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MODALITY is the category by which speakers express attitudes towards the event contained in the
proposition.When English speakers use a modal, they interject their own perspective and view a
proposition more subjectively than when they simply use present or past tense; all modal
expressions are less categorical than a plain declarative. For this reason, modality is said to express
a relation to reality, whereas an unmodalised declarative treats the process as reality. Modals are
used for several reasons: to give the proposition a degree of probability, to perform various social
functions, such as expressing politeness or indirectness when making requests, giving advice or
granting permission.
MODALS
The term refers to a small group of words in English, sometimes called “modal auxiliaries” (cf.
“primary auxiliaries”) or modal verbs.
A modal can thus be used as a VP on its own when it is in contrast with another full VP. It is not
necessary to repeat the main verb; the effect is to draw attention on the contrast:
Each of the modals has both intrinsic and extrinsic uses. In some instances there is an overlap of the
two uses.
Most of the modals can be paired into present and past forms (can/could, may/might, shall/should,
will/would). From the point of view of meaning, the past forms are often merely more tentative or
more polite variants of the present forms.
CENTRAL MODALS
CAN
A) ABILITY
Present or “general” ability, i.e. the ability to do sth. at any time you want to
Animate Subjects: Potential Performance. e.g.: I can resist everything, except temptation.Inanimate
Subjects: It indicates that they have the necessary qualities or power to cause the event to take
place. The subject is generally instrument, or external force.
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e.g.: Our team can easily win. Hydrochloric acid can’t dissolve gold
A1) CAN: Permanent accomplishment (know how to). E.g.: He can speak German fluently.
To make present decisions about future ability. E.g.: We’re too busy today, but we can repair your
car tomorrow.
Ability + Willingness. (In my opinion, it is Ability, not Possibility, since the addressee may not be
able to perform the action because he hasn’t got the ability to perform the action)
E.g.: Can you do me a favor? Can you translate this for me?
Speech Act: Requests (Ability + Will) Listener’s will. Can you come here a minute, please?
b) The answer expected is “Yes”, the implication being “We CAN and therefore we SHOULD”
B) POSSIBILITY
Theoretical i.e. used to say that events are possible (without talking of the possibility of them
actually happening). It is possible for someone to do sth. /sth. to happen.
E.g.: Even expert drivers can make mistakes. (It’s possible for even expert drivers to make
mistakes.)
Characteristic Behavior: talking of what may be possible.; usually but not always something
unpleasant. It implies a tendency. It is used to say what is common or typical
E.g.: A house in London can cost a lot of money.
E.g.: We’ve got three choices: we can go to the police, we can talk to Peter ourselves, or we can
forget all about it.
Speech Act: Offers: I can lend you a pound till Wednesday, if that will help.
Present Possibility (at the moment of speaking) Only in interrogative and negative sentences: Who
can that be at the door?
It can’t be true. She must be mistaken. (It’s impossible for it to be true.)
With the Perfect infinitive, it is used for speculating or guessing about the past. E.g.: Where can she
have gone? She can’t have gone to school - It’s Sunday.
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C) PERMISSION (asking for, giving, refusing or reporting it) Source of authority: General (not
identified)
1) Source of authority Speaker and Rules. E.g.: You can smoke in this room.
2) Source of authority Circumstances. E.g.: You can have my seat, I‟m leaving now.
3) Asking if it is allowed. E.g.:Can I smoke in here?
4) Refusing permission (rules). E.g.: You can‟t smoke in this room.
Speech Act: Offers (apparently, asking for permission; really, we are offering something) E.g.: Can
I buy you a drink?
Speech Act: Orders (apparently, giving permission; really, telling people what to do) Indirect
command: “You can go and jump in the river.” “You can forget about a holiday.”
To convey a command, often of an impolite kind. The speaker sarcastically offers someone the
choice to do sth. that cannot be avoided or sth. no one would choose to do.
b) “Mike and Willy, you can be standing there and Jill can enter from behind.”
COULD
A) PAST ABILITY (permanent or habitual ability) General. To say that you could do sth. at
any time you wanted to.
It is not used to talk about Particular Ability (to do sth. on one occasion) in the past. Instead, we use
WAS / WERE ABLE TO / MANAGED TO / SUCCEEDED IN. However, the negative form is
used for both GENERAL and PARTICULAR ability.
E.g.: When I was younger I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do.
