MODAL VERBS

DIFFERENT DEGREES OF PROBABILITY

it must be, it cannot be, it might be, it may be, it is likely to be
 Modal verbs express a whole range of situations:

ABILITY

• She attempted to get her driving licence ten times, but she
still can't drive.
• Jane could play the violin when she was a child.
• I tried to get up, but I couldn´t move.
• Watch me, I can (not: I am able to) stand on one leg!

FORBIDDING

- You mustn't show how clever you are – you are putting
people off.
- You are not allowed to open the presents.
- Thou shalt not covet your neighbour´s wife.
 (ASKING FOR, GIVING, DECLINING) PERMISSION

• May I borrow your PC? No, you may not.

• You can use the car if you like.
• Do you think I might take a break now?
• Visitors may not take pictures in the art gallery.
(Visitors are not allowed to take pictures.)
• You are allowed to park in the company’s parking lot.
• You can’t (aren’t allowed to) smoke in this restaurant.

DUTIES, OBLIGATION

• Before you leave the office you must switch off the lights.
• You must exercise more. Otherwise you die of obesity.
• You have to wear seatbelts when driving a car in the Czech
Republic. (external authority)
• When do you have to be there exactly?
 RECOMMENDATION

• You should/ought to try to work harder.

• You should see a doctor soon. I don't like that bulge on
your neck.

(NO) NECESSITY, OBLIGATION

• You don´t need to cut the grass, I´ll do it later. (You

needn´t cut the crass…) (permission not to do sth)
• We don´t have to be at work so early. (external rules)
• I didn´t need to knock at the door since it was open.
(there was no necessity, so it did not happen)
 CERTAINTY (SPEAKER´S POINT OF VIEW)

• Nobody answers the phone. They must be out.

• This story can’t be true, it sounds ridiculous.

POSSIBILITY / PROBABILITY

• Amanda may not / might not come tomorrow.

• The keys may / might / in your car.
• The keys could be in the car.
(compared to may / might we use could to express a less likely situation)

OFFERS

• May I have a dance?

• Shall I carry your bags?
• Can I take a message?
 MODALS + PAST INFINITIVE (speaker´s opinion on past events)

• must have + ed (určitě, jistě, zřejmě, musel)

He must have lost it on the way home.
• can´t (couldn´t) have + ed (určitě ne, přece nemohl)
I can´t have left it on the bus.
• may / might / have + ed (možná ano)
I may have seen it, I don´t know.
• needn´t have + ed (nemusel – pointlessness)
He needn´t have spent it all at once.
• could have + ed (mohl – surprise, doubt)
You could have told me you were coming.
• should have + ed (měl – reproach, regret)
I should have done it earlier, but I didn´t.
You shouldn´t have drunk so much, but you did!
 DIFFERENCES

MUST
• He had to go there. (he was obliged to go there)
• He must have gone there. (my opinion, no obligation)

CAN´T
• He couldn´t go there. (he was not allowed, no possibility to go…)
• He can´t / couldn´t have gone there. (my opinion)

SHOULDN´T
• You were not supposed to do the homework. (you were told not to do
the homework)
• You shouldn´t have written it. (but you did and I blame you for doing
that)
 LINKS

• https://www.helpforenglish.cz/article/2009061505-opisy-modalnich-
sloves
• https://agendaweb.org/verbs/modals-mixed-4-exercises.html
• https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g3-modals-
deduction-exercise.php
• https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/modal-verbs-
exercises.html
• https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/could-have-should-have-
would-have-exercise-1.html
• https://www.english-at-home.com/lessons/grammar-exercise-past-
modals/
• https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g66-past-modals-
exercise.php