Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs which cannot usually work alone. They are
used with a main verb. These are modal verbs:

might will

may should

could would

ought must

shall can
 RULE 1:
a) Always followed by a verb in its base form.
b) We use an infinitive form with most of modal phrases.

EXAMPLES:
a) You should go home early.
NOT You should to go home early (INCORRECT!).

b) You ought to go home early.

 RULE 2:
The third person (he/she/it) does not take "-s" in Present Simple.

EXAMPLES:
He speaks Chinese.
He can speak Chinese. (NOT- He cans speak…)

She eats a sandwich at 9:30

She may eat a sandwich at 9:30.
 RULE 3:
a) We use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and
Simple Past. We do not use auxiliaries.
b) Modal verbs can be used in tag questions.

EXAMPLES:
a) He should not be late.
They might not come to the party.
Compare:
I cannot eat any more cakes.
I don’t eat carrot cakes.

b) You can drive, can’t you?

 Rule 4:
We form questions by inverting the modal verb and the subject

She can go out. Can she go out?

We could drive there. Could we drive there?

Children should eat fruit. Should children eat fruit?

 RULE 5:
a) Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
b) There are perfect forms of modals (modal + have + III) and continuous forms of modals (modal + be +
ing)
c) When a tense of a modal verb does not exist, we use another verb with the same meaning.

EXAMPLES:
a) He will can go with us. WRONG (future)
She must studied very hard. WRONG (past)

b) You could have done better (but you did not). / She might be writing the
exam as we speak.

c) I could buy a ticket with any credit card. ( = I could do that, but I might
decide otherwise. It is not the Past Simple tense)
I was able to buy a ticket with my credit card. (the Past Simple tense)
 RULE 6:
We cannot use one modal after another.

EXAMPLES:
She must be able to do it. NOT

She must can do it. (INCORRECT!)

MODALS
 Possibility
Modal verbs can be used to show how possible something is, or how likely it
is to happen/have happened.

He’s very late. He could have missed the train.

It’s snowing so it must be very cold outside.

They will lock the windows when they go out.

 Possibility
Modal verbs can be used to show how possible something is,
or how likely it is to happen/have happened.

Mum might take us swimming after school.

You could eat a banana instead of those sweets.

“Hurry up! We will be late!” said Dad.

We can go the other way – it’s quicker.

You ought to go to bed earlier.

 Choose a Modal Verb
Which modal verbs are missing from these sentences?

You must be hot in that thick coat.

If it’s dry, shallwe play outside?

He’s so fast, he should win the race.

I’m fed up with my long hair. I mighthave it cut.

Did you choose these modal verbs?

Which others could you have used?
 Other Uses of Modal Verbs
Modal verbs can also be used to show:

advice or obligation habits

Pupils must wear a uniform.
You should not smoke.
I will often have cereal
for my breakfast.
We shall always enjoy
a walk in the park.

permission ability
May I leave a few minutes early?
I can ride a bike.
Could we go to the post box
on the way? My grandfather could
draw very well.
Please can we have an ice cream?
PAST OBLIGATION &
PERMISSION – exercise copy
 PERMISSION OR
EXAMPLES
OBLIGATION

Necessary (O) We had to eat three large meals a

HAD TO
day as a rule.

Wasn’t necessary (O)

DIDN’T HAVE TO We didn’t have to eat a lot.

He could eat one hamburger every

hour.
COULD Allowed (P) He was allowed to eat a
hamburger yesterday. (single
action)

When we were children, we

COULDN’T Not allowed (P)
couldn’t watch TV.
GIVING ADVICE &
MAKING
SUGGESTIONS
PHRASES OF CERTAINTY
& POSSIBILITY
https://www.espressoenglish.net/15-english-
phrases-for-certainty-and-probability/
 ➢ I know the answer. It’s a cat.
➢ It’s definitely a lion.
➢ It must be to stop water from
I’M CERTAIN
getting into our eyes.
➢ It can’t be a lion – I know that
tigers are bigger than lions.

➢ I think penguins live in Antarctica.

➢ It’s possibly because they have very
I’M NOT SURE thick skin.
➢ It could be a tiger.
➢ It might be about ten minutes.

➢ (I have) no idea.
I DEFINITELY DON’T KNOW
➢ I honestly don’t know.
 Semi-Modals
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs which cannot usually work alone. They are
used with a main verb. These are modal verbs:

dare need

ought to to be able
to
to have to to be used
to
to be to be
allowed to supposed to
be likely to
 have to - has to
had to – will have to

= it is necessary
= shows obligation and giving advice.

have to / has to – in the present/near future

had to – in the past
will have to – in the future
➢ I have to clean my room.
(My mother forces me to do it.)

➢ She has to finish the test before the bell rings. (After the bell rings,
you can’t go on answering the questions.)

➢ Gail Devers had to take radiation therapy for her decease.

(…to get well.)

➢ At the end of the 8th grade, we will have to leave our school.
(…and go to high school.)
 don’t have to
doesn’t have to

Don't have to / Doesn't have to

= it isn't necessary
 Ought to – be
Supposed to – be
Allowed to

➢ Ought to = used to express the opinion that the action

of the main verb is one’s duty or moral obligation.
➢ Be supposed to= we expect him/her to
➢ Be allowed to = permission someone will let/permit
him do it.
➢ That’s a great movie. You ought to see it!
(or You must see it.)
➢ The teacher is supposed to base the grades on the
tests and assignments.
➢ On Friday, the students in our school don’t have to
wear the school uniform. They are allowed to wear
any color they want.
(They are permitted to / They can even wear a pink
shirt with yellow stripes.)
 to (be) able to

To be able to show an ability.

➢ I don’t know when I will be ready. I will be able to give you an
answer later.
➢ Is he able to do it? Yes, he knows how to do it and has time to
do it.
(=Can he do it?)
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