Potential performance in the chronological past. E.g.: I could swim when I was five.E.g.: My father
could speak ten languages.
Actual performance.E.g.: “I could understand all he said” (verb of mental state- inert cognition)
Hypothetical ability. It refers to a present situation. E.g.: “I‟m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
In Conditional Sentences: COULD in the ability sense does not occur in a hypothetical main clause
when the main verb is a state verb referring to a permanent accomplishment depending upon some
other event.
E.g.: If you had had proper lessons, you would have more fluency. *could
With the Perfect Infinitive: to say that we had the ability to do sth. but we did not try to do it
Unrealized past possibility:
1- I could have married anybody I wanted.
B) POSSIBILITY: When we want to say that there is a chance of sth. happening but implying
that it is possible but unlikely.
may might
3- Could I see you tomorrow evening?
4- It could rain later on this evening.
5- There could be trouble at the match tomorrow.
COULD is not only the past form of CAN, it can be used to talk about the present and the future.
Future Possibility: To give the idea that sth. is just possible but not particularly likely. E.g.: We
could go climbing this summer, but I doubt if we‟ll have time.
Past Possibility: Used for sth. that was possible in the past. E.g.: In those days those voyages could
be dangerous.
Present Possibility: To say that sth. is possibly true at the moment of speaking. E.g.: You could be
right, but I don’t think you are.
Characteristic behavior in the past: E.g.: My grandmother could be very unpleasant at times.
Speech Act: Suggestions (more tentative or less strong or definite; therefore, politer) E.g.: We
could try asking Lucy if you think it’s a good idea
Speech Act: Offers.E.g.: I could do the shopping if you’re tired.
Speech Act: Requests or Orders (implication of willingness) * Informal request.
E.g.: Could you help me? * An order in a polite way.
Speech Act: Criticisms.E.g.: You could/might/may try and be more civilized.
Criticisms with the Perfect Infinitive:
1) For speculating or guessing about the past in affirmative sentences. E.g.: She could have gone
off with some friends.
2) To talk about an unrealized past possibility, i.e. sth. That was possible but did not happen. E.g.:
You were stupid to go skiing there; you could have broken your leg.
3) To criticize people for not doing things; a complaint about a past omission. E.g.: You could have
given me some notice. Might
4) To say that sth. was not a possibility.a- My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I couldn’t have
put up with all those years of study.
5) Tentative guess about a past event. E.g.: Could you have left your purse on the bus? (Is it just
possible that you left it there?)
In Conditional Sentences
If the astronauts momentarily lost radio contact with Earth the whole mission could be ruined.
C) PERMISSION (more hesitant than “can”). It is used when you are not too sure that you will
get permission or when you don‟t want to sound too sure. E.g.: Could I ask you something if you‟re
not too busy?
General permission (they were allowed to do sth at any time, not on one particular occasion)
E.g.: a) On weekdays we had to get up early, but on Sundays we could stay in bed till 9:00.
b) The prisoners could leave the camp when they wished. c) When I was a student I could travel at
half-price.
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Note: To talk about permission for one particular occasion in the past we use WAS / WERE
ALLOWED TO, to show permission which resulted in an action.
In Conditional Sentences
If you were a student you could travel at half price.
In Reported Speech
“You can speak to the patient.”
He said we could speak to the patient.
In the past
. 1) I was plenty scared. In the state she was she could actually kill.
. 2) My father could usually lay hands on what he wanted.
. 3) He was laughing so much he could hardly get a word out.
. 4) I could almost/ nearly reach a branch. I could just reach the branch. I could Ø
reach the branch because it was loaded down.
MAY
Permission granted by one of the interlocutors. E.g.: You may smoke in this room
May I smoke?
Nowadays “may” (permission) is losing ground: to the more popular form of “can”:
e.g. These days, children can do what they like.
for general permission (at any time);When I was ten, I could watch most T.V. programmes if I
asked my parents first.
when permission existed but it wasn‟t acted on, probably because of ignorance on the part of the
subject.We might have spoken to the patient.
There is a chance that sth. will happen or is happening. => future reference
Negation: the proposition is negated. E.g.: We may go climbing in the Alps next summer.
I wonder where Emma is. She may be with Nelly I suppose. (It is possible that she is.)
You may notice Impersonal statements; rather empty formulae used as pointers
We may consider for the reader‟s attention.
