M O DAL VE R BS

BEATRIZ

+} JORGE
ISABBEL

- SANDY
PAU
MODAL
VERBS
A MODAL IS A TYPE OF AUXILIARY (HELPING) VERB THAT IS USED TO EXPRESS: ABILITY, POSSIBILITY, PERMISSION OR
OBLIGATION. MODAL PHRASES (OR SEMI-MODALS) ARE USED TO EXPRESS THE SAME THINGS AS MODALS, BUT ARE A
COMBINATION OF AUXILIARY VERBS AND THE PREPOSITION TO. THE MODALS AND SEMI-MODALS IN ENGLISH ARE:

• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Will
• Shall
• Should
• Ought to
• Must/Have to
• Would
CAN
"Can" is one of the most commonly used
modal verbs in English. It can be used to
express ability or opportunity, to request
or offer permission, and to show
possibility or impossibility.
 I can ride a horse. ability
We can stay with my brother when we are in
Paris. opportunity
She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission
Can you hand me the stapler? request
Any child can grow up to be
president. possibility
COULD
""Could" is a modal verb used to express
possibility or past ability as well as to
make suggestions and requests. "Could" is
also commonly used in conditional
sentences as the conditional form of "can."
 EXAMPLES:
 Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility
 Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability
 You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion
 Could I use your computer to email my boss? request
 We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this
weekend. conditional
MAY
MAY – EXPRESS WISHES (ONLY MAY)
 MAY YOU BOTH LIVE A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER
 MAY NOT – TO GIVE PERMISSION
 YOU MAY NOT PARK YOUR CAR IN FRONT OF THE GATE

MAY – ASK FOR PERMISSION

 MAY I HAVE SOME WÁTER PLEASE? (DONT NEED AUXILIAR)

MAY – TO GIVE PERMISSION (ONLY MAY)

 YOU MAY OPEN THE WINDOW IF IT BECOMES HOT

MAY – POSSIBILITY
 I MAY WATCH A MOVIE TONIGHT

MAY – HAPPENS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS

 ADULTS MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SLEEP IF THEY USE TECHNOLOGY BEFORE
GOING TO BED.
MIGHT
MIGHT– POSSIBILITY
 IT MIGHT RAIN LATER SO TAKE AN IMBRELLA.

MIGHT– POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST

 IT WAS AN IDEA WHICH ANYONE MIGHT HAVE DEVELOPED.
WILL
 Abbreviated form = ´II
Negative form = Will not/Won´t

IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT ON ACTION THAT WILL BE DONE IN THE

FUTURE.

 EX: WE WILL LEAVE TOMORROW.

 I WILL READ THE BOOK NEXT WEEK.

IT IS USED TO MAKE REQUEST OR INVITATIONS POLITELY.

 EX: WILL YOU HELP ME WITH MY HOMEWORK.
SHALL
 Shall = It is a must (requeried).
Abbreviated form = ÍI
Negative form = not or san´t

IT IS USED IN OFFENSES, SUGESTIONS, AND REQUESTS FOR

ADVICE IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION. IT IS USED WITH
PERSONAL PRONOUNS: I, WE.

 SHALL I GET THE KEYS.

IT IS USED TO EXPRESS THAT SOMETHING MUST ACCUR (ADUTY

THAT MUST BE PERFORMED).
 YOU SHALL NOT ENTER THE PALACE.
SHOULD
OUGHT TO
MUST/HAVE TO
MUST IS A MODAL VERB AND IT HAS A PRESENT FORM, WHICH CAN BE
USED TO TALK ABOUT THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE. THE NEGATIVE
FORM IS MUST NOT OR MUSTN’T AND THE QUESTION IS MUST I, MUST YOU,
ETC.
 I MUST GO TO THE DOCTOR.
 I MUST GET UP EARLY TOMORROW.
 YOU MUSTN’T CALL ME BEFORE 8.

IT IS USED TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING THAT THE SPEAKER THINKS IS

NECESSARY TO DO.
 YOU MUST EAT LESS CANDY.
 I MUST TRY TO DO MORE EXERCISE.

WE CAN ALSO USE MUST TO EXPRESS STRONG ADVICE.

 YOU MUST SEE THE NEW FILM; IT’S AMAZING!
HAVE TO IS NOT A MODAL VERB. WE NEED DO/DOES/DID TO MAKE NEGATIVES AND
QUESTIONS IN PRESENT AND PAST.
 DO YOU HAVE TO GET UP EARLY TOMORROW?
 DID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE SOUND CARD?
 WE DON’T HAVE TO STAY UNTIL THE END.

WE CAN USE HAVE TO IN ALL THE VERB FORMS (PRESENT, PAST AND PERFECT
TENSES, GERUND, TO INFINITIVE, ETC.)
 I DON’T LIKE HAVING TO GET UP EARLY.
 SHE’S HAD TO WORK AT WEEKENDS SINCE SHE STARTED WORKING.
 I HAD TO CANCEL THE MEETING.

IT IS USED TO DESCRIBE AN OBLIGATION, A RULE, SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY.

 YOU HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE LEFT IN ENGLAND.
 I’LL HAVE TO GET UP EARLY TOMORROW. THE EXAM IS AT 8.
 
WOULD
 "Would" is a modal verb most commonly used to create conditional verb
forms.

 Would is used to talk about habitual actions in the past, but not to talk
about past states.
It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will“.

 "would" can indicate repetition in the past.