Modals in English

IN GRAMMAR, AUXILIARIES IS
DIVIDED INTO

Primary Modals

BE, HAVE, DO, WILL, SHALL CAN, MAY, WILL, SHALL

DID, HAD, WAS, WERE SHOULD, MUST, MIGHT
 Be
Used to going
might to
should
can

must
Dare could

would MODALS
may
ARE
Need not
will

Had shall Be able

Have to better ought to
to + verb
 MODAL VERBS PHRASAL MODALS
Form
SIMPLE PERFECT Expressions of similar meaning
can can have + V3 am/is/are able to + V1
could could have + V3 was/were able to + V1
may may have + V3 am/is/are + likely to + V1
might might have + V3 be + allowed to + V1

ought to ought to have + V3 be supposed to + V1

should should have + V3 be going to + V1

shall Shall have + V3 Be due to + V1
will will have + V3 Be about to + V1
would would have + V3 Be on the point of + V-ing
must Must have + V3 Have to + V1
need Need have + V3 Have got to + V1
dare Need to + V1
Used to + V1
have various Modal Auxiliaries
meanings: necessity, advice, ability,
expectation, prediction, permission,
possibility, deduction, and other specific
.meanings
Use Examples
ability .I can speak English

permission to do st in present ?Can I go to the cinema

request ?Can you wait a moment, please

offer .I can lend you my car till tomorrow

suggestion ?Can we visit Grandma at the weekend

Possibility/probability .It can get very hot in Arizona

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past .I could speak English

permission to do sth. in the past .I could go to the cinema

* polite question ?Could I go to the cinema, please

* polite request ?Could you wait a moment, please
I could lend you my car till
* polite offer
.tomorrow
Could we visit Grandma at the
* polite suggestion
?weekend
* possibility .It could get very hot in Montana
 may

Use Examples
possibility .It may rain today
Give/ask for permission to do sth. in
?May I go to the cinema
the present
polite suggestion ?May I help you

might

Use Examples
* possibility (less possible than may) .It might rain today
*Ask for permission ?Might I help you
 Use Examples
necessity .I must study hard for your future
deduction .You must be tired
must
advice .You must see the new film with Brad Pitt
You must have a driver’s license in order to
Obligation .drive

must not/may not

Use Examples
You mustn't work on dad's
computer.
prohibition You may not work on dad's
computer
 Use Examples
Need not I needn't go to the supermarket, we're
unnecessity
going to the restaurant tonight

ought to

Use Examples
advice .You ought to drive carefully in bad weather
obligation .You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room
expectation .It ought to take more than 20 minutes
 shall

Use Examples
suggestion ?Shall I carry your bag

should

Use Examples
You should drive carefully in
advice .bad weather
You should switch off the light
obligation .when you leave the room
expectation .The train should be in by then
 will

Use Examples

request, demand, order ?Will you please shut the door

prediction, assumption .I think it will rain on Friday

promise .I will stop smoking

spontaneous decision .Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will

 would & used to

Use Examples
request (more polite than will) ?Would you shut the door, please
Sometimes he would/used to bring me some
habits in the past .flowers

Would in the type 2 conditional sentences

Use Examples
Unreal present .If I were you, I would marry him
Wish .I wish I had a million US dollars now
 Have to

Use
,Need in the present need
.future need or obligation
.Use have/has to or will have to
Examples
.They have to get up early
To get a license, you will have to pass a
.driving test

Not
have to

Use
Expresses something
unnecessary to do
Examples
You don’t have to take the
English test if you don’t want
.to
I didn’t have to study hard to
.pass
I won’t have to study late
.tonight
.

Had better

Use Examples
.You’d better hurry or you’ll be late to class
Giving Advice .You had better not go out late in the night
 CAN/MAY/MIGHT HAVE + V3
: We use may/can/could have + past participle (V3) to show
 
we guess something happen in in the past
 

.I did not see Mary last week. She may/might/can have been in her vacation

I don't know where I lost my umbrella yesterday. I might have left it on

the train. I might have dropped it or I might have left it at the shop. I
.really don't know

 
 CAN/COULD HAVE + V3
:We use can/could have + past participle (V3) to show
 
we had the ability or the opportunity to
.do something in the past but we did not do it
 
.I could have studied law at university, but I didn't want to
 
.an action that almost happened, but didn't 
 
!Be careful! That car could have knocked you over
 WOULD HAVE + V3
We use would have +past participle to express in the type-3
:conditional sentences
.Unreal action in the past

If I had been there yesterday, I would have taken you

.home earlier
 SHOULD HAVE + V3
:We use should have + past participle (V3) to
to express unfullfilled actions/obligations in the past • 
(with regrets)

:Examples
.I failed the grammar exam. I should have studied harder before
You should have let your daughter marry the man she loved.
.She's so unhappy now
 MUST HAVE + V3
:We use must have + past participle (V3) to
.to express some deduction of a past action • 

:Examples
.I called Peter last night, he didn't answer the phone
He must have fallen asleep

CAN’T HAVE + V3
:We use can’t have + past participle (V3) to
show that we are almost sure something did not happen in the • 
.past (deduction for impossibilities)
You can't have seen Tom at the supermarket yesterday. He is in -