(Ngoc Linh) Welcome to our presentation.

Today we give you guys a presentation

about modal verbs from definition to examples so that you can understand clearly
about this kind of verbs.

First of all, we will start with the definition of course. As you may know a bit
about words like should, must, can but what are they, do they have any special
meaning, right now we will show you.

1. What is Modal verbs ?

A modal verb is a special type of verb, they express certain hypothetical conditions

Modal verbs change or affect other verbs in a sentence. They are used alongside a
main verb to change the sentence’s meaning slightly

Have a look in these two examples, do you see any differences ?

I swim every Tuesday.

I can swim every Tuesday.

The first example is a simple factual statement. The speaker participates in a

swimming activity every week on Tuesdays.

The second example uses the modal verb can. Notice how the meaning changes
slightly. The speaker does not swim every Tuesday; they’re saying they are
capable of swimming every Tuesday if they need to. It’s hypothetical.

This kind of verbs are quite common in English, and you’ve probably seen them
hundreds of times without actually knowing their name. The most frequently used
ones are: can , may , must , will , would , should , could , might.

So, that’s is what they are definited, but in somehow, or in some situations we can
use them? The next part will explain.

(Plinh)
2. When are modal verbs used?
Firstly: We use it to say or describe the possibility
POSSIBILITY

In situations when something is possible but not certain, use the modal verbs could,
may, or might.

Judging by the clouds, it might rain today.

She may become the youngest pro soccer player ever.

The next one will go to ability

Ability

The modal verb can shows whether or not the subject is able to do something, such
as perform an action or demonstrate an ability. Likewise, the negative form, cannot
or can’t, shows that the subject is unable to do something.

She can speak three languages, but none of them well.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

-Used to expressing ability now or generally

-Next one is expressing decisions made now about future ability.

-In additon, it also be used to express abilitity in the past

-In conclusion, describe an ability in present, future or general hypothetical

situations is the last function we have.

(Duc Minh) To continue, moving on to permission

Permission

Modal verbs are used to give or ask for permission for an activity. For example:

In this case, we can use these modal verbs to ask or give permission in present,
future or generally.

Moreover to concern, May is more polite than could, and could is more polite than
can

We can also use could to talk about past permission in reported speech.
Let’s see what we will have next in this presentation. That’s is about advice
and criticism

Criticism and advice

In this situation, Modal verbs can be used to ask or give advice to onther person in
present, future or generally.

Or maybe in some case, you can use this structures to criticising past behavior.

The next part will going to obligation and necessity

We use it to talk about obligation, freedom and necessity to do something

Let’s have a look about what we gonna saying.

-Expressing past obligation, the lack of past obligation, show the obligation and
necessity and the last one is showing the lack of obligation and necessity.

But be careful, the next slide we will present to you some notes to use these
modal verbs in appropriate way. ( Watch out)

And the last one function in our process to know more about modal verbs is
degrees of certainty

 Phần này sẽ nhìn side và trình bày nhé.

(Ngoc Minh) Now, you guys know about the definition and how they can be used,
but they should be used in the right structure. So that why we will help you to
know exactly how they can be used and their position in the sentences.

Regarding to their position in the sentences, they are used immidiately behind the
subjects, same for all subjects without adding s/es like any others normal verb and
only going with the verb infinitive.

That’s when we use them in normal way, but modal verbs also have a special
structures, it’s is modal verbs with “ have” . Let’s find out what it is and its
function.

We can use a modal verb with have and a past participle:

 Subject Modal have Past participle  

They will have arrived by now.

You might have seen the film.

Jack and Jill would have been late.

We use a modal verb with have:

 to refer back from the present:

It's nearly eight o'clock. They will have arrived by now.

 to refer back from a point of time in the past:

We were very worried. We thought someone might have taken the car.

 to refer back from a point of time in the future:

We won't eat until they arrive. They might not have had supper.

 to refer to past time:

You should have helped her when she asked.

They might have got lost. Nobody knows where they are.
(Plinh) To end up our presentation today, there’are some comparing table
between some modal verbs which you may confuse obut them, so that’s why
we made these table to figure out some main difference between them so we
can use it correctly and easier in the future.

Phần bảng so sánh này mọi người nên nhìn slide và tbay nhé, ngắn gọn và dễ
hiểu thôi, còn bảng trong đây để cho mọi người nhìn qua form và có thể thêm
vào 1 vài ý nhỏ khi thuyết trình nếu mọi người muốn nhé.

Comparison Chart

BASIS FOR
CAN COULD
COMPARISON

Meaning Can means be able to or Could refers to the possibility

permitted to do something. or the ability to do something.

Pronunciation kan, kən kəd, kʊd

Ability and Present one In the past

Possibility

Request and Informal Polite

Permission

Examples I can't wait as I am already Anuj could have taken taxi to

very late. reach the station.

