Modals : can, should, must, have to Modals can, should, must, and have to Can and can'tfor ability, permission, and requests Can and can't are used to: + make statements about things people are and are not able to do. + describe what people are allowed or not allowed to do. + make requests, Can/ean't for ability: ‘Alan can swim very well. I'canttrun very fast. Can/can't for permission: You can leave whenever you want. We can't use our dictionaries during the test. Can/can't for request: Can | borrow your laptop? Can't you tum down the TV? Modals can, should, must, and have to ‘Should and ought to for advice and warnings ‘Should and ought to are used to tell people what to do or what to avoid doing ‘Should/shouldn’t tor advicelwarnings: What should | do? You should ask questions in class. You shouidn't drive so fast Ought to for advicelwarnings: You ought to save more money. He ought to buy some new clothes. NOTE: Ought to is almost never used in questions or negative statements. Ought | to go? You ought not see that movie Modals can, should, must, and have to Must and mustn'tfor rules and laws ‘Must and mustn't are used in formal situations to shaw that something is necessary or prohibited. ‘Must for necessity: My daughter told me that | must lose weight, Must for obligati ‘Swimmers must shower before entering the pool. Mustn't for prohibition: You mustn't be late to class. Must and mustn't are not always opposites. Needn't (need not) expresses a lack of obligation to do something, whereas must't expresses an obligation not to do something.Modals can, should, must, and have to Have fo and don’t have to for personal obligations Have to and don't have to are used in informal ot personal situations to show that ‘something is necessary or not necessary Have to for necessity: | have to call my mother tonight. We have fo rememberto buy Jimmy a birthday present. Don't/doesn't have to for lack of necessity: You don't have to retum the pen. You can keep it. Grandpa doesn't have to comb his hair. He doesn't have any. Ali Maé Said: amsyous@live.fr Source : Advanced Dictionary of American English (Collins 2009)