MODAL USES PRESENT / FUTURE PAST

1- Polite request (only 1-may I borrow your pen? 1- Ǿ (no past)

with I and you). 2-A: Where is John? 2-He may have been at the
MAY 2- Less than 50% B: He may be at the library. library.
certainty (probability)

1-Less than 50% 1-A: Where is John? 1-He might have been at the
MIGHT certainty (probability) B: He might be at the library.
2-Polite request (rare) library. 2- Ǿ
2-Might I borrow your pen?

1-Advisability(present) 1-You should see a doctor. 1- Ǿ (no advice in the past)

SHOULD 2-Regret (past) (advice) 2- I should have studied
2-Ǿ (no regret in the present) yesterday, but I did not.

1-Advisability(present) 1-You ought to study tonight. 1- Ǿ (no advice in the past)

2-Regret (past) 2- Ǿ (no regret in the present) 2- You ought to have studied
OUGHT TO
tonight.

1-Strong necessity 1-I must go to class today. 1-I had to go to class

2- 95% Certainty 2-Mary isn’t in class. She must yesterday.
MUST 3-Prohibition (negative) be ill. 2-Mary must have been ill
3-You must not open that yesterday.
door. 3- Ǿ

1-Necessity 1-I have to go to class today. 1-I had to go to class yesterday.

2-Lack of necessity 2-I don’t have to go to class 2-I didn’t have to go to class
HAVE TO
(negative) today. yesterday.

1-Ability / possibility. 1-I can run fast. 1-I could run fast in the past.
2-Informal permission 2-You can use my car 2- Ǿ
3-Informal polite request tomorrow. 3- Ǿ
CAN 4-Impossibility 3-Can I borrow your pen? 4-That can’t have been true.
(negative only) 4-That can’t be true!

1-Past ability. 1-Ǿ 1-I could run fast in the past.

2-Polite request 2-Could I borrow your pen? 2- Ǿ
 3-Possibility/probability 3-It’s cloudy. It could rain. 3-Sam could have been at home.
COULD 4-Impossibility 4-That couldn’t be true! 4-That couldn’t have been
(negative only) true.

1. Match the sentences with their functions.

a- advisability- b) absence of obligation- c) ability- d) request-

e) obligation- f)permission- g) obligation- h) possibility-
I) prohibition- j) certainty-

A- I can speak three languages. ...............................

B- I have to go home now. ...............................

C- It’s cloudy today. It may rain this afternoon. ...............................

...............................
D- Mary could run faster when she was younger.
…………………..
E- Could you pass the salt please?
…………………..
F- That must be Khalid’s brother. He looks exactly like him …………………..
.
G- May I go out please? …………………..

H- Karin might come for dinner this evening. …………………..

…………………..
I- Can I use your en, lease?
…………………..
J- Can you tell me where is the post office?
…………………

2. Use the appropriate modal verb with the verb in brackets. Pay
attention to the tense.
1- Employees (respect ) ………………………………the rules of the company.
2- Employers (ensure)……………………………………adequate environment for the
employees.
3- You (start)………………………………………..your revision many weeks before.
4- Our boss (have) ………………………...…a problem these days. We haven’t seen him
smiling for nearly two weeks.
5- Tom ( meet) ………………………..…his friends of childhood when he visited his
mother in Manchester. I’m not sure.
6- The bank (not approve)……………….….……………..your project a year before
because it was not well prepared.
7- You (be) ………………………..……tired. Your eyes are red.