WHAT ARE THEY?

They are common auxiliary verbs used to MODAL VERBS

express the speaker’s subjective attitudes
and opinions that include :
POSSIBILITY, IMPOSSIBILITY PROBABILITY,
NECESSITY (OR LACK OF) OBLIGATION, (OR
LACK OF)PERMISSION, PROHIBITION
ABILITY, INABILITY, DESIRE,…
HOW ARE THEY USED?
 They are used before the infinitives of other verbs without the
preposition TO, except OUGHT.
 They have no –S in the 3rd person singular.
 Questions, negatives, tags and short answers are made WITHOUT “DO”
 They don’t have infinitives or participles and they don’t normally have
past forms (though WOULD, COULD, SHOULD, and MIGHT can
sometimes be used as the past tense of WILL, CAN, SHALL and MAY.
Other expressions are used when necessary (BE ABLE TO, HAVE TO, BE
ALLOWED TO).
 Certain past ideas can be expressed by a MODAL+ PERFECT INFINITIVE.
WHEN ARE THEY USED?
We DON’T normally use modal verbs to say that a situation
definitely exists. We use them to talk about…
 THINGS WHICH WE EXPECT, “He may pass his driving test”
 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”
 WHICH TEND TO HAPPEN, “London can be very cold in winter
 WHICH HAVE NOT HAPPENED. I can’t swim. He might have told
me he wasn’t coming. I think she should have cancelled her
account.

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

CAN COULD MAY

PRESENT ABILITY= to be able to PAST ABILITY= to be able to POSSIBILITY
She could speak perfect Spanish It may rain today.
She can speak perfect Spanish
PAST PERMISSION=be allowed to PRESENT PERMISSION
PRESENT PERMISSION=to be allowed to)
I could go out last night. May I go to the cinema?
Can I buy a new video game? POLITE SUGGESTION
REQUEST “Can you just wait a minute, please?” POLITE QUESTION
Could I go to the cinema, please? May I help you?
OFFER “I can lend you the book”. PROHIBITION: MAY NOT
POLITE REQUEST
SUGGESTION You may not use my mobile.
Could you just wait a minute, please?
Can we celebrate Christmas abroad?
POLITE OFFER
POSSIBILITY
I could lend you the book.
It can be very hot in winter here. MIGHT
POLITE SUGGESTION
CERTAINTY (negative) POSSIBILITY (less possible than may)
Could we celebrate Christmas abroad POSSIBILITY
He can’t be at home. It’s too early It might rain today.
It could get very hot in Montana.
OFFER
Might I help you?

