Study these examples. The second sentence has a similar meaning to the first sentence. 1. It's forbidden to go near the launch pad mustn't You mustn't go near the launch pad. allowed You aren't allowed to go near the launch pad. 2 | advise you to send them a letter of apology. should You should send them a letter of apology. ‘ought You ought to send them a letter of apology. 3) I'm certain Andrew didn't reveal your secret. can't Andrew can't have revealed your secret. 4 Let's discuss this over lunch. can We can discuss this over lunch 5 Do you think Laura will leave for Chicago earlier than she thought? likely Is Laura likely to leave for Chicago earlier than she thought? 6 Itisn't necessary for Ron to pay for our tickets. have Ron doesn't have to pay for our tickets. need Ron doesn’t need to pay for our tickets. 7 Im sure Robert realised how wrong he was. must Robert must have realised how wrong he was. 8 Itis possible that they will sell their house. may They may sell their house. 9 It wasn't necessary for her to come early, but she did. have She needn't have come early. 10 Everyone is supposed to pay taxes to the government. should Everyone should pay taxes to the government.‘Summary of Functions of Modal Verbs and Synonymous Expressions Criticism Logical Assumptions atleastcall her. (present) He must be tired. (90% certain - atleast have called — positive; I'm sure he Is tired.) esterday. (past) He must have arrivad by now. should lel us know, (positive; m sure he has arrived) “Heshauld have fet us Know before. It ean’t/couldin’t be a fake. (neg- (buthe didn’) ative; 'm sure itien't a fake.) ‘fein ought to be more helpfull ‘She ean't/couldn't have killed Yousught to have been more Fim. (negative; I'm sure she heblu, (twas the right thing to. didn’t kill him } io but you didn't do it) Offers / Suggestions Can we carry your bags? (otter = informal) Shall {/we collect your laundry? {offer - informal ‘Would you like to stay with me. for a couple of days? (otter) Would you like me to give you a lit? (offer) ‘Shall we have a break? (sug, We an watch TV. (suggestion) We could go to the theatre tonight. (suggestion) ‘We could have stayed longer if you'd wanted, (suggestion - past) Let's play football (suggestion). Why don’t we play football? (suggestion) (iormal; refusing per- Haw about playing football” 'en notice) (suggestion) toned to seo the patent. What about playing football? of) {suggestion} Probability He will come tomorrow. (100% eertain; prediction) He should/ought to come by later, (90% cortain; future only; it's probable) He should/ought to have reached Rome by now. (He has probably reached Rome.) Advice You should stop smoking. (general advice; | advise you) You should have stopped smoki (but you didn’t) ‘You ought to comply with the regulations. (I advise you; most peaple believe this.) You Ought to have contacted a Jawyer earlier. (but you didn’t) You had better not lie to her. (it isn't @ good icien; advice-cn a specific situat iiwould have been better if you hadn't lied to her. {but you ald) Shall | enter the competition? (asking for advice)‘The modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, will, would, shall, should. ‘They take no -g in the third person ae and are followed by an infinitive without to except for “ought to”. He must beat work, He ought to do whiat you asked hira (0. They come before the subject in. questions and are followed by “not” in negations. “Could you /[Link] with the dishes?” "Tim sory | can’t.’ Certain verbs or expressions can be used with the same meaning as modals, These are: noed must), had better {= should), have (gol) to (= must), be able to (= can), used to (= would) ete, @ got to go Io ite brary. ] Ability ‘Obligation Requests: ‘She ean dance well. | must cut down on fats. (| need to: (Can I see the Manager? (infor She could/was able to dance wel | say so) Could I see the Managec? ( when she was young, (repeated —| have ta cul down on fats. (I'm May | see the Manager, please? action - ability in the past) obliged to; the doctor says $0) (formal, | ‘She's able to type 120 words Ihad to cut down or else | would — Might | see the Manager? (very have got overweight. (past) formal) ‘They were able to buy acarafter We oughtto stay within the speed Will you do my shopping? (os "years. (single action in fim. (tks the right thing to d6, Bul ial) we dont aivays do it) ‘Would you mind working overtiré c ‘table to save We ought to havestayed within the (pole: formal) the patient. spood imi. (was the right ing to dda But wo did do t) Possibility Necessity Prohibition / Duty He can't still be at