William is working late tonight so that he may go to the cricket match tomorrow.
With the perfect infinitive, it refers to past time to denote the possibility that past events happened.
A guess.E.g.: A: “Polly‟s very late”.
B: “She may have missed her train
Speech act: Suggestion: very polite. E.g.: I thought perhaps you may like to come along with me.
D) WISHES
1- Benediction.
May you both be happy.
May all your dreams come true.
2- Malediction.
May his evil designs perish.May he never set foot on this house again.
D) It is used to suggest: “it seems reasonable to do so” “You may say I’m a dreamer…” (John
Lennon)
E.g.: A friend can betray you (like any other friend) E.g.: A friend may betray you (a warning)
In the NEGATIVE, “can” negates the modal. Impossibility. E.g.: In the NEGATIVE, „may‟ negates the predication.
He can’t be working. E.g.: He may not be working
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MIGHT
A) PERMISSION.: It carries the idea of being tentative or hesitant, and it is not very common.
Source of authority: General
E.g.: 1- I wonder if I might have a little more cheese.
3- You might have come yesterday. (if you had wanted) Permission existed but wasn‟t acted on.
4- The captain said that the prisoners might leave the camp when they wished. - It is especially used
in Reported Speech.
B) POSSIBILITY (Factual)
It suggests a smaller possibility than “may”.E.g.: A: “I might get a job soon.” B: “Yes, and pigs
might fly.” - There’s more reserve or doubt on the part of the speaker.
Hypothetical; unreal condition. E.g.: If you loved me, I might marry you. If you had loved me, I
would have married you.
In sentences about the past “might” is sometimes used in adverbial clauses of purpose introduced by
“so that” / “in order that”. This is a rather unusual, literary structure and in Modern English it is
more common to use “could” or “should” in these cases. E.g.: He saved all his money so that his
son might/could/should have a good education.
Concessive use. E.g.: Try as he might, he could not persuade his friends to go. The event is marked
as less likely, less relevant in the speaker‟s view.
No change in Reported Speech. He admitted that the news might be true. He might/could be telling
lies.
It also denotes criticism, unfulfillment - Implied negative - Sarcasm or annoyance on the part of the
speaker: You might have told me she was going to stay out all night. (cf. You may have told me she
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To talk about a past event that was possible but did not happen:You were stupid to try climbing up
there. You might have killed yourself.
Reported statements
The news may be true. He admitted that the news might be true.
MUST
MUST can only be used to refer to present or future obligation. To talk about the Past, we must use
either HAD TO (fulfilment) or WAS/WERE TO (unfulfillment).
Source of authority: the speaker (or public signs)It is used to talk about an obligation that depends
on the person speaking or listening.
Strong advice or order to oneself or to other people. Self - compulsion through a sense of Duty.
E.g.: I must phone my parents tonight. -
Strong advice or order to oneself or to other people. Social responsibility. E.g.: We must invite the
Stewards to dinner. -
Obligation imposed by the speaker. E.g.: You must be back at ten o’clock.
Expecting a negative answer.E.g.: Must you leave already? (...surely you don’t)
To ask about the wishes or intentions of the person that one is speaking to. E.g.: Must I clean all the
room?
Sarcasm.E.g.: Must you make that dreadful noise? (...surely you don’t have to)
Pressing advice; a stronger form of “should” - Social convention. You must see the film if you get a
chance.
In these examples Must does not seem appropriate as they are invitations, but it is in fact polite to
be insistent in matters in which the person addressed is the beneficiary from the action.E.g.: Well,
you must say what you want for a present. Oh, you must come around and see me.
“Must” is stressed. There’s a tone of petulant irony. Here “must” indicates compulsion by the hearer
(self-compulsion). It is as if the speaker pays service to the idea that the hearer does what he does
under internal compulsion, rather than of his own will
E.g.: If you must smoke, use an ashtray... (If you are under the compulsion of smoking...)
11- Obligation for non-action; it is used to tell people not to do things. Prohibition: You mustn’t say
anything
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To talk about complete fulfilment in the past, we use HAD TO. E.g.: I had to leave early yesterday
because I wasn’t feeling well.
When there was no accomplishment of the past action ordered, we use WAS/WERE TO. E.g.: I was
to visit the dentist yesterday but I didn’t have time.
In Indirect Speech
Then, I decided that I must stop smoking.
