MODAL AND SEMI MODAL VERBS: PERFECT MODALS AND CONTINUOUS FORMS

1. What is a modal?

2. What is the difference between modals and semi modals?

TYPES AND USES:

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

CAN 1. General ability
CAN´T 2. Informal request
3. Permission
4. To make a criticism
5. Impossibility or something difficult to
believe
COULD 1. General ability in the past 
COULDN´T 2. Possibility (not certain)
3. Request
4. Suggestion
5. With a comparative to express possibility
6. Inability
7. With a comparative to express 
impossibility

1. Possibility in the present or future

MAY 2. Formal request (I / We)
3. Formal permission
4. Lack of permission
5. Formal wishes /hopes
6. With "as well" when there is no
better alternative (informal)
MIGHT 1. Possibility in the present or future
2. Negative possibility
3. Past form of MAY
4. To make a criticism 
5. To make a polite suggestion
6. With "as well" when there is no
better alternative (informal)

MUST 1. Obligation 
2. Strong necessity
3. Near certainty
4. Suggestion / recommendation
5. Prohibition
SHOULD 1. Advice / opinion
OUGHT TO 2. Obligation
3. Polite suggestion (I / We) - ONLY SHOULD
4. Prediction
5. When sth is right / expected to show
strong agreement – ONLY SHOULD

WILL 1. Polite request

1
 1. Polite question / offer / suggestion (I / We)

SHALL

NEEDN'T 1.Lack of necessity

1. Polite request
2. Repeated past action (used to)
WOULD 3. Past form of WILL
4. To make a statement sound less certain

SEMI MODALS USES EXAMPLES

1. General ability (can)
BE ABLE TO
2. Past ability / managing to do
something despite difficulty

HAVE TO/HAS TO 1. Obligation / necessity (must)

DOES NOT HAVE TO 1. Obligation / necessity (must)

DO NOT HAVE TO

NEED OR NEEDS TO 1. Obligation or necessity

PERFECT MODALS FORM

She may / might / could have missed the bus as

she hasn't arrived yet
We could have stayed longer but we were tired
and decided to go home
He can't have said that because he is very
considerate
I would have invited you to come, but you told
me you didn't like horror films

CONTINUOUS FORMS

They might be waiting for us at the bus station

Sally is exhausted. She must have been

working late