Lesson 8 – Modal Verbs (Part 1)

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb or helping verb that is used to talk
about ability, probability, permission, obligation, advice, and requests.

Some common modals in English are:

 can, could, would

 should, shall, will
 may, might, must

Characteristics of Modal Verbs

Before we dive in to our study, let's learn five important characteristics of modal
verbs:

1. They have only one form, so you cannot add -s, -ed, -ing or make any other
modifications.

2. Modals are used together with a main verb. You cannot put two modals
together (don't say "will can," for example). You also can't use helping verbs
like do/does/did with modals, because the modals themselves already
function as helping verbs!

3. Never use to between a modal verb and the main verb:

 They should to enjoy it.

 You must not to panic.

4. To make the negative form of a modal verb, add not immediately after it.
We often use the short form in spoken English, and the two-word form in
more formal writing:

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 Positive Negative (long form) Negative (short form)

can cannot can't

could could not couldn't

would would not wouldn't

should should not shouldn't

shall shall not shan’t (very rare)

will will not won’t

may may not -------------

might might not mightn’t

must must not mustn’t

To make a question with a modal verb, put it in front of the subject:

 Can you look over this paper?

 Will they be coming to dinner?
 Should I get a tattoo?

You can also add a question word before the modal verb:

 Where can I get some copies made?

 When will they arrive?
 How should we proceed?

5. We also have some expressions called "semi-modals" - these are not exactly the
same as modal verbs because they do not follow all of the rules above - but they do

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perform some of the same functions. Semi-modals include: able to, ought to, had
better, have to, need to, got to - and we will cover these as well.

One thing that makes modals tricky is that many of these words have multiple
functions. The word could, for example, is used for ability, probability, and for
making requests. The word must is used for both probability and obligation.

Instead of learning the modals word by word, we will study them in categories of
function, because this is more practical and will help you see how to use them in real
situations.

Today we'll cover modals for ability and obligation. Tomorrow's lesson will be on
modals for requests, advice, offers, and permission. The final lesson of this series
will teach modals for talking about certainty, probability, and deduction.

Modal Verbs for Ability

Present ability

To describe ability in the present, we use can/can't or able to / not

able to. In everyday speaking, can/can't are more common.

She can speak six languages.

= She's able to speak six languages.

I can't move the couch alone; it's too heavy.

= I'm not able to move the couch alone; it's too heavy.

Can you do a handstand?

= Are you able to do a handstand?

Put it into practice!

What are two abilities you have, and two abilities you don't have? Say them now:

 I can... / I'm able to...

 I can't... / I'm not able to...

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Past ability

To talk about ability in the past, we use could/couldn't or

was/wasn't/were/weren't able to:

 When I was younger, I could eat anything I wanted without gaining weight.
 When I was younger, I was able to eat anything I wanted without gaining
weight.

There are some situations when we tend to prefer one or the other.

1. Use able to for a specific accomplishment (in contrast to general ability):

 Last month we worked very hard, and we were able to finish the project a
week early.
 My television broke, but my friend was able to fix it.
 I can’t believe you were able to sleep with all the noise from the neighbors’
party last night!

2. Using could/couldn't is more common than

was able to for...

Verbs of the senses and of thinking

(hear, see, smell, taste, feel, think, believe,
remember, understand):

 From the top of the mountain,

we could see the ocean miles away.
 What did you say? I couldn't hear you
because I was listening to music.
 He said that he disagreed, but he could understand my point of view.
 I knew we'd been introduced, but I just couldn't remember her name.

With the words almost and hardly:

 The animals in the zoo were so close I could nearly touch them.
 He was so shocked that he could hardly speak.

It’s not wrong to use was able to in these situations, it’s just a little less common.

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Put it into practice!

What are two things that you were able to do when you were a child or teenager?

 When I was younger, I could...

 When I was younger, I was able to...

Future ability

To talk about ability in the future, we only have one option

- will/won't be able to.

 When I move back to my hometown next month, I'll be

able to see my family more often.
 I won't be able to go to the game tomorrow afternoon - I
have a doctor's appointment.

Put it into practice!

Think of a future plan or goal that you have. What's one thing you will be able to do
after accomplishing it, at that point in time?

 When I _____________, I'll be able to...

Modal Verbs for Obligation and Permission

Required / Not Required

When something is necessary, obligatory, or required, we can use:

 must (most formal)

 need to
 have to
 have got to / "gotta" (very informal)

The word must is often used when explaining rules - but it can also be used for a
strong opinion that something is necessary.

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  Students must turn in their final papers by June 30.
(it's a rule)
 Visitors to this country must have a valid visa.
(it's the law)
 If you want to excel in one thing, you must make sacrifices in other areas.
(strong opinion)
 This cake is delicious! You really must have a piece.
(strong opinion)

In everyday English, we more often use need to, have to/has to, and the very
informal have got to or "gotta" to express something that is necessary or
obligatory:

 We have to write a 10-page paper for

biology class.
 You need to fill out these forms in order
to open a bank account.
 If you want to get better, you've got
to practice.
 I'm late! I've gotta run! (or I gotta run!)

