Colégio Municipal Rui Barbosa Prof. Nivaldo Marques

Assunto: Modal Verbs

Inglês Modal Verbs

Inglês Modal Verbs

Modals show the speaker’s attitude or feelings about a situation. For example how probable or necessary something is, or that the speaker is offering or requesting something. The same modal verb can be used in different ways with different meanings – you only know from the situation.

Inglês Modal Verbs

To talk about ability or permission we use can and can’t (or cannot in formal writing)I can play the piano, but I can’t sing. Can I borrow your laptop?

Inglês Modal Verbs

Now, ask your friend if he or she can do these things:

Inglês Modal Verbs

Use can to ask for permission in the following situations: Example: You want to smoke in the cinema

a) You want to sit down

Inglês Modal Verbs

b) You’d like another drink

c) You need to talk to your boss in private

d) You are anxious to see your friend’s photos

Inglês Modal Verbs

However, the past of the modal can is could. We also use it to ask for permission in a polite way, as you can see in the pictures below:

Could I have the menu, please?

Could you open your suitcase, please?

Inglês

Inglês Modal Verbs

Inglês Modal Verbs

We use may to ask permission. Notice that like happens with the modal verbs can and could, may is is used for permission too. Also, the verb may expresses a remote possibility.

Ex: I may not have time to finish tonight. (I don’t know) President Jones may win the next election. (It’s possible)I may some news for you next week. (perhaps I will)He could be stuck in the traffic. (perhaps he is)

Inglês Modal Verbs

Ask permission to do things in the following situations. Use may in all of them. You are in the classroom and you want to go to the lavatory.

You are watching an uninteresting TV program with your parents and you want to switch the channel.

You have just had a bad cold and you want to eat an ice cream.

Inglês

Inglês Modal Verbs

Use may to express possibility in all of these situations:

Ex: Perhaps your uncle and aunt will stay with you for a few days next week. My uncle and my aunt may stay with me for a few days next week. a)Perhaps Betty won’ t come to your birthday party next weekend. b) Perhaps Mr. stone will give you a raise in your salary.

c) Perhaps they will never find the cure for Aids.

d) Perhaps they will cancel the show if it rains.

Inglês Modal Verbs

Inglês Modal Verbs

We use must or have to to explain that something is necessary. Ex: I must finish my homework before 8 p.m. I have to phone Jan at 9 .p.m. In writing there is no real difference between must and have to . In speech there is a small difference: We use have to when the situation makes something necessary, for example because of officials rules: At our school we have to wear a uniform. Every player in a football team has to have a number. When the traffic lights are red, we have to stop.

Inglês Modal Verbs

We use must when the speaker personally feels that something is important. You really must stop working so hard and try to relax. You must be here by 8 a.m., or the bus will leave without you. • In its negative form Mustn't describes an action that is prohibited/forbidden. Ex: You mustn’t cross the road when the red light is showing. .

Inglês Modal Verbs

We use should and shouldn’t to give an opinion about what is the best thing to do. When we speak to another person our opinion becomes advice. I think the police should arrest hooligans. I think you should talk to your teacher about it.

We also use should when we expect that something will happen:

They should arrive here at about 6.30.

Inglês Modal Verbs

Necessity

Prohibition

Advice Obligation

Should Must not Should not

Must

Inglês Modal Verbs

For more information on modal verbs and further practice, check the related links:1)http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html2)http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbmodal.htm