He said he had to go because he had an appointment.
He said he must tell you.
B) LOGICAL NECESSITY/ DEDUCTION (Given the evidence there can be no other conclusion)
DEDUCTION (knowledge arrived at by evidence or reasoning, rather than by direct experience)
We are sure about something because it is logically necessary.E.g.: That must be my wife.(I know
that she is due to phone at about this time and I therefore conclude that she’s phoning now.)
Assumption (I assume that you are; I take it that) You must be Mr. Jones.
A little more than a guess, an estimating statement. You must be a foot taller than I.
It is used in a question positively oriented to get the hearer to reconsider his assumption. Must the
purse be at the station?
Yes, it must.
No, it needn’t.
Also: “Why must the purse be at the station?” It is often preceded by “why” Must they be on
holiday? Can
NOTE:
MUST is used in a rather weaker sense with a limited set of verbs all related to the act of
conversation. The speaker either imposes the obligation on himself and by doing so actually
performs the act (I must admit - I admit) or else asks his hearer to behave in a similar way.
to reproduce themselves.
SHALL
It indicates the will of the speaker, rather than that of the Subject of the sentence.
A) WILLINGNESS on the part of the speaker (the speaker is conferring a favor)- With 2nd. And
3rd. person subjects it is common in older English when the speaker wanted to show strong
emotions in promises or threats. It is rare especially among young speakers.
B) INSISTENCE OR DETERMINATION on the part of the speaker (of very restrictive use
because it carries strong overtones of imperiousness and sounds undemocratic).
2- He shall be punished.
This could be found in fairy tales in the speech of wicked uncles, ogres and stepmothers. Nowadays
we would prefer “I’ll make you suffer for this”.
D) In questions
There is a slight additional modification of the meaning of SHALL in statements. The volitional
meaning is the neutral of wanting rather than the strong sense of insistence or the weak sense of
willingness. In all these examples, the speaker asks the hearer the responsibility for deciding that an
act can take place. He’s not simply obtaining information.
He’s offering to act.
Shall I close the window?
In Reported Speech
1- “Shall I try this number again?”
He asked if he should try this number again. *would
If WOULD were used, the meaning of asking for instructions would be lost.
SHOULD
- It’s used in general to say what we think is right or good for people to do.
- It’s used instead of MUST, which would sound too peremptory (expecting to be obeyed
immediately and without question or refusal) in instructions or corrections.
E.g.: You should do as he says.
E.g.: The children should be punished.
E.g.: This should be done before the pollen is ripe.
Ought to: has a more objective force, and is used when talking about laws, regulations, etc. E.g.:
You should / ought to go to see Mary. and
Question (rare) E.g.: Should there be any difficulty in getting the tickets?
With the Perfect Infinitive: To talk about things that did not happen, although they were supposed
to.
E.g.: The taxi should / ought to have arrived at 8.30, but it didn’t turn up.
C) IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
Conditional clauses: in rather formal real conditions it is more tentative than the indicative or the
subjunctive; it makes it less likely that the condition be fulfilled.
2- If you should hear news of them, please let me know. Should you hear news of them, please let
me know.
3- Should the container explode, there would almost certainly be widespread damage.
Omission of “IF” and S-op. Inversion; a more formal expression of hypothetical, unreal
conditions.
Nominal that-clauses (Od): after certain emotive or volitional verbs, especially in Past sentences,
when we are expressing the idea that something must be done or is important.
Verbs: advise - ask - command - decide - decree - demand - insist - move - order - propose -
recommend - request - require - suggest - urge - vote - wish - deplore - prefer- regret.
Nominal that-clauses (Adjectival complement): after volitional and emotive adjectives such as:
amazed - angry - anxious - astonished - concerned - eager - shocked - sorry - surprised - keen -
insistent.in sentences where we express personal reactions to events
c) Pers. - be - Adj.: amazed - angry - anxious - concerned - eager- shocked - surprised - keen -
insistent.
1- I was shocked that he shouldn’t have invited Phyllis.
2- I’m sorry that you should think I did it on purpose.
3- 3- He was astonished that she should do a thing like that.
In past sentences in subordinate clauses of purpose introduced by “so that” “in order that”.
1- He came in quietly in order that he shouldn’t wake his wife.
2- Mary talked to the shy girl so that she shouldn’t feel left out.
