Modal verbs

Obligation (present)

Don’t have to Should Have to

Doesn’t have to Ought to Must
Be supposed to Make sb do sth
Nadia always makes me learn words
You ought to visit a doctor. You look ill.

I am supposed to eat healthy food, but I

can’t give up sweets.
 Obligation (past)

Didn’t have to Should have (done) Had to

You didn’t have to buy such
an expensive present.
Ought to have (done) Made sb do sth
Was/were supposed to Mom made us clean the room
after the party.
He should have been more careful.
 Prohibition (present)

Shouldn’t Mustn’t
Oughtn’t to Can’t
Be not supposed to Be not allowed to
You oughtn’t to wear a fur coat in summer. You are not allowed to park your car
here.
 Prohibition (past)

Shouldn’t have (done) Couldn’t

Oughtn’t to have (done) Was/were not allowed to
Was/were not supposed to You weren’t allowed to park your car
here.
She oughtn’t to have worn a fur coat in summer.
Permission (present) Permission (past)

Can Could
Be allowed to Was/were allowed to
May Might
Let sb do sth Let sb do sth
Ability (present) Ability (past)

Can/can’t Could/couldn’t
Be (not) able to Was/were (not) able to
(don’t/doesn’t) manage to Managed to/
Didn’t manage to