MODAL VERBS

CAN, COULD, MAY,

MIGHT, BE ABLE TO,
NEED TO, HAVE TO,
MUST, MUSTN’T
 modal verbs
 Modal verbs are verbs that are always followed by another infinitive
verb;
verb
E.g. She can play the piano very well.

 To form the negative or the interrogative we don’t need an auxiliary

verb:
NEGATIVE – we just add NOT to the modal verb
E.g. We must not (mustn’t) wear sunglasses in the classroom
INTERROGATIVE – we just put the modal verb before the subject
E.g. Can you speak German?
 modal verbs

 The 3rd person singular doesn’t take an -s/-es at the end

of the verb;
E.g. He can run the marathon.

 Each modal verb expresses many different meanings:

E.g. She can go to the party tonight.
(permission – asking and giving)
Tattoos can damage your skin.
(possibility/probability)
Garfield can eat a birthday cake all by himself.
(ability/capacity)
 COMMON MODAL
VERBS

Can Ought to
Could Shall
He can speak English May Should
► not   He can to speak English Might Will
► not   He can speaking English  Must Would
Have to

She should go to the

doctor
► not   She shoulds go …
► not   She should goes…. 

They might not go to the party

► not   They don’t might go to the party

PRESENT: The lights are on. They must be at home. (Seguro que están en casa)
PAST : The lights were on.They must have been at home.
(Seguro que estaban en casa)
► not   They musted be at home.
 modal verbs

 Modal verbs part 1:

 When we talk about health and injuries, we often
use modals to describe and analyse the situation.
 modal verbs – meanings

CAN/COULD
 ability/capacity
e.g. She can read this text in two minutes.
They can’t read without their glasses.

 permission
e.g. Can I go to the concert tonight?
(asking permission)
No, you can't go to the concert.
(refusing permission)
You can go to the cinema tonight.
(giving permission)
 modal verbs – meanings

 request
e.g. Can you pass me the salt, please?
Could you open the window, please?
(more polite, formal)

 possibility/probability

e.g. Piercings can be dangerous.

You could get an infection.
(less probable)
 modal verbs – meanings

FORM (CAN):
Affirmative: Subject + can + verb
EX. Carol can speak English.
Negative: Subject + can’t + verb
EX. Carol can’t speak English.
Interrogative: Can + Subject + verb + ?
Short answers: Yes, subject + can: EX. Yes, she can
No, subject + can’t: EX. No, she can’t
 modal verbs – meanings

FORM (COULD):
Affirmative: Subject + could + verb
EX. Carol could swim when she was a child.
Negative: Subject + couldn’t + verb
EX. Carol couldn’t swim when she was a child.
Interrogative: Could + Subject + verb + ?
Short answers: Yes, subject + could: Yes, she can
No, subject + couldn’t: No, she can’t
 modal verbs – meanings

MAY / MIGHT
 May (puede que, tal vez)
 Might ( pudiera / podría ser que) (less probable)
 Permission (formal and polite)
e.g. May I come in? Yes, you may
 Probability / possibility
e.g. She may go to the USA next week.
It’s a bit cold today. It might rain tomorrow (less
probable/possible)
 Be able to

 “Be able to” is possible instead of “can”

and can be conjugated as a regurlar verb.

 It is a more formal than “can”

e.g. It’s nice that he was able to
pass so well in the Exam.
 Be able to

PRESENT TENSE
I am able to run fast
He isn’t able to run fast
Are you able to run fast?
Yes, we are / No, she isn’t / Yes, I am

PAST TENSE
I was able to run fast
He wasn’t able to run fast
Were you able to run fast?
Yes, we were / No, she wasn’t
 Be able to

FUTURE TENSE
I will be able to run fast
He won’t be able to run fast
Will you be able to run fast?
Yes, we will / No, she won’t
 modal verbs

 Modal verbs part 2:

 When we talk about injuries and medical
treatment, we often use modals.
 modal verbs – meanings

NEED TO
FORMS
I need to sleep now
He doesn’t need to sleep now
Do you need to sleep now?
Yes, we do / No, she doesn’t

 Obligation / necessity
e.g. I need to rest for a few days because I’m
exhausted.
 modal verbs – meanings

NEEDN’T
It has the same use of don’t need to (you don’t have
the obligation or necessity to do something). But it
is more formal. ‘’To’’ is not used in this form.
e.g. You needn’t drive me to the hospital (No tiene
que llevarme en coche al hospital)
 modal verbs – meanings

MUST
 obligation
e.g. Teens must ask for their parents’ permission.

 necessity
e.g. I don’t have food at home. I must go to the
supermarket.

 logical deduction/certainty
e.g. Mary is missing classes.
She never misses classes. She must be ill.
 modal verbs – meanings

MUSTN’T
 prohibition
e.g. Students mustn’t use their mobiles in classes.
SHOULD
 advice
e.g. You should start studying. The test is
tomorrow.
You shouldn’t spend all your money on clothes.
 opinion
e.g. She believes every kid should have his/her own mobile.
 modal verbs – meanings

HAVE TO: It is used to express certainty , necessity and

obligation.
 Certainty
e.g. This answer has to be correct.
 obligation
e.g. They have to leave early.

