FCE

SET 12

AUXILIARY VERBS

Introduction
Read the following grammar reference and then try practising auxiliary verbs in Use
of English style quizzes.

You are likely to be tested on your knowledge of auxiliary verbs in Parts 2 and 4 of
Paper 1 Reading and Use of English.

This unit will look at the auxiliary verbs used in structures that express obligation and
permission.

General rules when using modal auxiliary verbs

These verbs do not change their form: there is no '...s', '...ing' '...ed' or infinitive form.
Partly because they have such limited forms it is often necessary to use other verbs.
Example:
When the boat sank he was able to swim to the beach. (not 'could')
I had to go to the dentist yesterday. (not 'must')
Most modal auxiliary verbs are followed by the infinitive of a verb without 'to' apart
from ought to and need to.
Example:
I must go now. (not 'must to go')
You can leave when you're ready.

Must/have to
'Must' is used when the speaker has authority, 'have to' when the authority is
external to the speaker.
Example:
Keys must be left at reception. (receptionist)
You have to leave your keys at reception. (one guest to another)
In the first sentence the receptionist represents the hotel and therefore has authority
whilst the guest has no authority in this situation and so must use 'have to'.

Needn't have/didn't need to

'Didn't need to' is used to show that something wasn't necessary and so wasn't done.
'Needn't have' is used to show that something was done unnecessarily.
Example:
We didn't need to make a reservation. We knew it would be empty.
Look! The train's empty! We needn't have made a reservation. In the first sentence,
the speaker did not bother to make a reservation, whilst in the second sentence a
reservation was made.

Should/ought to/had better

'Should' and 'ought to' express obligation in the sense of communicating strong
advice.
Example:
You should take these tablets every day before meals.
You ought to see a doctor about that cough.
We had better phone home in case they're worrying about us.

Can/may/could
'Can', 'may' and 'could' are all used to give and ask for permission. 'Be allowed to' is
used to express permission on a particular occasion, not 'could'.
Example:
I couldn't/wasn't allowed to stay up late when I was younger.
I was allowed to retake the exam after they discovered I was ill.
You won't be allowed to get in without wearing a tie.

Auxiliary Verbs >> Part 2: Open Cloze

Reminder: Part 2 consists of a short text which has 8 gaps. For each gap you have
to add the missing word.

Example:
You needn't ....... bought flowers but thanks anyway.

Answer: 'have'

Auxiliary Verbs >> Part 4: Key Word Transformation

Reminder: You are given a complete sentence followed by a second, incomplete
sentence. You have to complete the second sentence so that it has the same
meaning as the first using a word given that must not be changed.

Example:
You were silly not to see the doctor about that cough.
SHOULD
You .......... the doctor about that cough.

Answer: 'should have seen'

 2- Reading and Use of English Part 2 Format
Complete the following sentences with one word only. There are SIX questions in all.

1) When I was in the army we ........ to be out of our beds at 6.00 every
morning.

2) I think you had ........ try to get your work done before thinking about going
out.

3) You ........ visit us the next time you're in town, I insist.

4) I needn't ........ bothered going into work today as the computers were all
down.

5) Do you think we ........ to buy the teacher a 'thank you' present at the end of
term?

6) How old were you when you ........ allowed to smoke at home?