Modals

MODAL
VERBS
MODALS & SEMI-MODALS
9 main modals: will, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must
only one form
followed by bare infinitive
they form their negative and interrogative form in the same way as auxiliaries
Semi-modals: need (to), ought to, had better, have to
have similar meaning to modals
ought to & had better do not change tense or person
combine with modals, e.g. will have to, may have to etc.
ABILITY – CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
Current or general ability
Can you play chess? Ostriches can run fast.
Past ability
When I was at school, I could play the piano. (repeated action)
The thief was able to escape through an open window. (single occasion)
Future ability – will be able to
Maybe, one day, all the people in the world will be able to communicate in one
global language.
Can and could cannot be used as infinitives. Therefore, we use be able
to.
! I’d love to be able to come on a date with you, but I can’t.
We don’t use could when we talk about a past ability on a single

occasion. Was/were able to, managed to, succeeded are more
! appropriate.
Luckily, she was able to swim her way to safety.
We can use could when we talk about a past ability on a single
occasion with the verbs: see, hear, feel, smell, sense etc.
! The murderer could feel the victim’s fear.
Both wasn’t/weren’t able to and could can be used in the negative for
either a single occasion or a general ability.
! She wasn’t able to/couldn’t finish the report on time.
We use could have done to talk about an
ability or an opportunity not used.
Chelsea could have won the UCL in 2008, but
John Terry missed the penalty.
Real Madrid could have bought David De Gea,

but the fax machine was too slow.
PERMISSION – CAN, COULD, MAY, BE
ALLOWED TO
Asking for permission
Can I borrow your dictionary? Could you lend me $10? May I come in?
Giving/refusing permission
Yes, you can. No, you can’t. May is formal. Could is more
Yes, you could. No, you couldn’t. polite than can.
Yes, you may. No, you may not.
Be allowed to is used when we talk about past
permissions
When I was a child, I wasn’t allowed to play on my PC for
more than 2 hours a day.
Some of the fans were allowed to enter the dressing
rooms of the players.
We can use could for past permission in reported
speech.
My father said that I could have an ice-cream.
POSSIBILITY – CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT
We use can, could, may or might when a situation is possible to happen
Some dogs can be very dangerous.
You can’t be serious.
If you take this pill, you may/might fall asleep.
Our English teacher could be easily distracted sometimes.
We use could to speculate about things, meaning “it’s possible that… .”
It could snow this weekend.
Prices of petrol could fall.
We use may/might/could + have + past participle when we talk or speculate about the
possibility of an earlier event.
I might have lost my key.

They may have met each other, when they
were on holiday.
He might not have checked his email yet.
Be careful! You could have fallen.
 Might and may could be used with well.

E.g. It may well rain.
LOGICAL ASSUMPTION (AFFIRMATIVE) – MUST, HAVE
TO
When we want to say something is very likely or certain, based on evidence, we use
must. (deduction about now)
Look at that car! The owner must be very rich.
You eat like crazy. You must be starving.
 have to is used about deductions in informal situations

These are not my glasses. They have to be yours.
I haven’t order 7 pizzas. This has to be a mistake.
When we are certain about what has already
happened we use must + have + past participle.
(deduction about the past)
Someone must have taken my key. It’s not here.
She must have lied to me, because I found a suspicious
text message.
She must have forgotten for our date.
LOGICAL ASSUMPTION (NEGATIVE) –
CAN’T
We use can’t as the opposite of must in negative deductions.

This can’t be yours. Yours is red.
You can’t be 18. You look like 30.
The bill can’t be $50. I am still starving.
We use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle for negative deductions for earlier or past
events.
She can’t have lied to me after all those years together.
He couldn’t have committed the crime, because he was abroad at that time.
ADVICE – SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER
When we give a piece of advice we use should/ought to/had better
You don’t look well, you should see a doctor.

You ought not to complain so much.
You had better be prepared for the final game.
Hadn’t better is used only in questions.

! E.g. Hadn’t you better check the facts before you talk so much.
 We can use may/might as well to make suggestions, although the
suggestion won’t be good enough, there won’t be a better option.
A: There is no electricity. Now we can’t

play video games.
B: Don’t worry! We might as well play
board games.
 We can use may/might as well to make suggestions, although the
suggestion won’t be good enough, there won’t be a better option.
A: There is no electricity. Now we can’t

play video games.
B: Don’t worry! We might as well play
board games.
REQUESTS, OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS –
CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, SHALL
Can you wait for a moment, please?
Could you wait for a moment, please?
Would you like some tea?
Shall I give you hand?
I will give you a hand.
Will/Would you pass me the salt?
OBLIGATION – MUST, HAVE TO
Current or general obligation
must – personal obligation
I must pay the rent by Friday. have to – external obligation
You have to be on time for work.
Past obligation
I had to do my homework before I went out.
I had to have an Xray, in order to be diagnosed.
Future obligation
I will have to do a research for my project.
NECESSITY – NEED
I need to improve my English.

Do you need to use the computer?
The windows need to be cleaned.
She has to see a doctor.
Need I say more?
LACK OF OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY –
DON’T HAVE TO, NEEDN’T
Lack of current or general
obligation/necessity
You needn’t worry.
I don’t have to be at school tomorrow.
Jim doesn’t have to do his homework
today.
You don’t always need a university
degree to become successful.
Lack of past obligation
I didn’t have to go to school yesterday, because it was Saturday.
didn’t need to vs needn’t have done
 You didn’t need to cook so  You needn’t have cooked so

much food. much food.
 You didn’t need to wash the  You needn’t have washed the
dishes. dishes.
 I didn’t need to study.  I needn’t have studied.
PROHIBITIONS – MUSTN’T, CAN’T, BE
NOT TO, MAY NOT
 mustn’t  be not to (it’s against the
You mustn’t use a phone in rules)
class. You are not to eat in this
room.
 may not  can’t

You may not take personal You cannot park here. = you
calls, during working hours. are not allowed to park here.
CRITICISM – SHOULD HAVE, OUGHT TO
HAVE, COULD HAVE
Criticizing past behavior – should/ought to + have + past participle
We should have taken our tickets.
You ought to have cooked dinner.
Expressing annoyance at past behavior – could/might + have + past participle
You could have killed someone.
You might have told me about her.
Dare

dare as an ordinary verb
Does anyone dare to go there? (to be brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous
or that you should not do)
dare as a semi-modal verb

Dare anyone go there? - (to ask someone to do something that involves risk)
I dare you to throw a stone at the teacher. !!! How dare you challenge me? (without to)
Thank You For Your Attention!
WORK HARD, STUDY SMARTER!

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MODAL

We don’t use could when we talk about a past ability on a single

Real Madrid could have bought David De Gea,

I might have lost my key.

 Might and may could be used with well.

 have to is used about deductions in informal situations

We use can’t as the opposite of must in negative deductions.

You don’t look well, you should see a doctor.

Hadn’t better is used only in questions.

A: There is no electricity. Now we can’t

A: There is no electricity. Now we can’t

I need to improve my English.

didn’t need to vs needn’t have done

 You didn’t need to cook so  You needn’t have cooked so

 may not  can’t

dare as a semi-modal verb

WORK HARD, STUDY SMARTER!

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