WHAT ARE THEY?

They are common auxiliary verbs

MODAL
used to express the speaker’s
subjective attitudes and opinions
that include : WHEN ARE THEY USED?
possibility, impossibility
probability, We DON’T normally use modal verbs to say that a situation
necessity (or lack of) definitely exists. We use them to talk about…
obligation, (or lack of)  THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT, “He may pass his
permission, prohibition driving test”
ability, inability, desire,…  WHICH ARE OR ARE NOT POSSIBLE, “What would
you do if you won the lottery?”
 WHICH WE THINK ARE NECESSARY, “She must
tidy up her room. It’s a mess!”
 WHICH WE WANT TO HAPPEN, I think you ought to
see a doctor”
 WHICH WE ARE NO SURE ABOUT, She could be
here in a minute, nobody knows”
HOW ARE THEY USED?  WHICH TEND TO HAPPEN, “London can be very cold
in winter
 They are used before the infinitives of other verbs without the
 WHICH HAVE NOT HAPPENED. I can’t swim. He
preposition TO, except OUGHT.
might have told me he wasn’t coming. I think she should
 They have no –S in the 3rd person singular.
have cancelled her account.
 Questions, negatives, tags and short answers are made
WITHOUT “DO”
MAY
 They don’t have infinitives or participles and they don’t
POSSIBILITY
normally have past forms (though WOULD, COULD,
It may rain today.
SHOULD, and MIGHT can sometimes be used as the past
PRESENT PERMISSION
tense of WILL, CAN, SHALL and MAY. Other expressions
May I go to the cinema?
are used when necessary (BE ABLE TO, HAVE TO, BE
POLITE SUGGESTION
ALLOWED TO).
May I help you?
 Certain past ideas can be expressed by a MODAL+PERFECT PROHIBITION: MAY NOT
INFINITIVE. You may not use my mobile.

CAN MIGHT
COULD possibility (less possible than may)
PRESENT ABILITY= to be able to PAST ABILITY= to be able to
She can speak perfect Spanish It might rain today.
She could speak perfect Spanish
PRESENT PERMISSION=to be allowed OFFER
PAST PERMISSION=be allowed to
to) Might I help you?
I could go out last night.
Can I buy a new video game? POLITE QUESTION
REQUEST Could I go to the cinema, please?
Can you just wait a minute, please? POLITE REQUEST
OFFER SHALL
Could you just wait a minute, please?
I can lend you the book. OFFERS
POLITE OFFER
SUGGESTION Shall I help you with the laundry?
I could lend you the book.
Can we celebrate Christmas abroad? POLITE SUGGESTION
POSSIBILITY Could we celebrate Christmas abroad
It can be very hot in winter here. POSSIBILITY
CERTAINTY (negative) It could get very hot in Montana.
He can’t be at home. It’s too early WOULD
REQUEST (more polite than will)
Would you shut the door, please?
HABITS IN THE PAST
Sometimes he would bring me some
flowers.

MUST WILL
FORCE, NECESSITY REQUEST, DEMAND, ORDER (less
I must go to the supermarket today. polite than would)
POSSIBILITY Will you please shut the door?
PREDICTION NEED NOT
You must be tired.
I think it will rain on Friday. NOT NECESSARY
ADVICE
PROMISE I needn't call him. I’ve already done it.
You must see the new James Bond film.
PROHIBITION: MUST NOT I will stop smoking.
You mustn’t use my mobile SPONTANEOUS DECISION
CERTAINTY Can somebody drive me to the station? –
OUGHT TO (Semi- modal)
He must be home by now. He left 2 hour ago I will.
ADVICE
HABITS
You ought to drive carefully in bad
She's strange, she'll sit for hours without
weather.
SHOULD
OBLIGATION
ADVICE
HAVE TO (Semi-modal) You ought to switch off the light when
You should drive carefully in bad weather.
NECESSITY. OBLIGATION (Pres. Past, Fut.) you leave the room.
OBLIGATION
You should switch off the light when you I had to study a lot yesterday.
leave the room.