MODAL AND RELATED VERBS

MODAL VERBS

They express:

• probability

• advice, obligation, prohibition and suggestion

• permission and requests

• ability

• willingness

• refusal

There is no –s in the third person.

There is no do/does in questions or don‘t/doesn‘t in negatives.

They are followed by an infinitive without to (except ought to).

They don‘t have past forms, infinitives or –ing forms.

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PROBABILITY • may / might / could express uncertainty

• She could be lost.

• should expresses positive expectation

• They should be here by now.

• will / must express positive certainty

• She must be on the bus.

• won‘t / can‘t express negative certainty

• She can‘t be at home.

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PROBABILITY Must and can‘t are used to express what we conclude to be the most logical interpretation of a situation.

Will and won‘t are used to express what we believe or guess to be true about the present

Modal verbs must and can‘t aren‘t used in other forms:

• I‘m not sure, but it can be Sally.

• She didn‘t answer. She mustn‘t be at home.

Related verbs:

• be bound to

• be likely to

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ADVICE and OBLIGATION

• should / ought to express advice / mild obligation • must / have (got) to express strong obligation:

• must = personal obligation I‘m tired. I must go home. • have to = obligation based on a law In the UK, you have to drive

on the left.

• In the negative form, mustn‘t is used for negative obligation, while don‘t have to is used to express the absence of obligation: • You mustn‘t shout. It‘s rude. • You don‘t have to shout. I can hear you.

Related verbs: • have (got) to (obligation) • be required to (obligation) • be supposed to (obligation) • need to (obligation) • had better (advice) – past form, but refers to the future

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PERMISSION and REQUESTS

• Permission:

• May / Can / Could I … ?

• Requests:

• Can / Could / Will / Would you …?

• May is used to give permission, but is very formal (usually can / can‘t are used).

• You may go to the bathroom.

• Related verbs:

• Be allowed to

• Be permitted to

• Let

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ABILITY

• Ability is expressed with can, past tense = could.

• He can‘t drive.

• Related verbs:

• Ability on a specific occasion (don‘t use could):

• The wall was very high, but Sam managed to / was able to climb it.

• General ability:

• One day, I hope I‘ll be able to swim much faster.

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WILLINGNESS and REFUSAL

• Will expresses willingness (would in the past)

• I will take you to the airport, I have nothing to do tomorrow.

• Won‘t expresses refusal (wouldn‘t in the past)

• My bank won‘t allow me to make international transactions.

• I took the phone back to the shop, but they wouldn‘t give me a

replacement.

• Shall is used in questions

• Shall we go for a drink?

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NEGATIVES and PAST FORMS

• Modals have different past forms depending on their meaning.

Modal verb Positive Negative Past

Must (obligation) She must leave. She mustn‘t leave. She had to leave.

Must (probability) It must be late. It can‘t be late. It must have been late.

Can (ability) I can swim. I can‘t swim. I was able to swim when I was 6.

Could (probability) She could be asleep.

She can‘t be asleep. She could have been asleep.

Will (willingness) I‘ll pick you up. I won‘t pick you up.

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REGISTER

• Must is associated with a more formal, written style. Have got to is more informal than have to.

• You are required to … / You‘re allowed to … / You aren‘t permitted to … are more formal than must, can or can‘t.

Practice 1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?

a. have to b. would c. should d. could

2. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.

a. might b. could c. ought to d. can

3. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.

a. could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to

4. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!

a. will b. might c. may d. ought to

5. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.

a. has to b. must c. don’t have to d. can’t

6. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.

a. can b. must c. would d. mustn’t

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7. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!

a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to

8. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.

a. can b. would c. must d. have to

9. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.

a. wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t

10. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!

a. must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t

11. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?

a. could b. may c. should d. would

12. You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!

a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can

13. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?

a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need

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Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the same meaning.

I suggest that you get a good lawyer!

You ___________________________________________

Perhaps my father will pick you up.

My father _______________________________________

Eating is forbidden in class!

You ___________________________________________

Look at his dirty clothes! I’m sure he is a poor person.

He ____________________________________________

I don’t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because there’re many contradictions.

The legend of Hercules ____________________________

should get a lawyer

may / might pick you up

mustn’t eat in class

must be a poor person

can’t be true

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Use your imagination

Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.

We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about things to do)

We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)

Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)

We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

We have to buy a new notebook.

She can jump very high! / She is able to run very fast.

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You should see a doctor. / You ought to drink hot tea.

Can I borrow your car, please? / May I borrow your car, please?

You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility) Peter has got a headache and a runny nose. (Give him some advice) You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for permission

politely)

I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York

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