modal vbs

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Modal Example Uses

Can They can control their own budgets.

We cant fix it.

Can I smoke here?

Can you help me?

Ability / Possibility

Inability / Impossibility

Asking for permission

Request

Could Could I borrow your dictionary?

Could you say it again more slowly?

We could try to fix it ourselves.

I think we could have another Gulf War.

He gave up his old job so he could work for us.

Asking for permission.

Request

Suggestion

Future possibility

Ability in the past

May May I have another cup of coffee?

China may become a major economic power.


Future possibility

Might We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating

their dinner now.

They might give us a 10% discount.

Present possibility

Future possibility

Must We must say good-bye now.

They mustnt disrupt the work more than

necessary.

Necessity / Obligation

Prohibition

Ought to We ought to employ a professional writer. Saying whats right orcorrect

Shall

(More

common in

the UK

than the

US)

Shall I help you with your luggage?

Shall we say 2.30 then?

Shall I do that or will you?

Offer

Suggestion

Asking what to do

Should We should sort out this problem at once.

I think we should check everything again.

Profits should increase next year.

Saying whats right orcorrect

Recommending action

Uncertain prediction

Will I cant see any taxis so Ill walk. Instant decisions

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I'll do that for you if you like.

Ill get back to you first thing on Monday.

Profits will increase next year.

Offer

Promise

Certain predictionWould Would you mind if I brought a colleague with

me?

Would you pass the salt please?

Would you mind waiting a moment?

"Would three o`clock suit you?" - "Thatd be

fine."

Would you like to play golf this Friday?

"Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "Id like teaplease."


Request

Request

Making arrangements

Invitation

Preferences

!Note The modal auxiliary verbs are always followed by the base form.

Modal verbs can, may, must - grammar rules

We use the modal verbs can, may, must in the English language for various meanings -

ability, possiblity, probability, permission, attitude, opinion, speculation, etc.

CAN

1. It is used to express the ability to do something.

I can swim very well.

Can he can speak English fluently? - No, he can't.

We cannot sing at all!

2. It expresses the possibility to do something.

We can go to the seaside at last. Our holidays start next week.

3. We use it to say that something is probable.

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It can be John. He has blond hair and he is wearing glasses.

4. It expresses the permission to do something.

Why not? You can marry her. She is a nice girl.

MAY

1. It is used forpermissions.

You may borrow my car. I won't need it.

May I smoke here? - No, you can't, I'm sorry.

2. It is used to express probability orprediction.

They may call tomorrow. I hope so.

The main difference between may and can is in style. May is more formal than can. Can

is typical of spoken English.

3. The opposite of may is must not or may not.

May I smoke here?

- You mustn't smoke here. (strong prohibition)

- You may not smoke here. (more polite, very formal)

- You can't smoke here. (informal spoken English)

MUST

1. It is used for strong obligations. It is personal, because it expresses the speaker'sopinion or will.

I must clean my teeth. I want to be healthy.

You must go there. And do it right now!

2. It means a strong recommendation.

You must see it. It's the best film I've ever seen.

3. We use it to show the certainty of the speaker.

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They must be at school by now. It's already 9 o'clock.

4. The opposite of must is need not.

Mum, must I wash up? - No, you needn't. I've already done it.

Must not has a different meaning. It is used to express prohibition that involves thespeaker's will.

We mustn't come late today. Or the teacher will be very angry.

He mustn't enter this room. It is dangerous.

This car be expensive. It's five years old. (can)

You hurry. We have plenty of time. (must)

I am afraid I help you now. (can)

Well, I don't know. He like it. (may)I play the piano. (can)

You wash up today. (must)

You must try hard. You give it up. (may)

She go out on Monday. (can)

Maybe she will return tonight. - She return tonight.

Right: may / can

Don't stand up! - You stand up!

Right: must not / need not

I'm sure they will finish it in a minute. - They finish it in a minute.

Right: must

There is no need to answer the letter. - You answer the letter.

Right: need not

Please, do it for me. - you do it for me?Right: Can

I'd like to see your children. - I see your children?

Right: Can / May

I am not good at football. - I play football.

Right: cannot

Do your homework! - You do your homework.Right: must

Let's take a taxi. - We take taxi.

Right: can

I - ask - may - her ?

Right: May I ask her

he - not - cook - dinner - need .

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Right: He need not cook dinner

round - she - the corner - be - must .Right: She must be round the corner

feel - it - they - can ?

Right: Can they feel it

we - not - drink - must - milk !Right: We must not drink milk

can - the - she - violin - play ?Right: Can she play the violin

invite - he - may - us .

Right: He may invite us

wait - must - I - outside ?

Right: Must I wait outside

Jack - can - stay - not - there .Right: Jack cannot stay there

must - swim - not - I .

Right: I must not swim

Excuse me! you speak French?

Right: Can

Alan isn't coming tonight. He come tomorrow, I hope.

Right: may / can

There's a lot of work to do in the house. You help me!Right: must

You call him anymore. I have already called him.

Right: need not

She is over there. you see her?Right: Can

I borrow your pen, please?Right: Can / May

Teachers beat children. It's forbidden.Right: must not

I can hear some voices. Someone be in the house.

Right: must

We eat sweets! We are on a diet.

Right: must not / cannot

You buy it on Sunday if you want. The shops are open.

Right: can / may

You drive me to the station. I can walk.

Right: need not

We want to be the best. We practise!

Right: must

Don't park your car on bends. It is illegal. - You park your car on bends.

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Right: must not / cannot

Perhaps she will agree with it. Who knows? - She agree with it.Right: may / can

I want you to tidy the classroom. - You tidy the classroom.

Right: must

I need your help. It's too much work for me. - You help me.Right: must

Look at that baloon. It's over there. - you see the balloon?Right: Can

Don't worry about dinner. I'll make it. - You worry about dinner.

Right: need not

It is not necessary to be there. - We be there.

Right: need not

Why don't you stay with us? No problem! - You stay with us.Right: can / may

She is so different. You can be her sisterYou cannot be her sisterRight: You cannot be her sister.

It is the last train. We need not miss itWe must not miss it

Right: We must not miss it.

I'll prepare breakfast myself. You must get up earlyYou need not get up early

Right: You need not get up early.

The coach leaves tonight and it takes twelve hours to get there. He may come beforemidnightHe must come in the morning

Right: He must come in the morning.

The tyres are new. We need not new tyresWe do not need new tyres

Right: We do not need new tyres.We have plenty of time. We must not hurryWe need not hurry

Right: We need not hurry.

On the plane: You need not/must not wear a seat belt all the time.

You wear a seat belt all the time.

Right: need not

You must/must not revise English words if you want to speak English.

You revise English words if you want to speak English.Right: must

You must not/need not take me to the station. I know the way.

You take me to the station.Right: need not

You need not/may not stop in front of my garage. I can't get out.

You stop in front of my garage.Right: may not

Is your telephone all right now? May/Can you hear me again?

you hear me again?

Right: Can

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It must/cannot be Greg. Greg is much taller.

It be Greg.

Right: cannot

Be careful! You must not/need not fall over again.

You fall over again.

Right: must notDon't panic. You must/may pass the exam next time.

You pass the exam next time.

Right: must / may

I can't carry all this luggage on my own. You need not/must help me!

You help me!Right: must

I don't want to go out now. I may/must dust the furniture first.

I dust the furniture first.

Right: must

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