Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs
Name the modals you can think of!
 What do they have in common?
1. Have more than ONE meaning.
2. Don’t take –s, -ing, -ed… NO TENSES!
3. ALL make negative by adding NOT.
4. ALL make interrogative by INVERSION.
5. MOST of them followed by BARE infinitive.
 1. CAN (moći, znati, umeti)
+ I can help you.
- I cannot/can‘t help you.
? Can I help you?
Značenja:
1. DOZVOLA: You can go out tonight.
2. SPOSOBNOST: Sara can speak two languages.
3. ZAKLJUČAK: He can‘t be your brother!
(nemoguće da je)You are not alike.
 1. CAN (moći, znati, umeti)
CAN – BE able to
(generally – in a spec.situaution)

► PAST: COULD – When I was younger I

could ski well.
► FUTURE: WILL be able to - I will be able to
come tomorrow.
Practice 1
Read the sentences. Think about the meaning. Is it
zaključak/sposobnost/dozvola?

1. Maria can cook well.

2. Can I go out, please?
3. Tim can‘t be in London now. I saw him here yesterday.
4. Last year I could swim all day and not get tired.
5. This can be difficult.
6. Children, you can all go to the park now.
 2. MUST (morati)
MUST HAVE TO
► Sam sebi zadajem! ► Drugi mi zadaje!
► U zvaničnom, pisanom
tekstu. I have to do my HW for
tomorrow.
I must have a haircut! I Mum says I have to
look awful! clean my room.
Books must be returned
before the due date.
 2. MUST (morati)
MUST HAVE TO
+ I have to go.
+ I must go. - I don‘t have to go.
- I don‘t have to go. ? Do I have to go?
? Must I go?
• She has to go./ Does she
have to go?
• MUSTN‘T – zabrana/ne
smeti
We mustn‘t smoke in here.
You must not feed the
animals.
 2. MUST
► ZNAČENJA:
1. Obaveza: I have to do my project today.
I must be on time to the
wedding.
2. Zabrana: You mustn‘t lie on your CV.
3. Zaključak:He must be at home. The lights
are on. (mora da je)
 Practice 2
► MUST, HAVE TO, HAS TO, MUSTN‘T
1. Sorry, I ______ go now. I have a bus to catch.
2. I _______ eat something! I‘m starving!
3. You _______ drive if you have been drinking.
4. Helen ________ be here on time, she has an
appointment.
5. He _________ be madly in love! He is so positive and
simply glowing!
6. All wasted paper ________ be trown into the bin.
 3. SHOULD (trebalo bi da)
+ I should stop eating sweets.
? Should I stop eating sweets?
- I shouldn‘t stop eating sweets.
ZNAČENJE:
1. Sugestija, savet: I think you should lose some
weight.
 4. MAY – MIGHT (možda)
She may come any time.
She might come any time.

1. May ima i značenje DOZVOLE:

You may come in. (smeš)
May I use your pen?
2. Might ima i značenje ZAKLJUČKA:
She might be busy. Her phone is off.
 PLUS!
► Zaučtiva pitanja radije koristimo modale "u
pastu":

► Can I use your pen? – Could I use your

pen?
► Will you open the door? – Would you open
the door?
Practice – Put the right MODAL in the blanks. Be careful!
You have +, ?,-.

1. The employer told the workers that they _____ come to work on
time.
2. The buses are all full. We _______ get a taxi.
3. He ________be in here. I can see his car at the parking lot.
4. I _______ remember his address. I was there long time ago.
5. You __________do all the exercise. Two sentences will be enough.
6. We _________ go shopping .There isn’t any food in the fridge.
7. Visitors ___________ walk around the church during a service.
8. _________I speak to Jane, please?
9. Sometimes it __________ rain in July but not very often.
10. When I was only 5, I ________ ride a bike on two wheels.
11. You have a temperature. I think you ______ go to the doctor‘s.
 KEY
1. The employer told the workers that they have to come to work on
time.
2. The buses are all full. We must/should get a taxi.
3. He can/must be in here. I can see his car at the parking lot.
4. I can‘t remember his address. I was there long time ago.
5. You don‘t have to/ needn‘ t do all the exercise. Two sentences will
be enough.
6. We should/can/must go shopping .There isn’t any food in the fridge.
7. Visitors mustn‘t walk around the church during a service.
8. Can/May/ Could I speak to Jane, please?
9. Sometimes it may/might rain in July but not very often.
10. When I was only 5, I could/was able to ride a bike on two wheels.
11. You have a temperature. I think you should go to the doctor‘s.
Additional practice - student‘s book, page 89.