MODAL VERBS

• CAN:possibility-impossibility: “I can/can´t walk”

ability: “I can play the piano”

permission: “Can I smoke here?”

negative deductions: “they can´t be at home, the lights are off”

• COULD:ability in the past: “My grandfather could speak French and English”.

polite request:”Coild you say it again, please?

impossibility in the past:”It was so windy that I couldn´t open the window.”

suggestions:”We coul go to the cinema”

speculation:”These keys could be mine”.

MODAL VERBS• MAY: polite requests:May I ask you soething?”

Permission: You may go out now. Possibility: He may visit us tomorrow. Speculations:He may be the man who won the lottery, look at his new car¡

• MIGHT:Possibility: she might be awarded the prize. Speculations: they might have come into the house through an open window.

• MUST: Obligation (impossed by speaker)You must go to bed now. emphatic advice:You must take more exercixe. Prohibition (negative): you musn´t run in the corridors. affirmative deduction: The news must be true.

MODAL VERBS• NEED: necessity:”need we tell them now?

absence of obligation (negative):You neend´t get up early tomorrow.

• HAVE TO: Obligation(external authority) Your friend has to be more responsible.

You have to wear uniform of dutyAbsence of obligation (negative):You don´t have to do it now if you don´t want to.

• SHOULD/OUGHT TO: advice:you shoul eat more moral obligation:you should have been more responsible. complaints of past actions:you shouldn´t have lied.

Modal verbs

• WOULD: polite requests: would you mind closing the door?

polite offers: Would you like some biscuits?

• SHALL: suggestions: Shall we go to the cinema?

offers:Shall I open the window for you?

making decisions at the moment of speaking: I shall report to the police immediately.

MODALS• USED TO: habits, routines in the past, which

contrast with the present:

“We used to play football when we were children”

• WOULD: habits , routines BUT doesn´t express states:be/think/have/believe/like

“In spring we would go to the country every weekend”

”My father used to have a mercedes “ NOT¡¡¡:

“My father would have a mercedes”

• BE/BET USED TO + GERUND:past, present or future situations already experienced. (GET: somebody is getting used to or getting familiar with a situation/action)