home. {90% | must see a doctor scon. (Isay 60) You ean't enter this area, (prob certain) | had to see a doctor. (was bition - you aren't allowod to) He could/may be tired. (50% obliged to; past) ‘They couldn't enter that area, certain; it's possible he is tired) He has to wear an overall at work. (prohibition - they weren't He might come later. (40% certain; (necessity from outside the speaker) allowed to} perhaps he will come later) He had to wear an overall when You mustn't touch the statues. He could have killed her. (luckily he was at school. (past) {prohibition - It is torbiekten) he didn't - past) We've gat to move house. informal) You may nat smoke in the He may/might have sold his They had to move house. (past) corridors. (prohibition - formal) house. (perhaps he sold it- past) The catneeds feeding. or The cat All applicants must fill in this, ttle likely that Ann will offerto needs ta be fed. (tis necessary) form. (duty) help. The cat needed feeding. or The —_All applicants had to fill in that ‘Ann Ie likely to. offer to help. cat needed to be fec. (it was form. (duty - past) icwas likely that she had missed necessary) People aught to respect the bus. (past) You ought to behave yourself. it the environment, (it is the right ‘She was likely to have missed ——_is necessary) thing to de but people don't ‘the bus. tpast) She doesn't have to/dossn't need mia doit ; to come. [it isn’t necessary - hess notified the Note: to express possibility in absence of necessity) ae lary. (It was questions we use: Ishe fkely io..? She didn't have todidn’t need to far oght tang Be but he di Is it likely that he ...? Gan he ...? come. (i wasn'tnecessary for herta — do it.) Could he ..? Might he ..? come and we don't knaveif she cid} ‘Gould he Stil ba at work? not: ‘Sho needn't have came so early. 1 map (it wasn't necessary for her to ‘ ‘come but she did) 114, 15, 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23, 24, Jt wasn't necessary for me to walk to work as he gave me a lift. J didn’t need to walk to work as he gave mea litt. There's no need to correct the tests today. Dont bother to correct the tests today. Itisn’t neces: necessary to correct the tests today. You needn't correct the tests today. You don't need to correct the tests today, Re isn't ‘obliged to fell you the truth, He needn't tell you the truth. “He doesn need/have to tell you the truth. It is important for you to learn to drive. You need/have to leam to drive. Are tests compulsory at this school? Do you have to take tests at this school? Senior students don't have to take tests. It's optional for senior students to take tests. It is against the rules to write your answers in ink. You mustn't write your answers in ink. itis forbidden to smoke in most public places. You mustn't smoke in most public places. He couldn’t go out because it was raining. The rain prevented him from going out. It is advisable to speak politely to your teachers. You should speak politely to your teachers. You had better speak politely to your teachers. It would be a good idea to go on a diet. You had better go on a diet. You should/ought to go on a diet. It is advisable to go on a diet. 28. 29. 31. 32. . Why didn’t you consult your lawyer? You should have consulted your lawyer. Let's work out the details. Shall we work out the details? Why don't we work out the details? ~. Shall f help you with the dishes? Would you like me to help you with the dishes? Could you come on Monday? Would Monday be convenient for you to come? How does coming on Monday suit you? May 1 borrow your car? Do you mind if | borrow your car? Would you mind if | borrowed your car? Could | borrow your car, please? . Would you like to open a bank account? Would it interest you to open a bank account? Would you be interested in opening a bank account? How would you feel about opening a bank account? She is unlikely to pass her exams. tis unlikely/not likely that she'll pass her exams. There's little likelihood/possibility of her passing her exams. It’s doubtful whether she'll pass her exams, He is likely to win the prize. It is fikely that he will win the prize. It is very possible that he will win the prize. He could certainly win the prize. There is every likelihood that he will win the prize.Structural Conversion \S) |. Perhaps she is abroad. She may be abroad. She must have attended the ceremony. 2, Perhaps she wasn't taking a bath. 9. I must reject this plan. ire ea De Lhave no option but to reject this plan. . Perhap ceria Lwill have te reject this plan. Pebreyimes ere tral 10. 1. don’t think she'll pass the test. |. 