B2.

1​ ​-​ ​UNIT​ ​6
GRAMMAR
ADVICE

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

VERB

You​ ​should​ ​drive​ ​more​ ​carefully.

should​ ​/
shouldn’t
You​ ​shouldn’t​ ​smoke.
● to​ ​give​ ​advice
Advice ought​ ​to
You ​ought to study more if you
(less
want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​10​ ​in​ ​your​ ​exam.
common)

● to​ ​give​ ​strong Your foot is swollen and black. You

must
advice must​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​doctor.

Remember!

➔ Don’t​ ​pronounce​ ​the​ ​L​ ​in​ ​the​ ​word​ ​should​.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​pronounce​ ​/ʃʊd/.

I​ ​shou​l​d​ ​sleep​ ​more.

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OBLIGATION

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

VERB

must ● to​ ​express​ ​strong You ​must apply for the job if
obligation you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​it.

● to​ ​say​ ​what

Obligation
someone​ ​is
obliged​ ​to​ ​do
The doctor has just told me
(some​ ​external
have​ ​to that I ​have to reduce my
circumstance​ ​or
cholesterol​ ​level.
fact​ ​makes​ ​the
obligation
necessary)

● to​ ​express
You ​don’t have to bring
No don’t​ ​have something​ ​that
anything. I have plenty of food
obligation to you​ ​don’t​ ​need​ ​to
at​ ​home.
do

Sometimes it is difficult to see the difference between ​must and ​have to ​when
speaking, and you can hear English speakers interchanging them. For the exercises,
stick​ ​to​ ​the​ ​general​ ​rule.

PROHIBITION

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

VERB

Prohibition ● to​ ​express​ ​prohibition

mustn’t You ​mustn’t smoke in the
(when​ ​something​ ​is
hospital.
forbidden)

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ABILITY ​(the skill, talent or capacity that someone has or doesn’t have to do
something)

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

VERB

I​ ​can​ ​speak​ ​three​ ​languages.

● ability​ ​in​ ​the
can​​ ​/​ ​can’t
present​ ​simple
My​ ​sister​ ​can’t​ ​move​ ​her​ ​ears.

● ability​ ​in​ ​the

Could​ ​you​ ​swim​ ​when​ ​you​ ​were​ ​4?
could​ ​/ past​ ​simple​​ ​and
Ability couldn’t in​ ​conditional
If​ ​I​ ​were​ ​fit,​ ​I​ ​could​ ​run​ ​fast.
sentences

If I had my car, I ​would be able to

● ability​ ​in​ ​any
be​ ​able​ ​to​​ ​/ pick​ ​you​ ​up.
tense​ ​(present,
not​ ​be​ ​able
past,​ ​future,
to I ​will be able to play the piano after
conditional…)
this​ ​course.

We normally use ​can/can’t in the present and ​could/couldn’t in the past, but we can
also​ ​use​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​.

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POSSIBILITY​ ​(a​ ​chance​ ​that​ ​something​ ​will​ ​happen​ ​or​ ​be​ ​true)

MODAL​ ​VERB USE EXAMPLE

● possibility
You ​can ​come today. I’ll
can (very
be​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​you.
possible)
Possibility ● possibility
(less Maria ​could be the
MORE​ ​POSSIBLE could
possible woman​ ​of​ ​your​ ​dreams.
than​ ​can​)

I ​may ​go to your house

tonight,​ ​but​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​sure.
may​ ​/​ ​may​ ​not
She ​may not come with
us, as she doesn’t feel
● possibility well.
(perhaps, We ​might play tennis after
​​​ maybe) work; it depends if we
IMPOSSIBLE have​ ​time​ ​or​ ​not.
might​ ​/​ ​mightn’t
You ​mightn’t win the
match if you feel tired
now.

can’t ● impossible That​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​true.

Remember! It doesn’t matter if we use ​may (may not) ​or ​might (mightn’t)​, but
might​ ​(mightn’t)​ ​is​ ​usually​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​more​ ​formal.

​ ​Don’t​ ​use​ ​couldn’t​ ​to​ ​express​ ​possibility!

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 MODAL​ ​VERB USE EXAMPLE

may​ ​have​ ​+ I don’t know where my glasses are. I

past​ ​participle may​ ​have​ ​left​ ​them​ ​in​ ​the​ ​office.

​ xpress
● to​e Richard ​might have ​bought ​the
might​ ​have​ ​+
possibility present because he lives close to the
past​ ​participle
about​ ​the​ ​past shop,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know.