3- He turned the stereo down so that he shouldn’t disturb the neighbours. in order that
4- I hid it lest he should see it.
- When you don’t want to do something, or do not know something and want to show that you are
angry that someone expects you to do it or know it.
2- How should I know? When you do not know something, and want to show that you are angry
that someone expects
you to know it.
3- We were having a good time when who should come along but Tom Brown!
Who do you imagine came along but...
- It is used for turning direct statements into questions to emphasize that something is very
surprising.
WILL
A) WILLINGNESS (to do something, or to offer to do something)
b) Will you open the door? With second person subjects, the listener’s will is involved; Request.
Ask about people’s wishes: Will you have some more wine? What will you drink? Invitation.
In the negative the meaning is refusal. E.g.: She won‟t open the door.
With the first person subjects, it is the non-volitional future. E.g.: What will I do?
B) INSISTENCE - DETERMINATION
Determination: With first person subjects the speaker makes his own, uncompromising
determination felt.
E.g.: I will go out with him.
Insistence: With the second and third person subjects, the speaker expresses his exasperation at
somebody’s obstinacy.
E.g.: He will go swimming in dangerous waters.
E.g.: She will do it.
E.g.: Janet, why will you keep making jokes about Aunt Betty?
C) INTENTION
Decisions either to do something definitely or to do it under certain circumstances.
With the first-person subjects it conveys a promise, threat or corporate decision (a decision has been
made at the fulfilment of the intention is guaranteed)
We treat things which refuse to do what we want as if they had a mind and will of their own. E.g.:
My car will keep breaking down.
The car won’t start.
Will the window open?
D) PREDICTION * Future
* Present
* Habitual
It lacks the assertive form of MUST although it does not necessarily indicate any less certainty on
the part of the speaker.
to say that you are assuming or guessing that something is true because you have good reasons for
thinking it. (Present prediction)
Description of personal habits of characteristic behavior. E.g.: He’ll often say something and then
forget what it was he said.
WOULD
A) WILLINGNESS
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WOULD: Past willingness of a general kind. E.g.: She would hoover dust and iron but she didn’t
like cooking.
WOULDN’T: can be used to imply refusal on one particular occasion. E.g.: I asked him very
politely but he wouldn’t tell me.
3- When John was young he was so poor he would do anything for money.
4- a) The car wouldn’t start.
c) They wouldn’t listen to me Refusal - a) impersonal subject b) personal subject
5- Would you please open the door? More tentative, and therefore politer than WILL.
B) INSISTENCE
1- The annoying thing was that he would leave the house in a muddle.
2- It was your own fault: you would take the baby with you.
3- He would borrow my things without asking.
Future Prediction: future in the past. To talk about a past action which had not yet happened at the
moment we‟re talking about. E.g.: When I went on holidays, I didn‟t know I would meet the love
of my life.
There are also marginal auxiliaries that can be divided in four groups:
SEMI-MODALS
Verbs that closely resemble the central modal auxiliaries but have a homomorphic verb.
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DARE TO
Meaning: having enough courage or to be rude enough to do something and actually doing it. As a
modal auxiliary: in non-assertive contexts.
Indignant exclamations.
LOGICAL NECESSITY (extrinsic modality): it might happen but it is not necessarily the case.
Used in Negatives: E.g.: strikes need not be caused by bad pay.
Used in Questions: E.g.: need there be a motive for the crime
Need + perfect Infinitive. E.g.: You needn’t have woken me up. (he did it but it was unnecessary)
Meaning: there is no reason why a particular thing should happen or a particular state of affairs
come into existence.
NEED TO
(ordinary verb) counterpart of “HAVE TO”
It can be used in affirmative sentences. In scale of intensity it is half-way between MUST and
OUGHT TO.
. Making decision about the future. E.g.: I need to get the car serviced soon.
You’ll need to start work soon if you want to pass your exams.
He needs to come.
. Internal obligation, self-compulsion. E.g.: He needs to feel wanted.As opposed to ―he ought to
feel lonely‖, which shows an external obligation.
OUGHT TO
DUTY or DESIRABILITY.
The general consensus of opinion regards a certain action as recommend behavior.
E.g.: People ought to vote even if they don’t agree with any of the candidates.
Speech Act: ADVICE (to say what we think is right or good for people to do)
1- You ought to/should go and see “American Beauty” – it’s a great film.