 Necessity
e.g. The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent
burning.
 MUST AND HAVE TO

- They have similar meaning, but have to is more common for

general, external obligation, for examples rules and laws.
- Must is more common for specific or personal obligations.

 I have to wear a shirt and tie at work (it’s the rule in this
company).
 I must buy a new shirt – this one is too old now (it’s my own
decision)

1. Have to is a normal verb and it exists in all tenses.

2. Must is a modal verb. The only forms are must and mustn’t.
 : "Do not have to" vs. "Must not“

"Do not have to" suggests that someone is not

required to do something. "Must not" suggests that
you are prohibited from doing something.

Examples:

You must not eat that. It is forbidden, it is not

allowed.

You don't have to eat that. You can if you want

to, but it is not necessary.
 EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE (IN THE PRESENT)
USE MODAL VERB SUBSTITUTE TRANSLATION
It’s a good idea... “Sería
“IfunaIbuena
were you I’d go to the doctor”
- should If I were you... idea...” “If I were you I’d go to the
=You should go todoctor”=You
the doctor”.
should go to the
ADVICE - ought to I suggest you …. “Si yo fuera tú...” doctor”.
“Te sugiero...”
“It’s absolutely necessary that we finish
It’s important that the article today”
“Es importante que...”
- must It’s absolutely “Es = “We must/have to
absolutamente finish
“It’s the
absolutely article
necessary that we
finish the article today”= We
OBLIGATION necessary that... necesario...” today”
- have to It’s essential “Es esencial que...”
must/have to finish the article
today”
that... “It isn’t necessary to bring a present”
It isn’t necessary
= “You don’t need/don’t have to bring a
“No es necesario
LACK OF don’t have to que...”
It isn’t necessary to bring a
present”
present = “You don’t need/don’t
OBLIGATION needn’t “No hace falta que...” have to bring a present”
“You aren’t allowed to smoke at school”
Not to be allowed =”You
“No estar mustn’t smoke
permitido” atallowed
“You aren’t school”
to smoke at

PROHIBITION - mustn’t to “Está prohibido…” school” =”You mustn’t smoke at

It’s forbidden to (When I was a childschool”
I earned Chinese)
ABILITY “I can speak
(Circunstancias Chinese”
(When I was a child I earned
- can (Ideal idóneas para“I
quecould
Chinese)
algo speak Chinese”
- present ciecumstances)
- past - could ocurra)
“I can speak Chinese”
“I will be able to“Ispeak Chinese”
could speak Chinese”
(Knowledge)
-other tenses -be able to (Saber hacer algo) “I will be able to speak Chinese”

-may -.....probably....
“Perhaps she isPerhaps
“...probablemente...” at home”
she is at home=She
PROBABILITY -might - Perhaps
“Quizás...” may/might be at home.
=“She may/might be at home”.
-could
-I’m sure “I’m sure
“Estoy that magazine
seguro...” isn’t
I’m sure Carolina’s”
that magazine isn’t

CERTAINTY
-must -I’m certain =“That magazine
Estoy seguro...” can’t be Carolina’s”.
Carolina’s=That magazine
Carolina’s.
can’t be

-can’t -It’s impossible “Es“It’s quite possible she’s

imposible...” It’s quiteat home”
possible she’s at
-It’s quite possible “Es muy posible....”
=“She must be at home”.
home=She must be at home.
 EXAMPLE (IN THE PRESENT)

“If I were you I’d go to the doctor”

=You should go to the doctor”.

“It’s absolutely necessary that we finish the article today”

= “We must/have to finish the article today”

“It isn’t necessary to bring a present”

= “You don’t need/don’t have to bring a present”
“You aren’t allowed to smoke at school”
=”You mustn’t smoke at school”
(When I was a child I earned Chinese)
“I can speak Chinese”
“I could speak Chinese”
“I will be able to speak Chinese”

“Perhaps she is at home”

=“She may/might be at home”.
“I’m sure that magazine isn’t Carolina’s”
=“That magazine can’t be Carolina’s”.
“It’s quite possible she’s at home”
=“She must be at home”.
 modal verbs

 THE END…
 (Garfield shouldn’t have eaten the
birthday cake by himself!)