Possibility could​ ​have​ ​+ I ​could have come ​earlier, but I’ve

in​ ​the​ ​past past​ ​participle bumped into John and we were
talking​ ​for​ ​20​ ​minutes.

may​ ​not​ ​have

● to​ ​ xpress
e I can’t believe Sarah isn’t here. She
+​ ​past
possibility may not have ​remembered ​our
participle
about​ ​the​ ​past appointment.
in​ ​negative
mightn’t​ ​have sentences​ ​(
This season ​mightn’t ​have ​had an
+​ ​past couldn’t amazing start. Nevertheless, it hasn’t
participle have) been​ ​horrible​ ​either.

CERTAINTY​ ​(it​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​doubted)

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

VERB

● certainty​ ​in​ ​the

must It’s​ ​very​ ​dark.​ ​It​ ​must​ ​be​ ​late!
present​ ​simple
Certainty You ​can’t be sleepy - you’ve slept
● certainty​ ​in​ ​the
present​ ​simple​ ​for for​ ​10​ ​hours!
can’t​ ​/
couldn’t negative​ ​sentences
It ​couldn’t be Sandra - she’s on
( mustn’t) holiday​ ​in​ ​Paris.

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 MODAL USE EXAMPLE
VERB

must​ ​have​ ​+ ● to​ ​express

You look very tired. It ​must have
past certainty​ ​about​ ​the
been​ ​a​ ​long​ ​journey.
participle past
Certainty
about​ ​the can’t​ ​have​ ​+
● to​ ​express She ​can’t have ​lost ​your laptop. She
past past
certainty​ ​about​ ​the didn’t​ ​use​ ​it​ ​that​ ​day.
participle
past​ ​in​ ​negative
couldn’t sentences​ ​( There are no cookies left, but George
have​​ ​+​ ​past mustn’t​ ​have) couldn’t have ​reached them,
participle because​ ​they​ ​were​ ​on​ ​the​ ​top​ ​shelf.

PERMISSION​ ​AND​ ​REQUESTS​ ​(OFFERS)

MODAL​ ​VERB USE EXAMPLE

Permission​ ​and May​ ​I​ ​have​ ​your​ ​attention​ ​for​ ​a
requests​ ​(offers) second,​ ​please?
may​​ ​/​ ​might ● formal
MORE Might​ ​I​ ​help​ ​you?
FORMAL
Would ​you pick John up from
● formal,​ ​but
school,​ ​please?
less​ ​formal
would
than​ ​may
Would you like to come to my
and​​ ​might
house​ ​on​ ​Saturday?

Could you open the window,

● informal,​ ​but
please?
could more​ ​formal
than​ ​can
Could​ ​you​ ​drive​ ​me​ ​home,​ ​please?
​​​
INFORMAL Can​ ​you​ ​pass​ ​me​ ​the​ ​salt?
can ● informal
Can​ ​I​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​toilet?

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 Remember!

➔ Don’t​ ​pronounce​ ​the​ ​L​ ​in​ ​the​ ​word​ ​could​.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​pronounce​ ​/kʊd/.

It​ ​cou​l​d​ ​be​ ​dangerous​ ​to​ ​use​ ​that​ ​knife.

➔ Don’t​ ​pronounce​ ​the​ ​L​ ​in​ ​the​ ​word​ ​would​.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​pronounce​ ​/wʊd/.

Wou​l​d​ ​you​ ​like​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​my​ ​house​ ​next​ ​summer?

➔ May​ ​is​ ​pronounced​ ​/meɪ/.

May​ ​I​ ​help​ ​you?

➔ Might​ ​is​ ​pronounced​ ​/maɪt/.

Might​ ​I​ ​help​ ​you?

Remember​ ​these​ ​tips!

➔ Modal verbs are NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs such as ​do​, ​does​, ​did...
(with​ ​the​ ​exception​ ​of​​ ​have​ ​to​ ​and​​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​):

◆ The negative is formed simply by adding ‘not’ (or the negative contraction)
after​ ​the​ ​modal​ ​verb.

You​ ​should​ ​not​ ​smoke.​ ​=​ ​You​ ​shouldn’t​ ​smoke.

But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​You​ ​don’t​ ​should​ ​smoke​.

◆ Questions​ ​are​ ​formed​ ​by​ ​inverting​ ​the​ ​verb​ ​and​ ​the​ ​subject:

May​ ​I​ ​help​ ​you?