2- You ought to/should go and see Mary some time.
3- We ought to go and see Mary tomorrow, but I don’t think we will. *should
It would be strange to give oneself advice and say that one is not going to follow it.
Note: With OUGHT TO, we negate the modal. E.g.: You oughtn’t to complain. (It is not advisable
for you to complain)
With SHOULD, we negate the predication. E.g.: You shouldn’t complain. (It’s advisable that you
don’t complain)
The term which best seems to characterize the non-committed necessity meaning of ‘should’ and
‘ought to’ is tentative inference. That is, the speaker does not know if his statement is true but
tentatively concludes that it is true, on the basis of whatever he knows. Apart from this
tentativeness, SHOULD and OUGHT TO differ from MUST in that they frequently refer to the
future. The proposition within this scope is desirability. They have the additional meaning of – “if
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Negation:
E.g.: You oughtn’t to have any difficulty in getting the tickets.
You can’t possibly have any difficulty in getting them.
- Unlike MUST, you can negate this modals with no change in meaning.
In Reported Speech:
E.g.: He told me I ought to be ashamed of myself.
Meaning: having the moral duty to do something‖, showing: what would be right or sensible‖.
- To say that something is probably true or will probably happen in the way mentioned.
E.g.: And he ought, by rights, to be dead already.
USED TO
To denote a habit or state that existed in the past. It is used when we mean that something used to be
done or be true; it was done regularly in the past or was true in the past, but is not true or is not done
now.
E.g.: I used to lie on my back all the time in the kitchen or, on bright warm days, out in the garden,
a little bundle of crooked muscles and twisted nerves.
MODAL IDIOMS
These have no non-finite forms and cannot therefore follow other verbs in the verb phrase.< They
do not behave as operators and it is normally the first word alone which acts as operator.
HAD BETTER
It denotes advisability. To give strong advice or to tell people what to do. E.g.: You’d better turn
that music down before your dad gets angry.
It has a meaning similar to the obligational meaning of ―ought to‖ and ―should‖. E.g.: Now I’d
better explain their social arrangement.
It refers to the immediate future. More urgent that Should / Ought to. E.g.: A: I really ought to go
and see Fred one of these days. B: Well, you’d better do it soon – he’s leaving for South Africa.
It is used as a polite way of telling, advising, warning or threatening people. We give firm advice to
avoid some problems, unpleasantness or danger. It introduces a ―recommended alternative‖.
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Not used for polite requests. E.g.: You’d better help me. If you don’t, there will be trouble.
(order/threat)
< When you use it to say what you want someone else to do, it is always followed by a past tense
even though the action refers to the future.
BE TO
This structure is often used to talk about arrangements which have been planned for the future or to
express a command or instruction issuing from the speaker or imposed on the speaker by external
authority.
Command
a) He is to return to Germany now / tomorrow He has received explicit orders.
b) He has to return from Germany. Circumstances obliged him to return – he’s run out of money,
his ticket expires, he’s got an appointment
Arrangements
Something planned for the future. Here it loses its imperative flavor and becomes a way of
indicating a future happening already determined in the present, by a plan, decree or arrangement.
To say that something is planned to happen.
E.g.: They are to be married in St James’s church.
Future contingency (if you intend to ...) In Conditional clauses, it joins the ideas of Condition and
Purpose.
E.g.: If you are to win the competition, you must start training now.
Quasi-imperative. It is also used to give orders. Its meaning includes the specific idea of ordering
and commanding
E.g.: You are to be back by ten.You are to give the letters to the boss.You are to do your homework
before you watch T.V.
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In notices and instructions to say that something must happen. E.g.: This form is to be filled in and
returned within three weeks.
The usefulness of this construction lies in its ability to signify future meaning when NO SPECIFIC
TIME is mentioned.E.g.: MISS UNITED KINGDOM IS TO MARRY FILM BOSS
Unfulfillment; instructions were not carried out. E.g.: You were to have given the letter to the
manager.
The taxi was to arrive / have arrived at 8.30 but it didn’t turn up.
Future in the Past (was destined to be) referring to things hidden in the future, written in the stars,
etc. E.g.: 30 years later the precautious youth was to be the first president of the United States.
