MODALS : COURSE PLAN

INTRODUCTION TO MODALS

1. What are modals or modals or modal verbs?

- Modality is a semantic category. In English one of the means of expressing
modality is through modal verbs.
2. Modal Verbs
Modal verbs in English are: can/could, may/might, must, have to, need,
shall/should, ought to, will/would, and dare.
These verbs have several points in common which separate them from other verbs.
Modal verbs differ from other verbs in their meaning and grammatical characteristics
(function and form).
A. Meaning
Modal verbs have meanings of their own, which makes them quite different from all
other verbs. Unlike other verbs, modals do not indicate an action or state, a happening,
or an event. But they show the speaker/writer’s attitude to these actions or events. The
speaker/writer may, for example,
- ask for permission to do something,
- give or receive advice,
- describe the ability or possibility, etc.

Compare:

1. a. He was cooking rice for supper. (action)

b. May we cook? (Do you object? Is there a regulation against it? Asking for
permission to do something.)
2. Should we cook? (Is cooking a good idea? Advisability.)
3. Jerry could cook well when he came to see us last time. (Describing someone’s
ability)
4. You must be tired. (Certainty)

MOST MODAL VERBS ARE POLYSEMANTIC. Individual modal verbs can be used to
express a number of different meanings.
 - They can be used to describe various degrees of certainty/uncertainty, different
levels of politeness, obligation, necessity, suggestions, etc,
- Some of these meanings may be synonymous but not exactly the same.
COMPARE:
1 Will you sign the form, please? (Asking someone to do something with an
interrogative sentence).
2 Nelly’s car won’t start. (Refusing to perform an action with a negative
sentence).
3 He must work now. (The speaker’s view of what is necessary to do/obligation
necessity).
4 You must see this film – it’s really good. (The speaker’s view of what is
necessary to do/obligation necessity).

B. Grammatical characteristics

- Function

Since modal verbs express only modal relations but actions they are never used as individual
members of a sentence. Modals are always used in combination with the infinitive. A modal
verb in combination with the infinitive forms makes up a compound modal predicate. In the
structure of a sentence, modal verbs perform only one function – the function of the first
component of a compound verbal modal predicate. It is used to express a modal meaning.
The second component of the compound verbal modal predicate – the infinitive – names an
action or state.

- Form

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THEIR FORM? (SEE PAGE 59)

CAN AND COULD
Can has the following meanings:

1. Ability (Physical and mental), capability

- She can speak Spanish, but she can’t speak Italian.
- I can imagine how angry he is.
- He can run 10 km in under 40 minutes. (Capability)

Can borrows the rest of its tenses from the form to be able to. This phrase can be used in all
forms if necessary.

Can is often used with see, hear, feel, taste, smell, understand, and remember.

- Can you smell burning?

The form could

 may be used in past-time contexts.

- Mozart could play the piano at the age of five.
- After what happened, I couldn’t trust him.
 Could is used for general ability in the past – to say that somebody could do
something at any time whenever he/she wanted. (Was/were able is also possible):
She could read when she was four. (OR: She was able to read when she was four)
 Could is not normally used to describe the successful completion of a specific action
on one occasion. Instead, we use other expressions such as was/were able to;
managed or succeeded (in….ing) are used:
- I managed to run 10km yesterday in 55 minutes. (NOT I could run 10km
yesterday in 55 minutes)
- How many documents were you able to sign?
- After six months of climbing, we succeeded in getting to the top of the mountain.

HOWEVER, we can use couldn’t to say that something did not happen on one occasion:

- I looked everywhere, but I couldn’t find my wallet.

- I looked everywhere, but I was not able to find my wallet.
 2. Permission (p. 62)
a) Asking for permission:

Can is used to ask for permission in interrogative sentences or reported questions:

- Can have some more tea?

- Can I go now?
- Do you think I can go now?
- Excuse-me – could I just get past?
- He asked me if he could use my car.

It is also possible to use could to ask for permission. In this case, it is more polite or formal
than can.

- Could I stop work half an hour early?