1 think she has lost her way. She can't pass the test. She must have lost her way. 11. I’m sure he isn't lying to us. ». | suppose he has left Austria. He can't be lying to us. He must have left Austria. . 12. It wasn't necessary for you to buy so many 3. | think he was in Germany. roses as you did. He must have been in Germany. You needn't have bought so many roses. ’, Lis certain that he'll fail i‘ 13. Was it necessary for her to behave like that? He is bound to fail Did she need/have to behave like that?m® May - Must - Can't May perhaps) Must think, I suppose) Can't (=! don't think, | don't suppose) She must be at work. is at work. She can't be at home. I don't think she is at home. She may have gone out. Perhaps she went out. 23 = Presentation 2 B® Must - Can’t - May + Infinitive Simple Present Perhaps he works as a teacher. Future {don’t think he will win. Present Continuous I suppose he fs working hard. Future Continuous Perhaps they will be playing tennis. Simple Past 1 don't think he worked very hard. Present Perfect Perhaps he has left work. Past Continuous {don't believe she was working last week. Perfect Continuous | think they have been living here a long time. Present Infinitive He may work as a teacher. Present Infinitive He can't win, Present Continuous Infinitive He must be working hard. Present Continuous Infinitive They may be playing tennis. Perfect Infinitive He can't have worked very hard. Perfect Infinitive He may have left work. Perfect Infinitive ‘She can't have been woking last week. Perfect Continuous Infinitive They must have been living here a fong time.Ability/Inability “QQ Possibility/impossibility J an see Smoke in the distance. ‘She can't speak German. When I was at school, Icould play a lot. (repeated action) He was able to escape through a window. action) She wasn't able tojeouldn't ‘eat the sandwich. (Both types ar beens ewes ‘She must pay the rent by Friday. (strong obligation or duty) Ihave to speak to the boss. (obligation | necessity) @ had to have an X-ray. You needn't worry - everything's under control. I don't have to leave until 3 p.m. You needn'thave walted for you waited) They dicin't need to make any more food. (And they didn’) Advice You should take a holiday. You_ought to try harder. You ought not to complain so much. You can have a piece of cake if you want one. We could ask someone for help. He may be lucky this time. ‘She might come with us. (But I don't think so.) ‘You can't rely on British weather. Is she likely to come? {sit likely that she'l come? He has to make up his mind soon. Must ! go with you? DoJ have to finish this now? Need he sign the form? Logical Assumption (affirmative) ‘Hemust be nervous about the test. ‘You must be feeling very sad. ‘She must have left by now. He must have been lying ail along. We should have made sure that the tickets were valid, (but we didn’) ‘He ought to fee cnoted cle. Permission/Concession Gan | ask you.a question? Could you give me some advice? May I make a suggestion? Might I borrow your newspaper? (formal) You can sit here if you'd like to. You may take the fast sweet. Prohibition You musin't eat in this room, in this ‘room. (= it's against the rules) You can't join the tennis club. (= you aren't allowed to join the tennis club) Logical Assumption (negative) It can’t be yours - I'm sure it isn’t. ‘She can't be enjoying her- ‘self; she looks so bored. He can't have broken the window. You can't have been listening properly. Requests, Offers, ‘Suggestions ‘Can you huny up, please? ‘Would you pass me the salt? Wl give you a lift. ‘Shall | make the tea? ‘She should goto the dentist's. I might as well watch T.V.> |. Need and dare are followed by a bare infinitive if they are used as modals, otherwise they are followed by a full infinitive. eg. Youneedn’tcome. or You don’t need to come. . Be able to, be allowed to and have to are used to fill in the missing tenses of can, may (when expressing permission) and must respectively. . Was able to is used to refer to a past single action whereas could is used to refer to a past repeated action. e.g. Although he was tired, he was able to swim to safety. When he was young, he could swim well. Have to expresses external obligation whereas must expresses obligation imposed by the speaker. Se to the law, all motorcyclists have to wear a helmet when riding their motorcycles. | must wear my helmet when I ride my motorcycle or I'll be fined. (it's my decision to take the risk.) . May expresses possibility whereas might increases the doubt. e.g. He may come if you ask him to. She might come if she has time. (slight possibility)