If the Subject of the sentence is the person that has to do the action, the active infinitive is used. If
the Subject of the sentence is the person or thing the action has to be done to, we use the passive
infinitive
SEMI - AUXILIARIES
These are a set of verb idioms which express modal or aspectual meaning and which are introduced
by one of the primary verbs be and have. They can fill slots in a modal verb paradigm where modal
auxiliaries of equivalent meaning cannot occur:
Grammar II Angie Alal
BE ABLE TO
Having the physical skill, power, necessary knowledge; or having enough time, freedom, money or
other qualities that are needed in order to do sth.
2) It is more formal than ―can‖ and is therefore more likely to be used in written texts.... is no
guarantee that he is able to criticize whatever it is that he himself accepts.
3) In the present it implies actuality, i.e. it suggests not only that the subject can perform the action
but also that they do perform it. We are concerned with the ability of a subject to behave in a certain
way, not with the mere possibility of such behavior.
4a) ―Could‖ is not used if there is an implication of actuality and if it’s a particular ability in the
past.
I ran fast and was able to catch the bus. * could
4b) Either could or was/were able to‖ can be used in the negative because there is no difference
between general and particular ability.
I ran fast but wasn’t able to/ couldn’t catch the bus.
5) On that particular occasion.How many eggs were you able to get? * could
6b) One particular occasion.He talked for a long time; and in the end he managed to make her
believe him.
7) WILL BE ABLE TO is used when there has already been explicit reference to a specific time in
the future so that ABILITY depends on some event in the future.
When you are a mother you’ll be able to say “My mother was right‖”.
8) The presence of a future time indication does not itself mean that BE ABLE TO has to be used.
Provided the possibility is timeless (e.g. any April) CAN may refer to a specified future event. It is
not easy to decide whether to use CAN or BE ABLE TO.
The next time you will be able to take the exam is in April. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait till
September.
HAVE (GOT) TO
It is not an auxiliary on the same footing as the others because it has an infinitive form, it can
combine with other auxiliaries and modals. However, it cannot semantically be separated from
other modals.
Grammar II Angie Alal
To talk about or report an obligation that comes from outside; another person wants it done, or
there’s a law, rule, agreement or something of the kind.
E.g.: You have to sign your name here, otherwise the document isn’t valid
GOT forms are unusual in the past, and are replaced by ordinary verb forms. E.g.: Did you have to
go to church on Sundays when you were a child?
To talk about the future both forms are possible. E.g.: I have (got) to get up early tomorrow – we’re
going to Bristol.
You must do it or are forced to do it without having any choice. E.g.: I have to work from 9.00 a.m.
till 5.00 a.m
Habitual obligation. E.g.: I don’t usually have to go to work on Sundays. Do you often have to
speak French in your job?
Non- habitual obligation, one occasion. Something planned for the future.
E.g.: I haven’t got to work tomorrow. Have you got to do any interpreting next week?
- In Am. E. ordinary verb forms can be used for all meanings. This is also becoming common in Br.
E. because of American influence. ―GOT‖ forms are also possible in informal American English
(spoken) in affirmative sentences.
“HAVE GOT TO” conveys obligation generally, without specifying who does the compelling.
Implication of actuality (the event took place). E.g.: We had to copy everything again.
Grammar II Angie Alal
We had to make a special trip down to Epton to collect the damned thing.
We had got to make a special trip down to Epton anyway so it didn‘t matter.
Have to + progressive temporary continues obligation. E.g.: I‘m having to work very hard at the
moment.
FUTURE OBLIGATION
Have (got) to If an obligation exists now. E.g.: I‘ve got to get up early tomorrow – We‘re going
to Devon.
Will have to purely future obligation. E.g.: one day, everyone will have to ask permission to buy
a car.
BUT
Have (got) to is preferred when arrangements for the future have already been made.B)
B) LOGICAL NECESSITY OR CERTAINTY: (this is a stronger meaning of logical necessity
which cannot be matched by the use of ―MUST‖)
Past time. It was impossible for both to win; i.e. it was necessary by the rules of the game for
someone to lose.
There has to be some reason for his absurd behavior.
Does there have to be a reason for his absurd behavior?
Present time.
Strikes don’t have to be caused by bad pay.
Present time. (They can also be caused by bad work conditions, etc.).
If God did not exist, someone would have to invent Him.
Unlike have to, the form have got to does not occur with other modal forms.
Both form differ from MUST in the negative. MUSN’T an obligation not to do something.
