Modal Verbs

Differences from other English verbs:

*they have no infinitive form or participles
MODAL VERBS are a small group of verbs that are used with other
verbs to change their meaning in the sentence in various ways . *they do not need auxiliary DO =
questions and negatives are made without do, does, did:
MODAL VERBS are used with other verbs (in front of a verb ) to EX: Question - Can we go now?
express the speaker’s opinion at the time of speaking. They express Negative - I can’t ride a bike.
the speaker’s attitude towards an event, a situation or the person
they are speaking to. *they have no s in the 3rd person singular:
EX: Mary can swim very well and Tânia should learn it before her trip
We use MODAL VERBS, not for situations / things that have to Brazil.
definitely happened, BUT to talk about things we expect, which are
possible, which we think are necessary, which we are not sure about, *they do not normally stand alone. They are nearly always used in
etc… front of a verb. The main verb is always an
Infinitive without to:
The English MODAL VERBS are : EX: -Yes, I can pass you the salt.
 CAN / COULD, EX: -Jane might arrive before dinner, but I doubt it.
 MAY / MIGHT,
 SHALL/SHOULD, *A few modals are followed by to:
EX: -Perhaps you ought to see a doctor.
 WILL/WOULD, EX:- How dare you to say that to your teacher?
 MUST, HAVE to, MUSTN’T
 OUGHT to , *when necessary , we use other verbs/ words:
 USED to, Ex - It can rain tomorrow . = It is possible… It is likely… etc
 DARE to
 NEED to.

They are used in several ways/meanings.

Modal verbs help us to show a different attitude to the main action verb.

A few examples:

Sentence explanation Words/ phrases Meaning

with similar
meanings
1- I can /can’t swim very fast. I’ve learned how to do it, so I’m able Be able Ability / capacity
to do it Be unable
2-I could/ couldn’t swim when I was 4 years old. I had learned how to do it, so I was Be able Past ability
able to do it Be unable
3-Well, I think I can/can’t swim here on Tuesdays. It’s possible or probable / impossible Possible Possibility
or improbable Probable Probability
90%/ 100% Likely
could 75% …. it’s likely to happen Possibly
may 50% : it’s fairly possible to happen Probably
less than 25 % : it’s unlikely to Impossible
might happen Improbable
Unlikely
4-Might I come a bit later for my swimming lesson ? Very formal way of asking for To be allowed to Asking for
Could permission To be permitted to permission
May Still formal
Can Less formal Giving permission
5-Might you comb my hair? Very formal way to ask someone to Please Polite requests
Could do us a favour Ask for a favour
Would
Can Requests
Will Less formal
6-I must go for my swimming lesson on time. Self-imposed obligation To be obliged to Obligation
Have to Somebody else imposed me that To be required to
obligation To be forced to
To have to
To really need
7-I ought to teach my younger sister how to swim. About a social, traditional rule Moral obligation
8-I really should do something about that crawl style. Indicates a suggestion, an advice, a It would be better Giving good advice
recommendation Would better
Would rather
It is your duty to…
You are required to
9-You mustn’t walk barefoot here. When we want somebody NOT to do It is forbidden Prohibition
something Not to be allowed to/
permitted to
10-I need to practise my crawl style. Something is wanted, required , Necessity
indicating need Absence of necessity
-You needn’t to have arrived so early: there’s
plenty of time Something is unnecessary
11-Shall I help you to put your cap ?* Asking if the other person would like Do you want me Offering assistance
-Shall we take our swim-suits? me to do something for her to…?
-Shall we have dinner out ? Making a suggestion Suggesting
Inviting the other person for Inviting
* the subject is always either I or WE something
12-I used to swim 3 times a week, but I’ve quitted A finished past habit A regular past habit
now
13-How dare you to splash so much water around ? Have the courage to do something Have the courage A daring attitude
14-He must be one of the teachers as he is the best It’s a logical conclusion Surely Logical deduction
swimmer. I presume

Practice:

1- Underline the modal verb in each of the sentences below. What is their meaning in each context?

Ability Possibility/ Asking Prohibition Polite Suggestion/ Obligation Moral Necessity Offering A Daring Logical
probability for/ giving requests invitation/ (self- obligation (or not) assistance past attitude deduction
Permission imposed habit ( aff. or
advice or not) neg.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

a- Can “money” have a plural form? ………………………………..

b- You mustn’t light fires in a forest. ………………………………..
c- May I come tomorrow? ………………………………..
d- It might get worse in the future. ………………………………..
e- People should keep oceans clean. ………………………………..
f- Shall I turn on the TV? ………………………………..
g- Can you really get addicted to fast food? ………………………………..
h- You needn’t to buy a drink: this bottle of water is enough for both of us. ………………………………..
i- Would you like another slice of cake? ………………………………..
j- Will you please open the door for me? ………………………………..
k- We might even discover that it’s possible to become addicted to the all-American meal of burgers and fries. ……………………………
l- Fast-food companies should label the food to inform customers of its high calorific value. ………………………………..
m- Costumers used to help themselves to the tomato sauce, salt and pepper on the trolleys. ………………………………..
n- Kate left 30 minutes ago, so she must be home by now. ………………………………..
o- You mustn’t leave any litter on your way out. ………………………………..
p- You must have received a lot of junk mail before: everybody does. ………………………………..
q- I have to repair the damages. ………………………………..
r- You ought to have told Ruth about the shopping list: she is your sister after all. ………………………………..
s- My grandma used to give me some extra money. ………………………………..
t- How dare you?? It’s not even Christmas and you are already cutting down pine trees as if you didn’t care for environmental problems. ?..
u- I must organise some anti-consumerism campaigns. ………………………
v- You must shake your towels very well before leaving…………………….
w- How dare you spit on the ground!?? It’s a disgusting habit…..
x- He must know what he is doing: he has worked on that for a long time!!…………………………………………………………….
y- Students may borrow up to 3 books. ………………………….
z- Her office is empty: she must have gone home………………………….

answer key :2, 4, 3/5, 2, 6, 10, 2, 9, 5, 5, 2, 6, 11, 13, 4, 13, 7, 8, 11, 12, 7, 7, 12, 13, 2/3, 13