Modal Verbs

Eloi Cabanas

Requests
Ability REQUEST CAN + infinitive …?
COULD + infinitive…? (more formal)
& Example:
Can you help me clean my room?
Requests Could you tell me where the nearest hotel is,
please?

Ability (present) Ability (Future) Ability (Past)

WILL BE ABLE TO + COULD + infinitive (for
CAN / CAN’T + infinitive
infinitive events in the past)
BE ABLE TO + infinitive
Example: MANAGED TO + infinitive
Example:
I will be able to go Example:
I can play the guitar
out tomorrow. I could ride horses when I
I can’t play the guitar
was only five years old.
I am able to play the violin
I managed to get to the
She is not able to swim.
train station on time.

OBLIGATION PROHIBITION
MUSTN’T + inf.
OBLIGATION HAVE TO + infinitive
You mustn’t interrupt
I have to study harder.
& people. It’s rude.
MUST + inf.
PROHIBITION CAN’T + inf.
I need to study harder.
You can’t interrupt
NEED TO + inf
people.
I muststudy harder.

LACK OF OBLIGATION / UNNECESSARY

DON’T /DOESN’T HAVE TO + inf.
Maria doesn’t have to work very hard because she’s so clever.
NEEDN’T + inf
Maria needn’t work very hard because…
DON’T NEED TO + inf.
You don’t need to bring your books today. We are not going to use
them.

LACK OF
ADVICE
RECOMMENDATION
SHOULD + inf. SHOULDN’T + inf
GIVING You should buy those He shouldn’t stay out so late
ADVICE shoes. They really suit every night. You shouldn’t
you. You ought to buy speak so loud in class.
those shoes. They really
suit you.

Expressing POSSIBILITY & CERTAINTY

POSSIBILITY CERTAINTY
(an event that is possible in the future) (when we think an event is certain)
MIGHT . MUST + inf.
I might watch the football on TV Sophia must be happy. She did really
tonight. well in the competition.
MAY + infinitive. CAN’T + inf
I may watch the football on TV It can’t be 9 o’clock already. It’s still
tonight. light outside.
COULD
I could watch the football on TV
tonight.
MODAL PERFECTS to express POSSIBILITY,
CERTAINTY and REGRETS in the past.
POSSIBILITY in the past CERTAINTY in the past
MIGHT CAN’T / MUST + HAVE + Past
MAY + HAVE + Past Participle Participle ( 3rd column)
COULD ( 3rd column) You can’t have lost your mobile
James might / may / could phone. You must have left it at school.
have gone to the beach.

PAST REGRETS

SHOULD /SHOULDN’T + HAVE + Past Participle ( 3rd column)

She should have come to the concert with us. It was great. I shouldn’t
have worked extra hours last night. I’m exhausted today.