UNIVERSITY NATIONAL OF CAJAMARCA

PROFESSIONAL ACADEMIC SCHOOL OF ENGLISH – SPANISH

COURSE:
GRAMMATIC OF ENGLISH II

GROUP:
E1

STUDENTS:
ALVAREZ REAÑO, EMILIA
CALDERON QUIROZ, LUZ
CASTAÑEDA MESTANZA, MARÍA
CASTOPE ROJAS, MILAGROS
COBA MINCHAN, YARCIN
TONGOMBOL ROJAS, ERMIS
VASQUEZ CHAVEZ, EDITH

TEACHER:
ESPINO PEREZ, PAOLA

CAJAMARCA, JULY 2022

 MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that, unlike the auxiliary verbs “be”, “do” and “have”,
cannot function as principal verbs.
Modal verbs express modality, ability, possibility, necessity, probability, obligation,
or other conditions. They are auxiliary verbs used for forming the future and conditional.
As complementary verbs, modal verbs cannot function without other verbs. The
principal verb is always found after the modal verb and in the base form. Modal verbs are
not conjugated and have no tenses.
The modal verbs are:

• can
• could
• may
• might
• will
• shall
• should
• ought to
• must/ have to
• would

CAN

Meaning: to be able to; indicates ability or possibility

Examples:
✓ I can speak five languages.
✓ We can work late tonight if you need us.
✓ Bill and Tom can’t help you.
✓ The restaurant can be expensive if you drink a lot of wine.
✓ It can be dangerous to drive if you are tired.

It can be dangerous to drive if you are tired.

In interrogative sentences, we use “can” to ask permission (informally) or to ask
about possibilities.

Examples:

✓ Can I have a glass of water?

✓ Can you help me?
✓ Can they work late tonight?
 COULD

Meaning: past tense of “can”, indicates ability or possibility in the past

Examples:

✓ Joe could speak Spanish when he was young.

✓ I couldn’t sleep last night.

Could you play an instrument when you were a child?

“Could” is also used for possibilities in the future.

Examples:

✓ You could pass the test if you studied.

✓ I think it could rain later.

As with “can”, in interrogative sentences “could” is used to ask permission or to ask

about possibilities, but in a more formal sense.

Examples:

✓ Could you pass the salt please?

✓ Could you help me?
✓ Could I be wrong?

Note: “Could” is used in conditional sentences. See the lesson on conditional

sentences for more information.

MAY

Meaning: used to indicate possibilities in the future

I would bring an umbrella; it may rain later.

It may be better to finish this now, rather than wait until tomorrow.

“May” is also used to give permission or instructions.

Examples:

✓ You may leave if you like.

✓ You may use your cell phones now.

In interrogative sentences, “may” is the most polite way to ask permission (as
opposed to “can” or “could”).
 Examples:

✓ May I have a glass of water?

✓ May I leave now?

MIGHT

Meaning: synonym of “may”, indicates possibilities in the present or future

Examples:

✓ I would bring an umbrella; it might rain later.

✓ It might be better to finish this now, rather than wait until tomorrow.
✓ “Might” can also be used like “may” to ask permission, but this is much more
common in British English than in American English.

WILL

Meaning: used to express willingness or consent

As we will see in later lessons, “will” is used to form the future tense.

Examples:

✓ I will help you.

✓ We will learn English.

“Will” is used in interrogative sentence to ask for information, a favor or opinion.

Examples:

✓ Will they find a cure for cancer?

✓ Will you help me move?
✓ Will he go to Paris by car or train?

SHALL

Meaning: used, like “will”, to express the future

The use of “shall” is much more common in British English and is generally considered
more polite.
 Examples:

✓ Chris shall be happy to see you.

✓ I’ll take the 3 o’clock train.

Note: The short forms of “will” y “shall” are the same. Therefore, “I’ll” in the
above example can mean either “I will” or “I shall”.

SHOULD

Meaning: indicates a recommendation or obligation or reflects an opinion about what is

right or correct

Examples:

✓ I should call my parents more often.

✓ You shouldn’t work so hard.
✓ They should practice more if they want to win the championship.

Should” is used in interrogative sentences to ask if there is an obligation or to

ask for a recommendation.

Examples:

✓ Should we leave a tip?

✓ Should I have the steak or the chicken?
✓ Where should they meet you?

Ought to
Meaning: synonym of “should” although it is less common.
Examples:

✓ She ought to quit smoking.

✓ I ought to call my parents more often.
✓ They ought to work less.

MUST

Must” indicates an obligation, prohibition (when in the negative) or necessity; it is a

synonym of “have to” in affirmative sentences.

