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  • Present and Past Modal Verbs

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    lina elmasnaoui
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    modals theory 2

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    7 views3 pages

    Present and Past Modal Verbs

    Uploaded by

    lina elmasnaoui

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 3

    Present Past

    can could
    may might
    need to needed to

    have to had to

    must must
    ought to ought to
    will will
    DO NOT
    would would
    CHANGE
    shall shall
    should should

    1. AUXILIARY VERBS (DO/DOES, AM/IS/ARE) ARE NOT USED


    Affirmative Negative Interrogative
    I can do it without your Can he do it without your I can’t do it without your
    help. help? help.

    2. MODAL VERBS DO NOT NEED –(E)S FOR THE THIRD PERSON SINGULAR
    He/She/Mary/A pupil/The girl may do everything he/she wants.

    3. MODAL VERBS ARE FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO


    (BUT! ought to, have to)

    4. MODAL VERBS ARE NOT USED WITHOUT NOTIONAL VERBS


    I must money. I must give the money
    back.

    5. THE MEANING OF THE PAST IS PROVIDED BY THE PERFECT INFINITIVE

    CAN be (un)able to
    MAY be allowed to
    MUST have to
    CAN
    Ability, capability He can run fast.
    Permission, prohibition (informal) You can/can’t go there alone.
    Request (informal) Can I borrow your pencil?
    Offer Can I help you?
    Possibility, probability (90%) She can win the marathon.
    MAY
    Permission, prohibition (formal) May I enter the room?
    Request (formal) May I talk to you?
    Possibility, probability (50%) Sarah may be studying in the library.
    MUST
    Obligation (personal) I must be in the office at ten o’clock.
    Prohibition (informal) You mustn’t see her.
    Logical assumption (90%) They must be at home.
    WILL
    Possibility, probability (100%) He will be back soon.
    Request (friendly, informal) Will you help me?
    SHALL
    Asking for advice Shall I stay with the patient?
    Offer Shall we go to the movies tonight?
    SHOULD
    Possibility, probability (90% only for the
    Mathew should be home soon.
    future)
    Advice You should stop smoking.
    OUGHT TO
    Possibility, probability (90%) Andrew ought to be at work now.
    Advice You ought to listen to your parents.
    Necessity I ought to buy more apples.
    HAVE TO
    Necessity (due to the circumstances) We have to move to London.
    NEED
    rd
    Necessity (+ -(E)S in the 3 p. sg.) The car needs repairing.
    Absence of necessity You needn’t take a jacket. It’s warm.
    COULD
    Possibility, probability (50%) She could still be at home.
    Logical assumption (only in negative) They couldn’t be at the concert now.
    Request (very polite) Could I borrow your pencil?
    Criticism You could help me with this task.

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