MUST SHALL
FORCE, NECESSITY WILL OFFERS
I must go to the supermarket today. REQUEST, DEMAND, ORDER (less polite Shall I help you with the laundry?
POSSIBILITY than would)
You must be tired.
Will you please shut the door?
ADVICE
PREDICTION
WOULD
You must see the new James Bond film. REQUEST (more polite than will)
I think it will rain on Friday.
PROHIBITION: MUST NOT Would you shut the door, please?
PROMISE
You mustn’t use my mobile HABITS IN THE PAST
I will stop smoking.
CERTAINTY Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.
SPONTANEOUS DECISION
He must be home by now. He left 2 hour ago
Can somebody drive me to the station? –
I will.
HABITS
She's strange, she'll sit for hours without NEED NOT
SHOULD NOT NECESSARY
ADVICE talking.
I needn't call him. I’ve already done it.
You should drive carefully in bad weather.
OBLIGATION
You should switch off the light when you leave WOULD RATHER (SEMI-MODAL)
the room.
OUGHT TO (SEMI- MODAL)
WISH ADVICE
I’d rather leave early tomorrow You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
OBLIGATION
HAVE TO (SEMI-MODAL) You ought to switch off the light when you
HAD BETTER. (SEMI - MODAL)
ADVICE NECESSITY/OBLIGATION leave the room.
You had better leave now LACK OF NECESSITY (PRESENT/PAST/FUT.)
I had to study a lot yesterday.
 2. USE HAVE TO, MUST, MUST NOT IN THE CORRECT FORM
1. USE CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO IN THE CORRECT FORM
1. Yesterday I __________________ to get up very early. I’m
1. _________________you hear that strange noise? It’s so annoying!
so tired now
2. My wife __________________play tennis quite well.
2. She will______________ wait at the queue like everyone else.
3. My brother ________________read when he was three years old.
3. Students___________________ be on time for school.
4. ___________________ you tell me what time it is, please?
4. We __________________forget to invite Peter to the party.
5. Last night my grandfather _______________walk without any help.
5. You ___________ be careful in this area at night; It’s quite
6. I would like to _________________________play the piano.
dangerous.
7. After many tries he______________ get his driving license.
6. You ________try on a different size. This dress doesn’t fit
8. I'll _____________________________help you later.
you.
9. Can you help me? I ___________ understand what he’s taking about.
7. The doctor __________________get here as soon as he can.
10. Man ____________________________live forever one day?
8. ___________ you _____________ go to school next week?
3.CHOOSE THE CORRECT OPTION. 9. Drivers______________ remember to signal when they turn.
1. You (may/would)________________ leave if you wish. 10 . You ________________leave your clothes all over the floor
2.(Could/May)________________ you open the window a bit, please? like this. You are so untidy!
3.(May/Can)________________ you play the violin?
4.You (may not/could not)________________ speak during the exam.
5.You (can't/ must not)________________ smoke on the bus. 5. FILL THE GAPS WITH HAVE TO, MUST OR SHOULD.
6.(Should/May)________________ I make a call on your mobile? 1. You _____________ eat pasta if you want to lose wait.
7.Do you know if Mark (can/would)________________ come? 2. If you don't want to buy those shoes you ______ buy them.
8.(Can't/May)________________ I sit here, please? 3. You _________________ play with matches! It’s dangerous
9.You can tell your friends they (can/could)stay the night if they want to. 4. I haven't heard from Anna for ages. Maybe I ________ give
10.I'm sorry but you (can't/may)__________ use the computer now her a ring.
5. You ____________ remember your passport. Otherwise
they won't let you on the plane.
4. FILL THE GAPS WITH NEED, DON’T NEED OR SHOULD. 6. The weather will be fine this weekend. We ________ go on a
1. Remember you ___________________ a tent if you go camping. picnic.
2. You ___________________buy any milk. I've already bought some. 7. You ________ stay on your own so late at night. It's
3. You _________say sorry to your mum, you haven’t behaved properly. extremely dangerous.
4. You ________________do the washing up. I'll do it later. 8. You ____________________come if you don't feel like it.
5. We______________ pay for the tickets, they are free. 9. Anna said she was coming after work so she____________
6. If you want to pass all your exams, you ______________study hard. be here by six.
7. You __________ go and visit you grandpa. He’ll be happy to see you. 10. I__________ be at the meeting at 4:00. I won’t be on time.
11. While hiking in Alaska, you __________keep an eye out for
6. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT bears. If you see one, you______________ approach it.
MODAL (POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE) 12. I _______________go to work tomorrow because it is
CAN COULD MAY MIGHT MUST SHOULD HAVE TO Memorial Day. The best thing about a day off from work is
1. I have travelled a lot and I _____________ speak many languages. that I _____________get up at 6:00;
2. I understand you perfectly. You ________________to say it again.
3. They haven’t decided where to go on holidays but they_______ go to
Greece.
7. MIGHT / MUST / SHOULD / HAVE TO
4. You___________(not) read in the car. You_____________ get sick. 1.10.
Yesterday,
COMPLETE I ___________cram
THE SENTENCES allDON'T/DOESN’T
USING: dayCAN/COULD/HAVE
for my French final.
9. FILL THE GAPS WITH EITHER HAVE TO OR
5. She______(not) eat so much chocolate if she wants to keep in good TO/MUST/MIGHT/SHOULD
I didn't
MUSTN'T get toIN sleep until afterFORM.
THE CORRECT midnight.
shape. 2. Ned:
2.We 1.had _________________I
Anna! call Tony to see borrow
You ___________________be
better if he's at your
