MODAL VERBS

WHAT ARE MODAL VERBS?

• special verbs which behave very

irregularly and that are used to indicate
modality – ability, possibility, likelihood,
probability, permission, and obligation.
 LIST OF MODAL VERBS
• Can
• Could
They are Auxiliary verbs that
• May
provide additional and specific
• Might meaning to the main verb of the
• Must sentence
• Shall
• Should
Modal verbs are sometimes
• Will
referred to as
• Would Modal Auxiliary verbs because
• Ought to they help other verbs
• Be able to
 Structure of Modal Verbs

I
You
He
Modal Verb
She Base verb
(can /should, etc.)
It
We
They
 How do we use modals?

S M V
Subje Verb
ct
Example: Mary can play the piano

-they are not conjugated

- they don’t need other auxiliary verbs
 Form
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative
He can ski not He cans ski or He can skis.
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
They can’t be serious.
They don’t can be serious.
 Form

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

She must study.

He could play football in his youth. (general ability)
We should have gone the other way.
 Form

Modal verbs do not have all the tenses

Many modals cannot be used with the past or the

future tenses
Can - be able to
Must - have to

I can solve the problem. – I was able to solve the problem.

You must come early. – You had to come early yesterday.
 CAN
Can’t is negative; cannot is formal; Question form: Can + subj

1) to express ability:
Ahmed can speak French but he cannot speak Arabic.
Superman can do things that ordinary people can’t.
2) To describe what is allowed or not allowed:
At the park, you can take photos but you cannot pick flowers.
Viewers can eat popcorn at the cinema, but they cannot eat
shawarma.
3) With future meaning:
I don’t think I can come tomorrow. I am very busy.
4) With verbs of perception (hear, see, smell, taste, feel):
I can hear my sister shouting.
Can you feel the tremors?
 BE ABLE TO
to show an ability;
it has the same meaning as can
1) Use instead of ‘can’:
Ahmed is able to speak French

2) When ‘can’ is not suitable because cane has only

present and past forms. We use ‘be able to’ in
present and infinitive forms :

I haven’t been able to complete the registration.

It is my dream to be able to travel to the moon.
 Have to/has to: obligation
1) To describe what is necessary, a rule, or something
we do because other people tell us to:
She has to finish the test before the bell rings.
Mom told me that I have to be careful when
travelling abroad.

2) The negative form don’t have to / doesn’t have to is

used to describe something unnecessary:

I don’t have to wake up early tomorrow. I’m on

vacation.
We don’t have to wear formal clothes.
 MUST/ MUSTN’T: Obligation
Mustn’t is negative; must not is formal; Question form:
must + subj
1) There is sometimes little difference between first person I must
and I have to
Sorry, I really have to go now.
Sorry, I really must go now!

2) You must go to the doctor if you are not well. ( personal opinion
of the speaker)

We have to wear safety goggles. (outside opinion or rule)

3) We usually use the question form of have for must.

Do we really have to do this?.
 MUST/ MUSTN’T: Obligation

4) We use mustn’t when we think an action is against the rules.

You mustn’t use your phone in class.

5) Mustn’t vs. don’t have to

Students mustn’t use a pencil on exams.

Students don’t have to use a pencil on exams.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

 SHOULD & OUGHT TO
1) to give advice
You have gained a lot of weight. You should go on a
diet.

2) To say what we think is right or correct or is a good

idea in your opinion:
 We should leave early so we won’t be late for
the show.
 He shouldn’t accept that offer. It is too low.

3) Ought to has the same meaning as should

 The movie is good. You ought to see it.
 We ought to do more exercise.
 HAD BETTER
1) To say what we think someone should do
 You’d better drive slowly. The road is slippery.
 I’d better not leave my bag there. Someone
might steal it.

NEED TO
1) Same meaning as have to. ‘Need to” is not a modal
verb
 You need to study well.
 Students don’t need to bring their books
tomorrow.
NEED is a modal verb and has no third person form. It
is mainly used in questions and more formal in use

 You need not to take of your shoes.