In spoken English, these words often sound different because they are pronounced
very fast:

 have to = hafta
 has to = hasta
 have got to = gotta

When something is not required, we can use don't need to or don't have to:

 You don't need to pay for this workshop - it's free.

 My kids don't have to wear a uniform at their school.

Put it into practice!

Say three things that are required, necessary, or obligatory in your country, place of
work, school, or personal life:

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  must
 have to
 have got to / gotta

Now say two things that are NOT required in your country, place of work, school, or
personal life:

 don't have to
 don't need to

Prohibited / Permitted

When something is prohibited, we can use mustn't, can't, may not, or some
alternatives like not permitted and not allowed:

 You mustn't park here - it's a no-parking zone.

 You can't get on the train without a ticket.
 12-year-old kids may not buy alcohol.
 Sharing confidential information outside the company
is not permitted.
 We're not allowed to take pictures inside the art
museum - the flash can damage the artwork.

When something is permitted, we can use can, may, permitted, and allowed:

 You can take a free trial of the product before buying it.
 Employees may take up to two weeks of personal vacation time.
 My kids are allowed to stay up late on Friday nights.
 Visitors to the hospital are permitted between the hours of 2 and 5 PM.

Put it into practice!

Think of one thing that is prohibited in each of the following situations:

 On an airplane, you mustn't...

 In a hospital, you can't...
 In my country, it is not permitted to...
 When I was a child, I was not allowed to...

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Now think of one thing that is permitted in each of the following situations:

 At a bar, you can...

 At my job/school, we are allowed to...

Summary

Past Present Future

could can
Ability will be able to
was/were able to am/is/are able to

must
had to need to will have to
Required
needed to have to / has to will need to
have got to / “gotta”

didn't have to don’t have to won't have to

Not required
didn’t need to don’t need to won’t need to

can’t
may not won't be
wasn't permitted
Prohibited mustn’t permitted
wasn’t allowed
not permitted won’t be allowed
not allowed

can
was permitted may will be permitted
Permitted
was allowed is permitted will be allowed
is allowed

You’ve finished Lesson 8 – Part 1 of our series on modal verbs. Now take the quiz
and do the practice exercises to put these modal verbs into practice and make sure
you know when to use each one in the right situation.

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Quiz – Lesson 8 – Modal Verbs (Part 1)
Fill in the sentences with the correct modal verb from the box:
can may were able to
can't must will be able to
could must not will be permitted to
don't have to couldn’t will need to
had to wasn't allowed to won't be able to

1. Restaurants __________________________ be inspected by the health department in

order to get a permit to serve food.
2. I'm really out of shape. I __________________________ climb a flight of stairs without
getting winded.
3. Students __________________________ leave the cafeteria during the lunch hour, as
long as they are quiet in the hallways.
4. Members of the audience __________________________ask the speaker questions
after she finishes her talk.
5. ___________ you _________________ find a parking space at the stadium yesterday?
6. I saw that film twice but I just __________________________ understand it.
7. This morning I spilled milk all over the table, so I __________________________ clean
it up before leaving the house.
8. You __________________________ drink alcohol while taking antibiotics - you could
get very sick.
9. Once I get certified, I __________________________ work as a massage therapist.
10. We __________________________go to school tomorrow - it's a holiday.
11. When I was a child, I __________________________ play computer games for more
than 30 minutes. My mom didn't want me to get addicted.
12. My cousin does karate, and she __________________________ break a concrete block
with her hand.
13. My son __________________________ read by the time he was 4. Now he's 14 and is
reading college textbooks!
14. When your baby is born, you __________________________ take some time off.
15. If you don't train the new employee, then he __________________________do the
work.

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Writing Task
What's your opinion about rules? Do you believe they should be followed, or do you
believe that "rules are made to be broken"? Are there situations where you think it's
OK to "bend the rules" (make an exception)? Give some examples to support your
opinion.

Also, every society and culture also has some "unwritten rules" - traditions and
expectations that are not official laws, but the majority of people accept and follow
them. What are some of the unwritten rules in your culture? Do you tend to go along
with them or not?

Send me your text at shayna@espressoenglish.net for feedback and correction!

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Answers – Lesson 8 – Modal Verbs (Part 1)
1. Restaurants must be inspected by the health department in order to get a
permit to serve food.
2. I'm really out of shape. I can't climb a flight of stairs without getting winded.
3. Students may leave the cafeteria during the lunch hour, as long as they are
quiet in the hallways.
4. Members of the audience will be permitted to ask the speaker questions
after she finishes her talk.
5. Were you able to find a parking space at the stadium yesterday?
6. I saw that film twice but I just couldn’t understand it.
7. This morning I spilled milk all over the table, so I had to clean it up before
leaving the house.
8. You must not drink alcohol while taking antibiotics - you could get very sick.
9. Once I get certified, I will be able to work as a massage therapist.
10. We don't have to go to school tomorrow - it's a holiday.
11. When I was a child, I wasn't allowed to play computer games for more than
30 minutes. My mom didn't want me to get addicted.
12. My cousin does karate, and she can break a concrete block with her hand.
13. My son could read by the time he was 4. Now he's 14 and is reading college
textbooks!
14. When your baby is born, you will need to take some time off.
15. If you don't train the new employee, then he won't be able to do the work.

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