home lighter
so rude! forwe
before a minute?
go
6. I ______________ hear you. Speak 11.F louder, IN WITH : COULDN’T / MIGHT
ILLplease. Stephen:
overNOT
2. to
Tommy!Sure, no problem.
You _____________
his house. Actually,
He _____________be you _______keep
do that. It'sand
there really it if you want
we disgusting.
7. It's later than I thought. I ______________go
1. When you before
were ait child,
gets dark. to.
you could swim I've
don't3. from
You given
want up
here smoking.
to all
_________________
to drive the
thelittle island
way over be there
here in atthe
forsix.middle
You can
nothing. ofarrive
the river,
later.
9. Talk to me. I'm sure I________________ help you.
(COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) you? At least, 3. I _________believe
that's what your father
Ian__________________ she
toldsaid
me.that to Megan!
3. At first, my boss didn't want to hire Sam. But, because I want
4. go to church She
if he ________
doesn't have
to.
10. You ______________ (not) do the ironing, Anne has already done it. insulted her
had5.previously
You cooking in front
_________________
worked with Sam,of everyone
drive
I toldso myat the You'll
fast.
boss party
that he lastfined.
get night. She
11. You ____________be very tired because
2. She you have worked
(COULDN'T/ very hard.
MIGHT _________have
NOT) possibly 6.beHelen
_______take winnerjustofsaid
the _________shout
another theshe
look was
talent
at at full
show!
hiseveryone.
resume.or had
The some
other
People salad
areacts ifwere
scared sheof much
her.
12. Paul __________come to my birthday party
better thanbecause
hers. he is in hospital. didn't like
4.You7.______worry the meal.
David _________ so much. answer your emails.
It doesn't do youThere's
any good. no law about it.
13. You_______________ go to the dentist when you have a toothache. 4. Mrs.
8. It's
Either Scarlett's
youOK.getYouthebody
job, was found
_________________
or you don't.in the
If youlounge
pay justjust
now.
don't, Imoments
can wait.ago,
apply
14. You _____________(not) do it now. 3. You ________
Frank and Sarah do (COULDN'T/MIGHT
it tomorrow. and
NOT) it's
9. still
get warm!
tickets
You________________
for another one Nobody
to the has left
concert.
forgetthe
The mansion
toconcert
pay thethis
was
rentevening,
sold outso
tomorrow a the
little
15. __________________you speak any overEuropean
an hour language?
after tickets went on sale. 5.I killer10._________be
would love to go onsomeone
You___________ in this
to book
the cruise tothe room.
tickets
Tahiti It __________be
with for theand
Robin any
play in advance.
16. I don't know yet but I _____________go to London this weekend. one of You
11.
Michelle. us!!!But
_________ wear a trip__________
such a luxurious tie for the interview. costThea job is quite
17. Smoking is bad for you health. You ________________
4. I heard that band is give it up.
really popular, and7. _________you
tickets
informal.
fortune. always____________
sell out quickly. You ( COULDN'T/MIGHT say the first NOT)thinggetthat
tickets
19. You have got plenty of time. You __________________(not)
if you wait too long. hurry. pops into
12. My your
teacherhead? __________
told me that the you
book
6.Nate: Oh no! I completely forgot we were supposed to pick think
is once
optional in awhile
so before
I_________
20. You _____________have a passport to visit some foreign countries. you
Jenny speak?
_________read
up at the airport, it if Barbara:
I don’t want Sheto. ________still be
21. He speaks a lot of languages but he5.__________(not)
That concert hasspeakbeen Chinese. 8.
sold out for weeks. I13.
there waswaiting
You reading the
(COULDN'T/MIGHT
You us.book last night
__________speak
for NOT)
to him before
get I went
liketickets
that. to
even
He bed.
if you
is very I never
knew the
sensitive.
22. It _____________________rain.band It’s very cloudy.It's impossible!
personally. took
7.Ingrid it
14. Doout of this room.
you ____________chew
received It_________
a scholarship to Yale with be lying
your mouth
University, around
which here
open willlike that?
somewhere.
coverit's100%
making Where_________
of me
thesick She it
watching
tuition. be?eat that piece
you
___________ worry of at
pizza.
all
6. It (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) be a badabout idea the to get a car alarm for your
increasing cost of education. new sports car. New cars tend to
8. FILL THE GAPS WITH HAD/'D BETTER OR WOULD/'D
attract thieves. RATHER. 8.When I was a child my grandmother was continually
1. It's getting dark. You__________________ go back now.
correcting our manners. She always used to say, "One
2. A: Can I borrow your dress? B: You_______________
7. That (COULDN'T/MIGHT not! NOT) possibly be Mr. Jones. He'smouthlost so much weight that he looks like a
_______eat with one's open." "One _________rest
3. A: Can I invite my friends? B: I_________________
completely differentyou didn't.
person. one's elbows on the table." I've redone this math problem at
4. You know, I______________ you didn't smoke in front of the kids.
least twenty times, but my answer is wrong according to the
5. You___________________ put on 8.your coat; It’s showing nowNOT) do the job if you didn't speak Arabic fluently.
You (COULDN'T/MIGHT answer key. The answer in the book ______________be
7. We___________ you didn't come home so late.
wrong!
8. You __________________finish 9. theJane
project
and on
Billtime.
(COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) have gotten the invitation to the party. Perhaps, that's why they
didn't show up.

10. I (COULDN'T/MIGHT NOT) have left my keys at Simon's house. I wouldn't have been able to drive home
if I had done that. They must be somewhere here in the apartment. Let's keep looking.