MODAL VERBS

ENGLISH I

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 Modal Verbs

can •
could We use modal verbs to show if
we believe something is certain,
may probable or possible (or not).
might
• We also use modals to do
shall
should things like talking about ability,
asking permission making
will requests and offers, and so on .
would
must
 Modal Verbs - MODALITY
1. Unicorns don´t exist.
• Factual statement

2. It seems unlikely that unicorns could

ever have existed
• Probability

3. The existence of unicorns must have

always been a myth.
• Very strong probability
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 MODALITY
• relates to the status of the proposition (how likely is it?)
• She must be joking.

• relates to the speaker’s attitute towards the proposition

(how committed is the speaker to what he/she is
claiming?)
• I should do my homework.
• I must do my homework.

• Modal verbs convey modality (modality markers)

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 The speaker’s attitute (modality) can be:
1. Epistemic - possibility (degree of certainty or possibility;
expresses the speaker’s opinion about the truth of a proposition)

• You must be joking.

2. Deontic - ethics/authority (degree of willingness or freedom to

act; concerned with the freedom to act – obligation, permission,
offering, requesting...)

• Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this

school.
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 Deontic or epistemic?
1. He has lived in France for several years, he’s
studied French and so he can read this book.
• Epistemic

2. Ok, you can read the book because you’ve

asked me so many times before, but be very
careful with it.
• Deontic

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 Ambiguity
You must speak German

• It is surely the case that you speak German (after

having lived in Germany for 10 years)
EPISTEMIC

• It is a requirement that you speak German (if you

want to get a job in Austria)
DEONTIC
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 Ambiguity
I can do it.

• Ability (inherent properties allow me to do it)

EPISTEMIC

• Permission (authorities/rules allow me to do

it)
DEONTIC
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 Epistemic or deontic?
1. This book may be renewed by post, telephone
or personal visit to the library.
DEONTIC
2. Morocco would be nice. I have never been
there.
EPISTEMIC
3. Nobody else is going to turn up now for the
lesson, so you may as well go home.
DEONTIC
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 Epistemic or deontic?
4. This door must not be left open.
DEONTIC
5. Our teacher ought not to give us so much
work!
EPISTEMIC
6. You must have left your keys on the bus.
EPISTEMIC

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 Very Likely
Extremely Certain
The traffic
My birthday isn’t heavy.
will be on a should We should be
will Monday this there in an
year. hour.
I won’t have a The traffic
won’t party. isn’t heavy.
I shall have ought to We ought to
plenty to tell be there in an
shall you when I see hour
you.

shan’t I shan’t ask you

to come again.

The cakes must Possible

be ready soon.
must They’ve been in
the oven for an
hour. may She may be a friend
of Richard’s.
You can’t be
can’t hungry. You had might She might be a friend
a huge lunch. of Richard’s.

could She could be a friend

of Richard’s
 Weak Obligation
Strong Obligation
Children should
should look after their
You must arrive parents in old
must at 6 to pick up age.
the tickets.
I have to go up Children ought
have to to the hospital ought to to look after
twice a week. their parents in
old age
We need to win
this game to
need to get into the
final

No Obligation

I needn’t do it
needn’t now. I’ll do it
later.

I don’t need to
don’t need to do it now. I’ll do
it later.

I don’t have to
don’t have to do it now. I’ll do
it later.
 Modals: PAST
I must study.
I had to study.

I should go.
I should have gone.

I can win.
I could have won.
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A. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal:
1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He ____ be
exhausted after such a long flight.
He must be exhausted ...

2. The book is optional. My professor said we could read it if we needed extra

credit. But we __________ read it if we don't want to.
But we don’t have to read it if we don’t want to.

3. You ___________ to do the job if you didn’t speak fluent Japanese.

You wouldn’t be able to do the job ...

4. The television isn't working. It __________ damaged during the move.

It must have been damaged...

5. I've redone this math problem at least twenty times, but my answer is
wrong according to the answer key. The answer in the book ______ be wrong!
The answer in the book must be wrong/has to be wrong! 14
A. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal:
6. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I had previously
worked with Sam, I told my boss that he _____ take another look at his CV
and reconsider him for the position.
... That he should take another look at his CV...

7. You ___ take along some cash. The restaurant may not accept credit
cards.
You should take along some cash.

8. The machine ____ turned on by flipping this switch.

The machine can be turned on...

9. I can't stand these people - I ____ get out of here. I'm going to take off
for awhile while you get rid of them.
I must get out of here.
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A. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate modal:
10. You ___forget to pay the rent tomorrow. The
landlord is very strict about paying on time.
You mustn’t forget to pay the rent tomorrow.

11. Terry and Frank said they would come over right
after work, so they ___ be here by 6:00.
... so they should be here by 6:00.

12. If I had gone to the University of Miami, I __

participated in their Spanish immersion program.
... I would have participated...
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 B. Rewrite the sentences using the word
given.
1. Perhaps they didn't notice the tyre was flat. might
They …

2. All that trouble I went to wasn't necessary in the end. needn’t

I…

3. Apparently someone has borrowed the cassette player. have

Someone …

4. I'm disappointed that you didn’t support me! might

You…
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 B. Rewrite the sentences using the word
given.
5. Our worrying so much was a waste of time. needn’t
We …

6. It's just not possible for the cat to have opened the fridge. possibly
The cat …

7. I'm sure this isn't how you get to Norwich! can’t

This …

8. It makes no difference to me if we call it off. may

We …

9. Although it's summer, the temperature is more like winter. may

It ….
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