Modals

They are auxiliary verbs or helping verbs such as will, shall, can, would, could, should, might, may, and ought to. Some authors consider have to, need to, and used to to be semi-modals, but they lack some or all of the structural properties of modals. Structurally, modals have several properties (Have to is compared in brackets).
Rule 1: They do not have a third person plural 's'. Rule 2: They invert in questions Rule 3: They do not require do for emphasis. Rule 4: They cannot be linked. Rule 5: They have their own negatives. Rule 6: Ellipsis I can swim. She can swim. (I have to go. She has to go). I should go. Should I go? (I have to go. Do I have to go?) You could do it. You COULD do it. (You have to do it. You DO have to do it.) I will must do it. (I will have to do it). I couldn't call him. (I don't have to call him). I can do it and so can you. (I have to do it and so do you).

Modal auxiliary verbs are used to moderate the main verb, that is to enhance or restrict the verb to a certain context. The most common modal auxiliaries in English are:
can could may should might will must would

Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences: I pay my taxes. I can pay my taxes. I might pay my taxes. General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is something I normally do. Expresses ability. I have the means (funds) to pay. Expresses possibility, but not certainty. Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it at some later time. Expresses mild obligation. It is required, and I expect to comply. Expresses possibility. If I have nothing else to do with the money, I might pay taxes.

I will pay my taxes. I should pay my taxes. I could pay my taxes.

I would pay my taxes. I must pay my taxes.

(In this case), expresses reservation. If I had the money (but I don't). . . Expresses strong obligation. I am required and have to comply.

Perfect Modals
(modal verb + have + past participle) I should have seen that film The primary perfect modals used in English are Could have, Must have, and Should have. Could have (or might have) is used to express an event that could have occurred but didn't. Mike could have had an accident. Jane could have got hurt. Mike didn't have an accident, and Jane didn't get hurt. But because of some prevailing circumstances it could have happened, but didn't. Must have is used to express an opinion that we believe is true. He must have forgotten. Maria must have come late. When we say He must have forgotten, we believe this to be true. We are certain that something happened in the past, because of the information we have. Should have is used to express opinion after an event regarding obligation or necessity. We express that sth. in the past was a mistake. We give our opinion or feeling. Paul should have gone to the doctor. You should have called me. You shouldnt have taken the car (He took it. It was a mistake) You ought to have gone by train (He didnt go by train) CANT have + pp We are certain that something was impossible. - I had a 50 euro note this morning and I cant find it -You must have spent it -Yes, I think so. I cant have lost the note. Something was totally impossible A thief couldnt have got into the house

COULDNT have + pp

NEEDNT have + pp

We express there was not a necessity to do something. We have plenty of drinks. You neednt have bought a bottle.

Other Modals and their Use

Obligation Have to / had to / must He lives very far from school. He has to take the bus every day. He had to retake an exam of chemistry. And I must do the same tomorrow at 9. Dont have to / dont need to / neednt I dont have to wash the dishes: I have a dish washer. You neednt come on Saturday; two days a week are enough. Mustnt / may not You mustnt talk during the exam. You may not leave the room until half past one. Can / may / be allowed to You can go out for 5 min., but youre not allowed to eat in the premises. Must / might / could / cant You must be Carols brother. You look like her. I dont know where she is. She might have missed her train. (past deduction) That woman cant be my sister. She is away on a school trip. Should / ought to / shouldnt / oughtnt to I think they should change this law. Its really stupid. You ought not to talk to the suspect.

No obligation

Prohibition

Permission

Deduction

Advice

MODAL FORMS

Simple Modal I could swim at the beach.

Passive Simple Modal The room should be cleaned once a day.

Passive Continuous Modal Continuous Modal The room should be being cleaned now. I could be swimming at the beach right now. Passive Perfect Modal Perfect Modal The room should have been cleaned I could have swum at the beach yesterday. yesterday. Perfect Continuous Modal I could have been swimming at the beach instead of working in the office. Passive Perfect Continuous Modal The room should have been being cleaned but nobody was there. (Rare form)

Modals Uses and examples

CAN Use Examples ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: I can speak English. to be able to) permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) request offer suggestion possibility COULD Use Can I go to the cinema? Can you wait a moment, please? I can lend you my car till tomorrow. Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? It can get very hot in Arizona. Examples I could speak English but I wasnt able to speak German I could go to the cinema. Could I go to the cinema, please?

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to) permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to) polite question *

polite request * polite offer * polite suggestion * possibility * MAY possibility permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) polite suggestion Use

Could you wait a moment, please? I could lend you my car till tomorrow. Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? It could get very hot in Montana. Examples It may rain today. May I go to the cinema? May I help you?

MIGHT

Use

Examples It might rain today. She might have taken the bus. I'm not sure how she got to work Might I help you? If I entered the contest, I might actually win. If I had entered the contest, I might have won. You might try the cheesecake.

possibility (less possible than may) * hesitant offer * conditional (may, might) suggestion
MUST Use

Examples I must go to the supermarket today. You must be tired. You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

force, necessity, obligation possibility advice, recommendation

Certainty (we are sure that it is true)

That must be Jerry.They said he was tall with red hair That must have been the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street.
Use Examples You mustn't work on dad's computer. You may not work on dad's computer.

MUST NOT/ MAY NOT prohibition NEED NOT not necessary OUGHT TO Use Use

Examples I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight. Examples

advice obligation

You ought to drive carefully in bad weather. You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room. She ought to have the package by now. She ought to have received the package yesterday.
Examples

assumption/ expectation/ probability

SHALL Use

suggestion
SHOULD Use

Shall I carry your bag?

Examples

advice

You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation

You should switch off the light when you leave the room. Susan should be in New York by now. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week. Examples Will you please shut the door? I think it will rain on Friday. I will stop smoking. Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will. She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking. Use Examples Would you shut the door, please? Sometimes he would bring me some flowers. He told me he would be here before 8:00. If I had been President, I would have cut the cost of education.
*no past forms - future forms Use Examples You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it. The movie had better end soon. They had better be here before we start dinner.

assumption/ expectation/ probability WILL Use

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) prediction, assumption promise spontaneous decision habits WOULD

wish, request (more polite than will) habits in the past Past of will conditional

HAD BETTER recommendation

Desperate hope/warning