Very polite ways for asking permission:

- Could I possibly take your car this afternoon?

- Do you think I could speak to you for a few minutes?
- I was wondering if I could ask for a favour.

b) Giving permission

Can is used to give permission ONLY IN AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES or REPORTED

SPEECH (for could):

- You can go if you want to.

- He said I could use his computer. (Reported speech)

NOTE: Could is not used to give permission as it suggests respect, so it is more natural
in asking for permission.

- Could I start late tomorrow? Of course, you can (NOT, Of course, you
could)

b) Refusing permission

In this meaning can is found only with the negative form of the modal verb can, as it may
be understood as the negation of permission (not to be allowed to……)
 - You can’t cross the street here.
- You can’t touch the exhibits in a museum.
- She said we couldn’t stay there. (Reported speech)

ASKING ABOUT PERMISSION: May/can (p. 62)

May is not normally used to ask about permission that already exist, that is, about what is
normally allowed, or about rules and laws.

- Can /May I park here?

- Can you park here on Sundays? (NOT May you park here on Sundays?

3. Possibility

In this meaning can is mostly used to talk about:

a) Possibility due to circumstances:

- A: Can I have a cup of tea?
B: Sorry, we’re not open yet!
- You can have your photo taken here when the photographer is free.
- I couldn’t meet you yesterday as I was busy.
b) Possibility due to the existing rules or laws:
- Every Belarusian citizen can get medical treatment free of charge.
- You cannot cross the border without a visa.
- Can you vote at the age of 16 in your country?

In the meaning of possibility can is found in all kinds of sentences and is followed by
indefinite infinitive.

PROBABILITY (p. 66)

To express the probability that something is true, or will happen, you can use could for a
smaller probability. Can is not normally used to express probability.

- It could rain later, but I don’t really think it will.

4. Requests

Can and could are used to ask or tell people to do things. Could is more polite and more
formal.

- Can you put the children to bed?

- Could you lend me 5,000 francs until tomorrow?
- Do you think you could help me for a few minutes?
- Can you go shopping for me, please?
- They asked me if I could help them in the kitchen.
- Do you think you could stay behind for a few minutes?

5. Offers and suggestions.

Can is often used when we offer to do things for people OR when we offer people to do
things.

- A: Can I carry your bag?

B: Oh, thanks very much.
- A: I can baby-sit for you this evening if you like.
B: No, it’s all right, thanks.
- You can stay with me, if you like.

Could is possible if you want an offer or suggestion to sound more polite and formal.

- A: What shall we do at the weekend? B: Well, we can go down to Bassam.

And we could see if Harry wants to come – what do you think?
- I could mend your bicycle for you, if that would help.
- If you haven’t got anything to do you could sort out your photos.

6. Certainty (p. 65, p. 69)

In this meaning can is found ONLY IN NEGATIVE SENTENCES, which are often
emotionally coloured. Could is also used in this way making the statement less categorial.
 - She can’t be at home (I am certain): her car’s gone and there are no lights on.
- It can’t/couldn’t be a fake. (= I am sure it isn’t a fake)
- She can’t/couldn’t be telling lies. (= I’m certain she isn’t telling lies)
- Joe isn’t here. He can’t have got my message.

7. Supposition implying uncertainty, doubt

The use of could may acquire the meaning of supposition implying uncertainty or doubt. This
meaning could be rendered by modal words such as maybe, perhaps, possibly, it’s possible:

- A: Where is Sarah? B: She could be at Joe’s place.

- I don’t know where she works. She could do odd jobs.
- Jim was the last who came home, so he could have left the door open.

8. Criticism (reproach; p. 61)

ONLY could can be used to criticise people for not doing things.

- You could ask me before you borrow my car! (Present time reference)
- You could wipe your feet when you come in!
- You could have told me you were getting married! (Past time reference)
- You could have phoned to say you were coming!
9. Typical behaviour

Can and could also be used to talk about what is typical:

- A female crocodile can lay 30-40 eggs.

- It could get very cold in our old house.
- A divorce can be a disastrous experience for children.