Modal verbs

Modal verbs (general rules)

Modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, must, needn’t, may, might, should, ought,
will, would and shall) have characteristic features that make them different
from other verbs.
• They are followed by the infinitive without to, except for ought.
She could play the drums when she was six.
They ought to get a new lead Singer, then they might be more successful.
You needn’t worry about the tickets – I’ve already got them.
Modal verbs (general rules)

• They do not require the auxiliary do in the negative and interrogative

forms.

He can’t read music very well.

You mustn’t interrupt them when they are recording.
May I have your autograph please?
Shouldn’t you ring him before the concert starts?
Modal verbs (general rules)

• They take the same form in all persons and don’t add –s in the third person
singular.

I might buy / He might buy a ticket.

I can’t play / She can’t play the trumpet.
Modal verbs (general rules)

• They don’t have an infinitive –ing or past participle form. When the verbs
can and must need to use one of these forms, they are substituted by the
correct forms of be able to and have to.
They can sing. They want to be able to sing better.
He must find another pianist. Having to find another pianist will be difficult.
I can practise for an hour today. I was able to practise for two hours
yesterday.
Modal verbs (general rules)

• Have to is a semi-modal. Its form changes according to the person and the
time the event takes place.

She has to go to a rehearsal because they have to learn a new piece of music.
I’ll have to listen to that again.
Modal verbs (obligation, lack of obligation,
advice and prohibition)
FORM USE
You must buy a ticket from the machine. Obligation
You have to swim between the flags.
She has to take the exams again.

You don’t have to work today, it’s Sunday. Lack of obligation

Emma doesn’t have to come if she doesn’t want to.
You needn’t come to work today.

You should learn the lyrics. Advice

She ought to find a manager.
You must see this fantastic film!

You mustn’t walk on the grass. Prohibition

He can’t come in without an invitation.
Modal verbs (have to / must)

• We use must to talk aobut personal obligation.

I must phone my dad tonight. (I need to talk to him.)
• We use have to talk about external obligation.
He has to see his manager. (The manager wants to see him.)
• For written rules, laws and obligations we usually use must.
You must turn off your mobile.
You must comply with the rules of the company.
• Must doesn’t have a past form; we use had to in the past.
They must write another song by tonight.
They had to write the first two songs yesterday.
Modal verbs (possibility and certainty)

FORM USE
The light is on. She may / might / could Possibility
be in.
She must be very brave if she’s singing Certainty that something is true
a solo.
He can’t be in the orchestra, he hates Certainty that something is not
classical music. true.
Modal verbs (ability)

Form Use
Can you play the guitar?
She’s the only adult I know who Ability in the present
can’t swim.
He could speak French fluently
when he was 15. Ability in the past
She couldn’t read until she was
nine.
Be able to

• Will be able to is usually used for future ability.

They will be able to play it perfectly by tomorrow night.

• Was / Were able to is used to say that someone had or didn’t have the
ability to do something specific in the past.
How lucky! She was able to get the last two tickets for the Lady Gaga
concert!
Modal perfects

Form Use
I may have heard this band already, but I’m not sure. Possibility in the past
He might have tried to collect the parcel; I was out all day.
The Grass is wet. It must have rained overnight. Certainty in the past.
You can’t have seen her today, she’s on holiday. Impossibility in the past.
I should have got up earlier, because now I am late. Criticism or past actions or
You shouldn’t have eaten so much ice cream. regret
I could have completed the race if I had trained harder. Ability or permission to do a past activity, but
Mum said that I could have gone to the party if I had asked her. it wasn’t done.