Mohamed 1ST University

Faculty of Letters and Humanities

-Oujda-

Modal Verbs
• Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal
auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in
English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play,
visit..." 
• Modals give additional information about the function of the
main verb that follows it. They have a great variety
of communicative functions.
• Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:
• They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
• They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the
bare infinitive.)
• They are used to indicate modality that allows speakers to
express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity,
ability
• List of Modal verbs:
• can, could
• may, might,
• will, would,
• shall, should,
• must, had to
• The verbs or expressions:
•  dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal
auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to the above list
• Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:
• Permission
• Ability
• Obligation
• Prohibition
• Lack of necessity
• Advice
• possibility
• probability
• Must
• You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
• He must be very tired. He's been working all day long.
• Strong obligation
• logical conclusion / Certainty
• Remember!
• Obligation in the present
• I have to finish my work before this evening.
• I have got to learn English if I want to live in the USA.
• I must see the doctor soon because I don't feel well.
• It is obligatory that I stop when the traffic light turn red.
• It is necessary that I take a taxi. I'm late.
• Obligation in the past
• I had to work extra hours to pay my bills
• Obligation in the future:
• I'll have to borrow money.
• More things to remember!
• The difference between "Have to" and "must" is that "have to“
indicates that someone else has imposed conditions on us.
• The simple past of "must" is "had to".
• The simple future of "must" is "will have to".
• Should also expresses obligation. But there is a difference
between must / have to and should:
• must / have to = 100% obligation. "When the traffic light turn red, you must stop."
• should = 50% obligation. It's more an advice than an obligation. " You look
tired. you should have a rest."
• Must not (mustn’t)
• You must not smoke in the hospital.
• Drivers mustn't park their cars here.
• Prohibition
• To express prohibition you can also use:
• It is prohibited to ...
• You aren’t allowed to ...
• You aren’t permitted to ...
• It is forbidden to ...
• Parking is strictly prohibited between these gates.
• Students aren't allowed to come too late to school.
• It is forbidden to walk on grass.
• Smoking isn't permitted in hospitals.
• People aren't permitted to throw rubbish here.
• Can:
• I can swim.
• Can I use your phone please?
• Smoking can cause cancer.
• Ability
• Permission
• Possibility
• Could:
• When I was younger I could run fast.
• Excuse me, could I just say something?
• It could rain tomorrow!
• Ability in the past
• Polite permission
• Possibility
• May
• May I use your phone please?
• It may rain tomorrow!
• Permission
• Possibility, probability
• Might
• Might I suggest an idea?
• I might go on holiday to Australia next year.
• Polite permission
• Possibility, Probability
• Need not
• I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge
• Lack of necessity/absence of obligation
• should/ought to
• I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
• You should / ought to revise your lessons
• He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all day
long.
• 50 % obligation
• Advice
• Logical conclusion
• had better
• You 'd better revise your lessons
• Advice
• Shall and Will
• Shall is not used often in modern English especially in American
English. In fact, shall and will have the same meaning and are
used to refer to the simple future. They are use as follows:
• will is used with all persons 
• shall is used with the first person singular and plural
• Uses of Shall:
• It should be noted that shall is often used to make suggestions,
offers or ask for advice. It is used in questions as follows:
• Shall we stay or go out?
• Shall we dance?
• Shall I get his phone number if I meet him?
• What shall I do to get rid of my acne?
• You shall not get in! (Command)
• You shall pay for it. (Threat)
• You shall get your money back soon. (Promise)
 Modals in the Past

• Generally speaking modals in the past have the

following form:
modal + have + past participle
• Oh! I could not get up on time this morning. I must have
gone to bed early last night (Regret)
• You should not have taken this train; it is very slow.
(criticism )
• Yesterday, Jane felt so tired. She must have worked hard
all day (certainty)
• Except for modals that express obligation, ability and lack of
necessity:
• Obligation: 
Present = I must / have to work hard.
Past = I had to work hard.
• Ability: 
Present = I can run fast.
Past = I could run fast when I was young.
• Lack of necessity: 
Present = You don't have to / needn't take your umbrella. --
Past = You didn't have to / didn't need to take your umbrella.