTAINTY

ABILITY MODAL VERBS

PERMISSION

OBLIGATION PROHIBITION
NECESSITY ADVICE
 MODAL VERBS OR MODALS are AUXILIARY VERBS. (helping verbs).
They are “SPECIAL verbs” which give extra informatiom/ additional information
about the function of the main verb that follows it. They a ver a great variety of
communicative functions.
They behave irregulary in English, i.e. they are different from “normal verbs”.

CHARACTERISTICS:
- They NEVER change form (you can’t add –s , - ed , -ing , …)
- They are ALWAYS followed by an infinitive WITHOUT “ TO” ( i.e,
by the base form)
- They are used to indicate modality and allows the speaker to express
certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability, permission
advice and prohibition.
 1 . POSSIBILITY
MAY MIGHT
It MAY rain tomorrow.(70% chance)
It MIGHT rain tomorrow. (40% chance)
They MAY/ MIGHT NOT (mightn’t) come today.
2. ASK & GIVE PERMISSION.
MAY I come in?
You MAY open the window if you want.
You MAY NOT take photos inside the museum.

COULD can be use instead of

MAY/MIGHT in affirmative sentences.
- Where is Jack?
- I don’t know. He may/might/could be in his office
NOT IN NEGATIVE.
It may/might not be true. (= perhaps it is not true)
It couldn’t be true. (It is not possible that it is true)
 1. POSSIBILITY.
I CAN meet you tomorrow.
2. ABILITY (capacity to do sthg)
CAN CAN he play the piano?
3. PERMISSION/REQUEST.
CAN he come with us?
CAN I use your phone?

1. ABILITY IN THE PAST.

HE COULD talk when he was 1 year old.
2. POSSIBILITY.
The crime rate COULD go down with this new law.
COULD 3. POLITE REQUEST/PERMISSION.
COULD you pass my the salt, please?
COULD I use your phone?
Excuse me, COULD I just say something?
4. POLITE SUGGESTION.
You COULD come with us to the cinema.
 BE ABLE TO

present simple
SUBJECT + TO BE past simple + ABLE TO + VERB IN BASE FORM
future

present simple
SUBJECT + TO BE IN NEGATIVE past simple + ABLE TO + VERB IN BASE FORM
future

SUBJECT + TO BE + UNABLE TO + VERB IN BASE FORM

USES: ( = CAN)
1. ABILITY.
I am able to run fast. I am not able to run fast.
I was able to run fast. I am unable to run fast.
I will be able to run fast.

2. POSSIBILITY. She will be unable to help you with your homework.

Will you be able to arrive on time? She won’t be able to help you with your homework.
 BE ABLE TO vs COULD

• BE ABLE TO (= arreglárselas para hacer algo en una situación concreta)

• COULD (= tener la habilidad de)
Jack was an excellent tennis player. He COULD beat anyone. (= he had the ability to beat anyone)
But once he had a difficult game against Peter. Peter played very Well, but in the end Jack WAS
ABLE TO beat him (he managed to beat him in this particular game)
 OUGHT
SHOULD
TO

• ADVICE
- Did you like the film?
- Yes, I did. You should / ought to go and see it.
Should we invite Sue to the party? (OUGHT TO is not usually used in negative or interrogative sentences)
• OPINION
The government should/ ought to do something about the economy.
You shouldn’t smoke here. (It does not mean it is forbidden, it means that, in my opinion, the right thing to
do is not to smoke in that place.)
 MUST

1. AFFIRMATIVE: 3. INTERROGATIVE:
OBLIGATION OR STRONG NECESSITY. (= Deber)
They must cooperate to clear the streets. (necessity)
MUST is NOT usually used interrogative,
Everybody must pay for a ticket to see the concert. (obligation) but if used, it expresses obligation or
necessity.
You must turn off your pones in class. (obligation)
• RECOMMENDATION. (= Tener que) Must I bring water?
You must go to the new swimming pool. It’s great!
• STRONG BELIEF/ LOGICAL CONCLUSION.
He has been reelected as president. He must be thrilled.
2. NEGATIVE:

• PROHIBITION.
You mustn’t kick the basket ball.
People mustn’t draw graffiti on public buildings.
• ADVICE.
You mustn’t be so rude.
 HAVE TO MUST
1. AFFIRMATIVE
OBLIGATION or NECESSITY
must
It’s later than I thought, I have to go now.

must
You have to have a passport to travel to most foreign countries.

SOMETIMES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVE TO & MUST

▪ With “MUST” the speaker is giving his own feelings . Saying what s/he thinks it is necessary.

The government MUST do something about unemployment.

I MUST write to Ann.
• With “HAVE TO” the speaker is not giving his own feelings; s/he is giving facts.
Ann eyes are not very Good; she HAS TO wear glasses for reading.
I can’t meet you on Friday; I HAVE TO work.
• MUST can be used to talk about present or future.
We MUST go now. I MUST leavr Spain tomorrow.
• HAVE TO can be used in all tenses.
I HAD TO go to hospital. HAVE you ever HAD TO go to hospital? I WILL HAVE TO go to hospital tomorrow.

2. NEGATIVE
• Lack of necessity/obligation.

SUBJECT + DON’T / DOESN’T + HAVE TO + BASE FORM

HAVEN’ T / HASN’ T

WATCH OUT !!
It is NOT the same MUSTN’T & DON’T HAVE TO.
. MUSTN’T = It is forbidden, it is necessary you don’t do it: You mustn’ t go. (No debes ir, está prohibido)
I mustn’t wear trainers to work.
- DON’ T HAVE TO = You don’t need to do it: You don’t have to do it. (No tienes que ir, no es necesario)
I don’t have to wear a suit to work, but I usually do.
3. INTERROGATIVE.

DO / DOES + SUBJECT + HAVE TO + BASE FORM?

• OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY.
Do you have to do any homework this afternoon? No, I don’t.
How many questions do / did / will you have to answer?
 NEED TO

NECESSITY OR OBLIGATION. (= HAVE TO)

1. AFFIRMATIVE.

SUBJECT + NEED/ NEEDS TO + BASE FORM

I NEED TO / HAVE TO rest for a few days because I’m exhausted.

2. NEGATIVE.
SUBJECT + DON’T / DOESN’T + NEED TO + BASE FORM

You DON’T NEED TO help me.

3. INTERROGATIVE.

DO / DOES + SUBJECT + NEED TO + BASE FORM ?

Do you need to buy something for dinner? Yes, I do.

 NEEDN’T

• WATCH OUT!!
NEEDN’T TO
You NEEDN’T drive to hospital.
You DON’T NEED TO drive to hospital.

WOULD
1. Formal request.
Would you stop cutting into the conversation, please?
2. Offer.
Would you like to come to the party?
 MODAL PERFECTS
FORM:
Subject + MODAL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE