Modals Semimodals Presentation Part 12 - 2418
Modals Semimodals Presentation Part 12 - 2418
Part 1
SEMI-M DALS
Modals are helping verbs that do
not change according to the tense
and are always in the base form.
I can He can They will She must
Be able to
Have to
Need to
W RD RDER:
MODAL or REST OF
MAIN
SUBJECT SEMI- THE
VERB
My dog MODAL SENTENCE
can play
the
piano!
CAN 1. Ability in the
present or future
She can ride
a horse.
She can’t ride
a bike
CAN 2. Requests
Can you help
me with my
French
homework?
Yes, of
course.
CAN 3. To ask or give
permission
Can I go
swimming?
No, you
can’t.
It’s not safe.
CAN’T 1. To express negative
assumption i.e. to
show you don’t believe
that something is true.
They can’t
be at work.
COULD 1. Ability in the
past
I could sail very well when
I was young.
COULD 2. Polite requests
Could you please be
quiet?
COULD 3. Suggestions
We could follow this path
to the top of
the hill.
COULD 4. Possibility
Sylvia and
Tom are late.
They could
be stuck in
traffic.
MAY 1. Possibility
There is a lot of traffic.
I may be a little late for the
meeting.
MAY 2. I / We - To
ask for permission
(formal)
May I have
a look at
this report?
MAY 3. To give (or not)
permission
Yes, Robert,
you may
be excused.
MIGHT 4. Possibility
We might reschedule the
meeting for Tuesday.
MUST 1. Obligation,
necessity in the present
or future
You must
stop when
the light is
red!
MUST 2. Positive logical
assumption and certainty
They must be very rich!
MUST 3. Suggestions,
recommendations
You mustn’t
park here!