Can you pass me the bottle? Could you give me your pen?

She cannot come to the party, I wish I could travel the world.

as she is in Jaipur.
Key Differences Between Can and Could
The difference between can and could, are described in the points given
below:

1. ‘Can’ is a modal verb, which is used with the main verb to express the
ability of a person or thing in doing something. On the other extreme,
‘could’ is the past participle or second form of the verb, which is used
with the main verb to talk about a past the ability of an individual in
doing something.
2. While can talks about the possibility of an event in the present
situation, could is used to express a slight possibility or the possibility
in the past.
3. Both can and could are used to ask for permission and also request
something, can is more informal one, which is used when we are
talking to our friends, relatives or acquaintances. However, when
talking to strangers, we can use could, to ask for permission or request
politely.
4. Example: Can you hear me?
As soon as I reached home, I could hear the noise of the party.

( Duc Minh) Will and would

What is the difference between Will and Would?

• The word will is used in the case of future tense.

• On the other hand, the word would is used as the past tense form of the verb will.

• The word will is sometimes used in the sense of ‘certainty.’

• We use would as the past tense of will to speak about what we believed would happen.

• Would is also used as the past tense of will to talk about something that we did often in the past
because we wanted to do it.

• Sometimes would is followed by have.

(Ngoc Linh)

BASIS FOR COMPARISON MUST HAVE TO

Meaning Must reflects the Have to is used

necessity of doing when we want to say
something, as per that something must
the given happen, as it is
circumstances. required by law or
circumstances.

Verb Modal verb Semi-modal verb

Obligation Personal External

Represents What is necessary Subject is obliged to

in the eyes of the do something.
speaker.

Pronoun Remains same for It is conjugated as

all pronoun. per the pronoun.

Negative and Interrogative Sentences Created without Cannot be created

using auxiliary verb without using
auxiliary verb

Example I must reach the I have to reach the

office on time. office on time.
 BASIS FOR COMPARISON MUST HAVE TO

She must be She has to wait for

waiting for me in me in the market.
the market.

You must go to the You have to go to

parlor. the parlor.

1. We use the word ‘must’ to show

the indispensability of
something. It indicates the
exigency of an act. On the other
hand, ‘have to’ is used to indicate
that the subject is bound to act in
a specified manner, because of
some external pressure.
2. While must is a modal verb, have
to is a semi-modal verb, in the
sense that as a modal verb it is
used along with the verb to
express necessity, but acts like a
normal verb in its formulation.
3. Both must and have to talks
about obligation, but must
highlight a personal obligation,
and have to outlines an external
obligation.
4. Must indicate what the speaker
considers necessary, but have to
expresses that the subject is
obliged to do something.
5. Must is the same for all the
pronouns, i.e. I must, He must,
etc. Conversely, Have to is
conjugated according to the
 BASIS FOR COMPARISON MUST HAVE TO

pronouns, i.e. I have to, He has

to, etc.
6. Negative and Interrogative
Sentences can be created using
‘must’ without using auxiliary
verbs, such as Must we? I must
not, etc. On the other hand, if we
are using ‘have to’ in negative
and interrogative sentences, then
we need to use auxiliary verbs,
like I don’t have to, or Does she
have to?

(Ngoc Linh) May and Might

BASIS FOR COMPARISON MAY MIGHT

Meaning May is a auxiliary Might is a past form

verb, used to which is used in
express a strong sentences when
possibility of there is a possibility
happening of an of occurrence of an
event, but still it is event but to a
not certain. smaller extent.

Alternate meaning Name of the Strength, power

month

Pronunciation meɪ mʌɪt

Usage Used in situations Used in situations

which are factual which are
 BASIS FOR COMPARISON MAY MIGHT

and likely to hypothetical and

happen. unlikely to happen.

Permission Seeking and Seeking permission.

granting
permission.

Example I may be late She might get late

today. to the office.

1. May is a verb used in sentences

to show a higher degree of
possibility of the happening of
an action or event. On the other
hand, might is a past participle
form of may, which is also used
to show the possibility of the
occurrence of an event, but only
when there is a small degree of
possibility.
2. While we use may in the
sentences which are factual and
somewhat possible, might is
used in the situation which is
hypothetical, and the chances of
possibility are quite less.
3. You can use may in both
seeking and granting formal
permission from/to someone.
Conversely, you can use might
for seeking tentative permission
 BASIS FOR COMPARISON MAY MIGHT

only and not for granting it.

Before ending up our presenttion today, there is a special kind of modal verbs
that our team want to show to you guys. And maybe all of you are all curious
about this part right? It’s is Semi modal verbs.

 Phần này trong slide ngọc linh đã trình bày rất rõ ràng nên mọi người
chỉ cần nhìn trên slide và thuyết trình theo nhé.