But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​Do​ ​I​ ​may​ ​help​ ​you​?

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 ➔ Modal​ ​verbs​ ​NEVER​ ​change​ ​form:​ ​you​ ​can​ ​never​ ​add​ ​an​ ​-s​ ​or​ ​-ed​,​ ​for​ ​example:

He​ ​can​ ​speak​ ​three​ ​languages.

But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​He​ ​can​s​ ​speak​ ​three​ ​languages​.

She​ ​can​ ​read.​ ​(present)

She​ ​could​ ​read​ ​when​ ​she​ ​was​ ​6.​ ​(past)
But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​She​ ​can​ned​ ​speak​ ​three​ ​languages​.

➔ Modal verbs are NEVER followed by ​to ​(with the exception of ​have to​, ​be able to
and​ ​ought​ ​to​),​ ​for​ ​example:

She​ ​may​ ​leave​ ​before​ ​5​ ​pm​ ​today.

But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​She​ ​may​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​before​ ​5​ ​pm​ ​today​.

I​ ​must​ ​study​ ​for​ ​tomorrow’s​ ​exam.

But​ ​never​ ​say:​ ​*​I​ ​must​ ​to​ ​study​ ​for​ ​tomorrow’s​ ​exam​.

If you need to revise how to form each modal verb in more detail, please keep on
reading:

SHOULD

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It should go​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​early.
We
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It shouldn’t eat​ ​fattening​ ​food.
We
You
They

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 shouldn’t​ ​=​ ​should​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Should we stay?
you
they

OUGHT​ ​TO

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It ought​ ​to go​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​early.
We
You
They

​Ought to isn’t frequent in the negative or in questions. However, you can

sometimes​ ​find​ ​oughtn’t​ ​to​:​ ​You​ ​oughtn’t​ ​to​ ​do​ ​that​.

MUST

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It must do​ ​it.
We
You
They

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 I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It mustn’t go​ ​in​ ​there.
We
You
They

mustn’t​ ​=​ ​must​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Must we do​ ​that?
you
they

HAVE​ ​TO

I
You have​ ​to

He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It has​ ​to wear​ ​a​ ​uniform.
We
You have​ ​to
They

I
You don’t​ ​have​ ​to

He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It doesn’t​ ​have​ ​to do​ ​that,​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​necessary.
We
You don’t​ ​have​ ​to
They

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don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​=​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​to
doesn’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​=​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​to

I
Do you

Does he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it have​ ​to do​ ​that?
Do we
you
they

CAN

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It can do​ ​many​ ​sports.
We
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It can’t see​ ​properly.
We
You
They

can’t​ ​=​ ​cannot

(Don’t​ ​write​ ​can​ ​not​)

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 I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Can we ski?
you
they

COULD

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It could ski​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​9.
We
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It couldn’t see​ ​anything​ ​with​ ​the
We new​ ​glasses.
​​ You
They

couldn’t​ ​=​ ​could​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Could we tell​ ​her​ ​the​ ​good​ ​news?
you
they

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 BE​ ​ABLE​ ​TO
(The​ ​examples​ ​in​ ​the​ ​chart​ ​are​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future)

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It
We will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to learn​ ​English.
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It
We won’t​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to read​ ​this​ ​text.
You
They

won’t​ ​=​ ​will​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Will we be​ ​able​ ​to play​ ​the​ ​guitar?
you
they

​ ​Remember​ ​that​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​can​ ​be​ ​used​ ​with​ ​many​ ​tenses.​ ​For​ ​example:

I​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​see​ ​long​ ​distances​ ​before​ ​developing​ ​short-sightedness.​ ​(used​ ​to)
I​ ​haven’t​ ​been​ ​able​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​all​ ​the​ ​questions​ ​in​ ​the​ ​exam.​ ​(present​ ​perfect)

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 MAY

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It may go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​gym​ ​this
We evening.
You
They

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It may​ ​not be​ ​there.
We
You
They

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
May we come​ ​in?
​​ you
they

MIGHT

I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It might get​ ​lost​ ​without​ ​a​ ​map.
We
You
They

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 I
You
He​ ​/​ ​She​ ​/​ ​It mightn’t invite​ ​the​ ​boss.
We
You
They

mightn’t​ ​=​ ​might​ ​not

I
you
he​ ​/​ ​she​ ​/​ ​it
Might we see​ ​your​ ​ID,​ ​please?
you
they

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