Examples:
✓ You must [have to] read this book, it’s fantastic.
✓ You must [have to] brush your teeth two times a day.
✓ We must [have to] leave now or we will be late.
✓ You must not drink and drive.
✓ When must we meet you?
GRAMÁTICA DEL
INGLÉS II
STUDENTS:
ALVAREZ REAÑO EMILIA
CALDERON QUIROZ ESTHER
CASTAÑEDA MESTANZA MARIA
CASTOPE ROJAS MILAGROS
COBA MINCHAN YARCIN
TONGOMBOL ROJAS ERMIS
VASQUEZ CHAVEZ EDITH
TEACHER:
ESPINO PEREZ MARIA PAOLA
 MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs are auxiliary
verbs that, unlike the
auxiliary verbs “be”, “do”
and “have”, cannot function
as principal verbs.
Modal verbs express
modality, ability, possibility,
necessity, probability,
obligation or other
conditions. They are auxiliary
verbs used for forming the
future and conditional.
As complementary verbs, modal verbs cannot function without other
verbs. The principal verb is always found after the modal verb and in the
base form. Modal verbs are not conjugated and have no tenses.

The modal verbs are: can

could
may
might
will
shall
should
ought to
must/have to
would
 Can

Meaning: to be able to; indicates ability or possibility

Examples:

I can speak five languages.

We can work late tonight if you need us.
Bill and Tom can’t help you.
The restaurant can be expensive if you drink a lot of
wine.
It can be dangerous to drive if you are tired.
It can be dangerous to
Examples:
drive if you are tired.
In interrogative
sentences, we use
“can” to ask Can I have a glass of
permission (informally) water?
or to ask about
possibilities. Can you help me?
Examples:
Can they work late
tonight?
COULD

Meaning: past tense of “can”, indicates ability or possibility in

the past

Examples:
Joe could speak Spanish when he was young.
I couldn’t sleep last night.

Could you play an instrument when you were a child?

“Could” is also used for possibilities in the future.
Examples:
You could pass the test if you studied.
I think it could rain later.
As with “can”, in interrogative sentences
“could” is used to ask permission or to ask
about possibilities, but in a more formal Note: “Could” is used in
conditional sentences. See the
sense. lesson on conditional
sentences for more
information.
Examples:
Could you pass the salt please?
Could you help me?
Could I be wrong?
May
May Meaning: used to indicate
possibilities in the future

I would bring an umbrella, it may

rain later. In interrogative sentences, “may” is the
most polite way to ask permission (as
It may be better to finish this now, opposed to “can” or “could”).
rather than wait until tomorrow. Examples:
“May” is also used to give
permission or instructions. May I have a glass of water?
Examples:
May I leave now?
You may leave if you like.
You may use your cell phones
now.
Might
Might

Meaning: synonym of “may”, indicates possibilities in the present or

future

Examples:

I would bring an umbrella, it might rain later.

It might be better to finish this now, rather than wait until

tomorrow.
“Might” can also be used like “may” to ask permission, but this is
much more common in British English than in American English.
Will
Meaning: used to express willingness or consent
As we will see in later lessons, “will” is used to form the future tense.
Examples:

I will help you.

We will learn English.
“Will” is used in interrogative sentence to ask for information, a favor or opinion.
Examples:
Will they find a cure for cancer?
Will you help me move?
Will he go to Paris by car or train?
Shall

Meaning: used, like “will”, to express the future

The use of “shall” is much more common in British English and is
generally considered more polite.
Examples:
Chris shall be happy to see you. Note: The short forms of “will”
y “shall” are the same.
I’ll take the 3 o’clock train. Therefore, “I’ll” in the above
example can mean either “I
will” or “I shall”.
Should

Meaning: indicates a recommendation or obligation or reflects an

opinion about what is right or correct
Examples:
I should call my parents more often.
You shouldn’t work so hard.
They should practice more if they want to win the
championship.
 Ought to
Should” is used in interrogative sentences
to ask if there is an obligation or to ask
Meaning: synonym of “should” although it
for a recommendation.
is less common.
Examples:
Examples:
Should we leave a tip?
Should I have the steak or the chicken?
She ought to quit smoking.
Where should they meet you?
I ought to call my parents more often.
They ought to work less.
Must
Must” indicates an obligation, prohibition (when in the negative) or
necessity; it is a synonym of “have to” in affirmative sentences.
Examples:

You must [have to] read this book, it’s fantastic.

You must [have to] brush your teeth two times a day.

We must [have to] leave now or we will be late.

You must not drink and drive.

When must we meet you?

 ANK YO
H
U
T