MODAL VERBS

What are modal verbs?

• Can
• Could They are Auxiliary verbs that
• May provide additional and specific
• Might meaning to the main verb of the
• Must sentence
• Shall
• Should Modal verbs are sometimes
• Will referred to as
• Would Modal Auxiliary verbs because
• Ought to they help other verbs
How do we use modals?

S M V
Subject Verb

Example: Mary could play the piano

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
Form

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

Form

Modal verbs cannot refer to any time

Modal verbs use other verbs to do this

Can is completed with be able to
Must is completed with have to

You must come early They can play the piano

You had to come early yesterday They will be able to play the piano in
the future
What do they express?
They can have more than one meaning
depending on the situation

We have to take a look at the meanings they express in order

to use them properly.
Some will have only one meaning, but most of them will
express more.
We also need to differ between their usage in the past
(modal + have + past participle)
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past

can ability Tom can play the

piano.
If you ask him,
he can probably help
you.

criticism You can be really

annoying, you know!

offers Can I help you?

permission You can borrow my car
if you want.
Can I use your phone?
Students can
choose any topic for
their project.

possibility Winters in
Minnesota can bereally
cold.
requests Can you lend me $10?
Can I borrow your car?
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past
can't ability We can't enter this street
because it's blocked.
deduction It's only 10 o'clock. It can't have been Carla you
He can't beat home. saw this morning. She is
away on holiday.
prohibition I'm sorry, but you can't
stayhere.
We can't eat in the library.
could ability I could see him through the
window.
criticism George could really help George could really have
you! helpedyou!
uncertainty We haven't heard from him
for 10 years. He could have
died.
possibility You could be right. I could have caught the bus
if I had hurried.
requests Could you tell me where
the train station is?
general permission When I was a child, I could
dobasically anything that I
wanted to do.
asking for permission Could I have a glass of
water?
offers I could give you a lift.
suggestions You could talk to your
parents and ask them.
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past
couldn't possibility The food is delicious and It was a great year, and
the staff couldn't be more I couldn't have
polite. been happier.
deduction It's only 10 o'clock. It couldn't have been Carla
He couldn't be at home. you saw this morning. She
is away on holiday.

ability She couldn't speak German

then.
I couldn't walk any further.

had better advice We'd better leave soon.

may possibility, uncertainty You should ask him. I may have told you this
He may know Susan's before.
telephone number.

permission Children may use the pool

with adult supervision.
May I start my
presentation?
offers May I carry your suitcase,
Madam?
may not prohibition Non-committee
members may not vote on
committee issues.

possibility, uncertainty You should introduce I had better call Anne.

yourself; he may not She may not have read my
remember you. e-mail.
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past
might suggestions You might consider taking
up meditation.
I thought you might want to
read this.
You might just as well
order it on the internet.
permission Might I ask you a question?

criticism You might be more polite. You might have told me

you weren't coming!
possibility, uncertainty I might see you later. I should call Anne.
She might not have read my
e-mail.
must deduction That child is really talented. That dress looks expensive.
His parents must be proud It must have cost a fortune.
of him.
obligation I really must give
up smoking.
You must keep this secret.
mustn't prohibition You mustn't touch that
Ming vase.
ought to advice You ought to thank her.
obligation We ought to protect the You ought to have told me
environment. earlier. Why didn't you tell
me?
assumption Anne ought to be at home
by now.
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past

shall formal rules and Visitors shall

regulations, commands be accompanied at all
times by a security guard.
You shall not kill.

offers Shall I copy this document

for you?
suggestions Shall we throw a party
sometime next week?

should advice You should smoke less.

surprise I'm sorry that he should It's surprising that

feelthat way. she should have said that.

criticism You shouldn't be I should have booked a

sitting here just doing table in advance.
nothing!
obligation I think you should leave. You should have
consulted a doctor.
assumption I should get back before 9. The plane should have
I have never tried setting landed by now.
up a website, but
it shouldn't betoo difficult.

suggestions Shouldn't we have a pizza

instead?
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past

will willingness I will take you to the

airport. I have nothing to
do tomorrow.
If you will wait for a
moment, I'll see if Mr
Hawking is available.
requests Will you turn off your
mobile phone, please?
assumption "The phone's ringing." Some of you will have
"That'll be for me." met me before.
There's no point in
speaking louder. He won't
understand.
habits A
friend will always help you
.
prediction If you ask him,
he'll probably give you a
lift.
Salty water will freeze at a
lower temperature than
pure water.
intentions (spontaneous Come on, I'll help you with
offers, promises, decisions) those bags.
I will always love you.
I'll have a wiener schnitzel.
Form Meaning/Function Present/Future Past

won't unwillingness, refusal Greg just won't answer the

phone.
The door won't open.
would requests Would you open the door
for me?
Would you mind stepping
outside for a moment?
annoying habits Tom would do something
like that, wouldn't he? It's
so typical of him!
habitual, repeated actions From time to time,
he would call her to ask if
she wanted to meet for
lunch.
unreal situations It would be nice to live by It would have
the sea. been wonderful to meet
you in person.
wouldn't unwillingness I took the phone back to
the shop, but they wouldn't
give me a replacement.
Try as I might, the
door wouldn't open.
Must and have to

■ In writing there is no difference between these. But in speech

there is sometimes a small difference.
■ Must is used when the speaker feels something is important.
– You must start working harder. (I say so.)
■ Have to is used when the situation makes something necessary.
– You have to turn left here. (It’s the law.)
Mustn’t and don’t have to

■ Unlike their affirmative counterparts, these are completely

different.
■ Mustn’t describes something which is prohibited.
– You mustn’t leave now. (it’s against the rules)
■ Don’t have to describes something which is not necessary.
– You don’t have to leave now. (You have a choice.)
Modal-like verbs
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 to Future plan I look forward to seeing you again

Be bound to Probability, Kevin is stuck in a traffic jam, so he is

certainty bound to be late.