MODAL VERBS

- They do not have tenses, but only present, past or future references
- They are usually followed by the short infinitive with the exception of
OUGHT which is followed by the long infinitive
- Certain verbs have practically the same meaning as some modal verbs.
 Need= must
 Had better= should
 Have to/have got to = must
 Be able to = can
 Used to = would
 Had to = must

FUNCTIONS OF MODAL VERBS

Function/Use Present/Future reference Past reference

ABILITY I can swim very well in deep waters. He could climb trees
I am able to swim in deep waters. when he was younger.
(implies effort) (past ability)
He was able to walk
after the accident. (past
ability as result of great
effort)
POSSIBILITY He can certainly win the race. (90% He could have won the
certainty) race.
Looking at him, he could still be in
school. (80% certainty) He may have won the
She may be in her 40s. (50% race. (perhaps, maybe)
certainty)
He might have won the
She might be hungry and tired. (40%
race. (perhaps, maybe)
certainty)
It was likely that he had
It is likely that she is both tired and
won the game. (perhaps,
hungry.
maybe)
PROBABILITY She will be home next week. (100%
certainty)
He should be home by 12. (90%
certainty)
They ought to be home by now.
(formal register – 90% certainty)
LOGICAL My mum must be cooking now as it
ASSUMPTION is dinner time. (90% certainty based
on personal opinion, knowledge,
routine)
She can’t be over 25, as she looks
very young. (70-80% certainty)
He couldn’t be at work as I know his
schedule. (80% certainty – used in
negative assumptions)
NECESSITY I must buy myself a new car.
(interior/personal necessity)
You have to take a jacket because it
is cold outside. (exterior necessity)
The car needs repairing/to be
repaired. (impersonal necessity)
They don’t have to/don’t need
to/needn’t buy bread as we already
have some. (lack of necessity)
He should have finished
the test by now.
(probably, maybe)
They ought to have
arrived by then.
(probably, maybe)
She must have been
quite young for that job.
(90% certainty)
He can’t have stolen the
jewels as he is very
trust-worthy. (70-80%
certainty)
He couldn’t have been
the one who broke the
law on purpose. (80%
certainty)
I had to buy a house as I
decided to start a family.
(past interior necessity)
He had to go to work
yesterday. (past exterior
necessity)
The car needed to be
repaired/repairing. (past
impersonal necessity)
They didn’t have
to /didn’t need to buy
bread as we had plenty.
(past lack of necessity)

PERMISSION You can use my laptop, if you want.
You can’t use my laptop. (informal
register)
He needn’t have brought
bread as we had plenty.
(an action was
performed although it
was not necessary)
I was allowed/wasn’t
allowed to use the
computer last week.

Could I use your laptop? (semi- I could not use the

formal register, asking for computer last week.
permission)

May I go to the restroom? (formal

register, asking for permission)
-------------------------------
Might I borrow your pencil? (formal,
polite asking for permission)

DUTY You must obey the law.
Policemen ought to encourage
teenagers to be respectful when it
comes to the law. (formal, polite
register)
The citizens had to obey
the law during the
pandemic.
Policemen ought to have
protected the citizens
during the riot last
week.

SUGGESTION Shall we go out to dinner tonight? ………………………

S We can stay at home, if you want to. ………………………
(informal register)
We could call for back up, if you We could have called for
need to. (semi-formal register) back up last week, if you
wanted to.
REQUESTS Can I borrow your pencil? (informal
register)
Could I use your car tonight? (semi-
formal register)
May I make a phone call? (formal)
Might I take the car tonight? (very
 polite)

Will you call Jane for me? (very

friendly)
Would you mind calling Jane for me?

OFFERS Can I do something for you?

(informal)
Shall I leave this with you? (informal)

Would you like me to help you?

PROHIBITION You can’t drive under the influence
of alcohol. ( are not allowed to)
You mustn’t smoke in here! (to be
forbidden)
They could not smoke in
the kindergarten. (they
were not allowed to)

You may not smoke in my house.

(formal register)

ADVICE You should drink less fizzy drinks. You should have drunk
(general advice) less alcohol last week.

You ought to help the elderly. (polite You ought to have

advice) helped your father
more.
You had better stop smoking if you --------------
want to live longer.
OBLIGATION I must cut down smoking so much. I had to cut down
(internal obligation) smoking last year.
(internal past obligation)
You have to wear your gun 24/7. He had to wear his gun
(external obligation) 24/7 when he worked
for the police.
You ought to obey the law at all
times. (external, polite obligation) You ought to have
obeyed the law as a
minor as well.
CRITICISM You could at least listen to me!
You should try to study harder!
You ought to be more careful with
your things!
You could have listened
to me yesterday!
You should have studied
harder for last week’s
test!
He ought to have paid
more attention to the
road not to cause the
accident.