Grammar II Angie Alal
BE OBLIGED TO
If you are obliged to do something, you have to do it because the situation, the law, a duty etc
makes it necessary.
The minister was obliged to report at least once every six months
BE INTENDED TO - v:
I don’t have information about this, I asked the girls to send me their power point. Once they do it, I
add that information here
E.g.: The World Nature Games are intended to be more than just an environmentally correct
novelty.
BE ABOUT TO - v:
(On the point of doing something) you’re going to do it very soon; be just ready to.
E.g.: I was about to ask you the same thing.
E.g.: We were just about to leave when Jerry arrived.
Action in the near future.
E.g.: The train is about to leave.
Refers to arranged actions happening in the immediate future and is often used with just. E.g.: Do
you have a minute? I‘m sorry, I‘m just about to leave.
Not be about to do something/ to not be willing to do something. E.g.: I’ve never done any cooking
and I‘m not about to start now.In Am. E., meaning ―unwilling to‖
By late April, the trees were about ready to burst into leaf, the first bats were flying again, and the
warblers were returning.
In the past: WAS/WERE ABOUT TO: on the point of. It has the sense of unfulfilled action. E.g.:
He was about to hit me.
BE BOUND TO – v
To be very likely to do or feel a particular thing.E.g.: The plan is bound to fail (= must inevitably
fail; necessity) You are bound to pay your debts. (= are compelled to...; obligation)
When a team is successful the product sold by its sponsor is bound to be a hit.
BE GOING TO- v
Future; not usually in sentences containing a condition (with personal subjects) to intend to.
Present intention:
E.g.: I’m going to meet Tom this evening. Do you know him?
E.g.: John and Anita are going to get married in two weeks’ time.
E.g.: Are you going to pay the bill, or shall I?
Prediction of the present situation: Predict the future on the basis of present evidence. E.g.: I’m
going to regret this, he thought to himself.E.g.: Damn! We’re going to be late for the party.
Close action
E.g.: I thought the boat was going to break up.
(With a person or thing that cannot be controlled) to be certain or be expected to, at some time in
the future.
E.g.: ―It’s dreadful and it’s going to be devastating‖, he said.
To insist that people do things or do not do things. E.g.: She’s not going to play football in my
garden.
To talk about plans (especially in Informal Style). This structure often emphasises the idea in
INTENTION, or a decision that has already been made. E.g: we’re going to get a new car soon.
When expressing intention/prediction, it is used in place of ―will‖, but it is not used to express the
willingness associated with will.
If something is supposed to be true, people think that it is true, but you don’t know for certain that it
is true. (be reputed) It is said that...To say what is generally believed.
E.g.: This stuff is supposed to kill flies, let’s try.
E.g.: The hill was supposed to be haunted by the ghost of a leper.
E.g.: Machine-breaking was a characteristic of the Luddite Riots, which were named after a half-
witted lad, Ned Ludd, who was supposed to have revenged himself on his master in this fashion.
If something was supposed to happen, you meant that it was planned or intended that it should
happen; especially when the particular thing does not happen. (be meant)
E.g.: Charities, which the corporation was supposed to support, were often neglected and their funds
diverted to private uses.
Grammar II Angie Alal
There is an implication that the social requirements being mentioned is external to the speaker and
may be one that the speaker feels is being ignored.E.g.: You are supposed to be studying, not
watching TV.
Be supposed to often expresses expectations about scheduled events as in “The game is supposed to
begin at 8.00”
BE WILLING TO
Not mind doing it; have no objection to do it.
Men are less willing to leave a building in a fire than women are.
They were not willing to bolster up foreign tyrannies, Spanish, Turkish, or Austrian.
BE APT TO
Be likely to because that’s usually the case (=be prone)
Babies who are small at birth are apt to grow faster.
1) Likely or having a natural tendency to do something. (Synonym: tend to) E.g.: He was
apt to be very upset when things went wrong.
BE DUE TO
Arranged or expected. E.g.: She is due to start school in January.
Used to refer to planned future events that you expect to happen soon.
E.g.: Negotiations were due to take place later that week.
BE MEANT TO
It is very strongly expected to happen, almost as though there is a law or rule.
These brief explanations are meant to help you understand -and forgive- that not-so-smooth landing
of your last trip.E.g.: Are parrots meant to love all their children equally?
Have a reputation for being: E.g.: They are meant to be good cars.