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1 Modals

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20 views20 pages

1 Modals

Uploaded by

yadiraa.bonillaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modals are like chameleons

Can , could , be able to

CAN + infinitive : can do , can see etc

CAN = ability : I can play the piano

CAN = permission : Can I leave early?

CAN has only 2 forms - present and past

BE ABLE TO is for the other forms : I’ll be able to see you later
COULD is the past of CAN

COULD is used for general ability : I could play the piano when I
was 4.

WAS ABLE TO / MANAGED for 1 particular occasion :


They were able / managed to escape
↗ is also used for possible actions now or in the future :
We could see a film or go to a restaurant

COULD → used for situations you don’t mean : I’m so angry I could kill him !

↘ for possibility : The phone is ringing. It could be Tim


COULD HAVE + past participle is the past = possible but did not happen:

I could have won if I had tried harder

You could have broken your leg↗ possible it did happen


↘ it didn’t happen

Tu t’es peut-être cassé la jambe


Tu aurais pu casser la jambe
⚠
A person went skiing hors piste and had an accident.
His friends found him and said:

“Keep still. You may / might / could have broken a leg


“.
= possible that something happened in the past.

“Why did you go hors piste ? You might / could have broken your leg
or worse, been killed.( if you had been unlucky = conditional)
= it was possible in the past but didn’t happen

⚠
Don’t use ‘may’ in this case
MUST , HAVE TO
Must = have to = obligation

Must = personal feelings: You must do something I must phone her tonight

= order from a superior (boss, parent)

Have to = impersonal We have to pay taxes He has to work tomorrow

Past = had to

Mustn’t = don’t do it
MAY, MIGHT
MAY / MIGHT : possibility (future/ present) : It may be true. I might go

When used together might is less likely than may : It may rain , it might even snow.

COULD = MAY = MIGHT : It could / may / might be Tim.

Past negative : It may not be true I might not go

May / might = possible actions in the future = perhaps :

I may go to Italy next summer / We may have to wait


Might / May / Could + have + past participle

You could / may / might have left it at home = possible.

He didn’t wave because he may not / might not have seen you = possible.

⚠
BUT not could not have = impossible.
He couldn’t have seen you because he was in Berlin
Will / Would for
certainty
WILL : future certainty
I’ll be on holiday next week

Guessing about the present


(phone rings) That’ll be John. He said he’d phone around now.

In the past
It won’t / wouldn’t HAVE been Peter you saw last night- he’s in Australia
You saw a girl with blue hair. That will/would HAVE been Fifi
MUST , CAN’T :
deduction
MUST = I’m sure it’s true : You must be tired after all that travelling

CAN’T = I’m sure it’s not true : You can’t still be hungry! You’ve just had
lunch.

MUST HAVE / CAN’T / COULDN’T HAVE + past participle = past

He looks unhappy so I suppose he must HAVE failed.

You can’t HAVE spent all that money in just one afternoon !

You couldn’t HAVE seen him, he’s gone abroad


Gabriel writes to Emily every day. He must love her. (I suppose,
by deduction)

Emily never writes back. She can’t love him. (I suppose, by


deduction)
She might /may not have received his letters (possible)
She might/may/could prefer Marcello, I suppose (possible)
NEEDN’t (opposite of must)

Don’t have to = don’t need to = needn’t = not necessary / not an obligation

 You don’t need to / have to book the restaurant, I’ve already done it (not necessary)
 You don’t have to wear a tie here (no obligation / a choice)

I didn’t need to water the plants because it rained ( so I didn’t )

I needn’t have watered the plants because it rained later (I did but it wasn’t necessary )
SHOULD
Should = good idea or advice / opinion
You should stop smoking
I should wait if I were you
Should = not right She should be here by now so where is she

Should = expected to happen She should pass the exam easily


She should have landed by now

Should have done = you didn’t do it but it would have been better if you had done it

Should = ought to (except giving advice with “I” )


Expectation

The plane should / ought to have landed by now

The builders should / ought to have finished by next week

 Responsibility / duty

I should / ought to get on with my work

People should / ought to be warned of the dangers of drinking too much


Obligation

Advice / recommendations
This item is faulty. You should / ought to take it back ( ! You’d better
take it back ! )
You’re coughing a lot. You should / ought to stop smoking ( You’d better
see the doctor ! )
/!\ for outside authorities and advice with I use “should”
Revenues should be declared by the end of March
I should ( or would ) leave early, if I were you
Obligation in the past

Should / ought to + have + past participle

We should / ought to have taken a taxi rather than the underground (regret)

You should / ought to have asked me before taking my bike (annoyance)


SHOULD / OUGHT TO

Should HAVE done = you didn’t do it but it would have been better
if you had done it

You should HAVE sent him a card , it was his birthday yesterday

You ought to HAVE worn a pullover ; now you have a cold

I shouldn’t HAVE drunk so much


Should ( part 2 )
Had better = should = ought to to say what is advisable / sensible

If you’re not feeling well, you’d better stay at home

Don’t use “had better” with past or general comments:

• You ought to / should have caught the earlier train


• Children should / ought to use their phones less

« Supposed to » = obligation to do something.

It is used in spoken English


I’m supposed to hand the work in tomorrow
I was supposed to finish the work last week.
Obligation alternative ( less strong
obligation )

I’m supposed to be there at 10

The work was supposed to be handed in last week

General opinion

Too much sugar is supposed to be bad for you

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