 Need we write this down?
 MODALS:
ability,
obligation,
criticism (past)
 COULD / COULDN’T
past for of can / can’t. Could not is formal

• to express abilities in the past:

Badriya could speak 3 languages when
she was four.
• to describe what was allowed or not
allowed:
Women couldn’t drive a car in Saudi.
We can also use was/were able to instead of
could or couldn’t to describe past ability
in general
• Maria was able to sew dresses.

Use was/were able to when we mean that we

could do something and we actually did it
• We were able to surprise our teacher on her
birthday.
 HAD TO / DIDN’T HAVE TO

Had to, didn’t have to, etc, are past form of

have to and must

• To describe past obligation (have to and

must)
We had to go to bed at 8PM when we
were kids
 NEEDED TO / DIDN’T NEED TO /
NEEDN’T HAVE
• Use needed to to describe what was
necessary:
They needed to wait for the electricity
to be restored before they could finish
the project.
• Use didn’t need to to describe what
was not necessary
I didn’t need to take the driver’s test
when I was in Malaysia.
Did you need to…? (Question form)
 NEEDED TO / DIDN’T NEED TO /
NEEDN’T HAVE
• Use nedn’t have + pp to explain that
someone did something
unnecessary:
My mom was worried because she
thought my brother ran away. But she
needn’t have worried because my
brother was just sleeping at the
garden!
 SHOULD HAVE/SHOULDN’T
HAVE OUGHT TO HAVE/OUGHT
NOT TO HAVE
• Use should have / shouldn’t have + pp to
criticize a past action
 Look at yourself. You are so wet! You
should have waited for the rain to stop.
 I shouldn’t have shouted at my teacher
when I was in high school.

• Ought to have / ought not to have + pp is

used in the same way
 MODALS:
possibility,
uncertainty,
certainty
(present / future)
POSSIBILITY AND UNCERTAINTY
 Use may / might / could + base verb
to describe things that will possibly
happen
WW3 may/might/could start soon.

 Use may / might + not + base verb to

describe things that will possibly
not happen in the future.
WW3 may/might not start anytime soon
since peace talks are already in place.
 POSSIBILITY
• Use can + base verb to express
possibility in general, but not within a
future time reference.

 Dogs can be dangerous when they are

annoyed.
 It can be very cold at night in Oman
during winter.
 CERTAINTY
• Use will + base verb when we are
certain that something will happen
in the future.

 Mohammed studied very hard. I’m

sure he will pass the test.
 The clouds are so dark. According
to the weather forecast, it will rain
 CERTAINTY
• Use must + base verb when we are
certain that something is true
(usually with be) or when we
suppose what a situation is like.

You’ve been driving all day. You

must feel very tired.
It must be very exciting to ride the
fastest roller coaster!
 NEGATIVE CERTAINTY
• Use can’t + base verb when we are
certain that something is not true
(usually with be) or impossible.

That can’t be his brother. He’s an

only child.
Don’t tell me you are migrating to
America. You can’t be serious!
 MODALS:
possibility,
uncertainty,
certainty (past)
• Use could / may / might + have + pp
to describe things that possibly
happened in the past.

The room is so messy! The kids

could / might / may have played
here.
 I haven't received your letter.
It could / might / may have
gotten lost in the post.
• Use could / might + have + pp to
make a contrast between what was
possible in the past and what
actually happened.
The cat could / might have
drowned if the boy didn’t come to
save it.

• To criticize someone’s actions.

My brother might / could have locked
the door and slept. I stayed outside
all night.
• Use can’t + have + pp when we are
certain something was not true.
Waleed can’t have been at the
meeting. He’s on vacation this week.
I’m sure they can’t have bought the
cake this morning because all shops
open at 12.

