MODAL VERBS.... Revision

Modal Verbs

can	could	may	might	will
would	must	shall	should	ought to

 

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')
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Permission

We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed.

For example:

• Could I leave early today, please?
• You may not use the car tonight.
• Can we swim in the lake?

Deduction

First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'.

For example:

• It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.
• I don't know where John is. He might have missed the train.
• This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!

*PRACTICE HERE
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Ability & Possibility

We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability in the present or the past

For example:

• She can speak six languages.
• My grandfather could play golf very well
• I can't drive.
* For other verb tenses we use BE ABLE TO

• I have never been able to play a musical instrument.
• She won’t be able to finish her work on time. 
• I'd like to be able to fly...

*PRACTICE HERE
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Obligation and Advice

We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice.

For example:

• Children must do their homework.
• We have to wear a uniform at work.
• You should stop smoking.

No obligation or necessity:

·         We don’t have to go to class tomorrow. It’s Saturday.

·         She doesn’t have to cook at home. Her husband does it!
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Present	Positive	Negative
have to / don’t have to	strong obligation (possibly from outside) Children have to go to school. (sometimes ‘have got to’)	no obligation I don’t have to work on Sundays. You don’t have to eat anything you don’t like.
must / mustn’t	strong obligation (possibly based on the speaker’s opinion) I must study today.	negative obligation You mustn’t smoke here.
should / shouldn’t	mild obligation or advice You should save some money.	mild negative obligation or advice You shouldn’t smoke so much.

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*PRACTICE HERE

________________________________________________________Dulce