• Use must + have + pp when we are

certain something was true.
I didn’t hear the bell. I must’ve been
sleeping that time.
• Use could / may / might and could
have / may have / might have in
conditional sentences when the
results are not certain.
If you study hard enough, you may /
might / could be the top student in
class.
If you studied hard enough, you
could be the top student in class.
If I had studied harder, I might have
passed the exam
 MODALS:
request,
permission, offer,
suggestion, advice,
will as obligation
 REQUESTS
• Way of politely asking someone to
do something
POLITE: can
Can you teach me how to play the
piano?
 REQUESTS
MORE POLITE: could, would, do you
think you could, could you possibly,
do you mind, would you mind

Could you teach me how to play

the piano?
Would you teach me how to play
the piano?
Do you think you could you teach
me how to play the piano?
 REQUESTS
MORE POLITE: could, would, do you
think you could, could you possibly,
do you mind, would you mind
Could you possibly teach me how
to play the piano?
Do you mind teaching me how to
play the piano?
Would you mind teaching me how
to play the piano?
 REQUESTS
RESPONSES:
Sure.
Of course.
No problem.
 ASKING PERMISSION
• If we want to be allowed to do
something

POLITE: can
Can I go to the restroom?
 ASKING PERMISSION
MORE POLITE: Could, do you think I
could, may, do you mind if, is it all
right if
Could I go to the restroom?
Do you think I could go to the
restroom?
May I go to the restroom?
Do you mind if I go to the restroom?
Is it all right if I go to the restroom?
 ASKING PERMISSION
RESPONSES:
Yes, you can. / No, you can’t.
That’s all right. / Sorry, no.
 MAKING OFFERS
• We ask someone if they want us to
do something or say that we will do it
Shall, I’ll
Shall I carry you books? / Yes, please.
I’ll carry your books. / Thanks.
• We ask someone if they want something
Would
Would you like to drink tea?
Yes please. / No thanks.
 MAKING A PROMISE

Will

Don’t worry, I will pick you up

tomorrow.
Don’t worry, I will not sleep late, I
promise.
 MAKING SUGGESTIONS
• Giving an idea about what we or
other people could do
Let’s, How about, Shall, Why don’t,
We could
Let’s eat out tonight.
How about eating out tonight?
Why don’t we eat out tonight?
Shall we eat out tonight?
We could eat out tonight.
Good idea.
 GIVING ADVICE
• Telling another person what they
should do
I think, I don’t think, should/shouldn’t,
If I were you - would
I think / I don’t think you should tell
your mom.
You should / shouldn’t tell your mom.
If I were you, I would tell my mom.
 WILL AS OBLIGATION
• Use in formal language and writing to
describe a rule
Students will wear a uniform starting
next week.
Exercise: Use an appropriate modal verb in each sentence.
1. Owen _______( not) do his homework because tomorrow is Saturday.
2. Drivers ________ stop at a stop sign.
3. ________ you make a copy for me?
4. We _______ leave now or we will be late.
5. A: _______ I use your laptop computer? B: Of course you _______.
6. I _______ rather cook tonight.
7. _____ I go to the restroom, Miss Chang?
8. ______ you prefer chicken or steak for dinner?
9. I __________ catch the bus this morning. My father drove me to
school.
10. _________ you answer the phone?
11. When I was young, I ________ speak better English than now.
12. You look pale. You ______ go to a doctor.
13. You have been driving for ten hours. You _________ be exhausted.
14. We __________ rent a car. My father will lend us his.
 Practise
1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could
2. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can
3. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.
a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to
4. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to
5. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.
a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t
 Practise
6. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
7. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to
8. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. would c. must d. have to
9. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
10. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t
 Practise
11. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?
a. Could b. may c. should d. would
12. You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a
surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
13. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need
14. He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must
 More practise
Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the
same meaning.
1. I suggest that you get a good lawyer!
should get a lawyer
You ___________________________________________
2. A university degree isn’t necessary for that job.
needn’t have a university degree for that job
You ___________________________________________
don’t have to have a university…
3. Perhaps my father will pick you up.
may / might pick you up
My father _______________________________________
4. 4. Eating is forbidden in class!
mustn’t eat in class
You ___________________________________________
 Use your imagination
Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.
1. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about
things to do)
2. We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)
3. Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)
4. You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)
5. Peter has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him some
advice)
6. You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for
permission politely)
 Possible answers

1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

2. We have to buy a new notebook

3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin

4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York

5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea

6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?
ONLINE EXERCISE ON MODALS