MODAL VERBS

Can
 Modal Verbs.
General information
■ MV-s do not denote actions to states
■ MV-s show the attitude of the speaker towards the action expressed
by the infinitive
■ MV-s in combination with the infinitive form compound modal
predicates.
■ MV-s may show that the action (or state, or process, or quality) is
viewed by the speaker as possible, obligatory, doubtful, certain,
permissible, advisable, requested, prohibited, ordered, etc.
 Defective verbs
■ There are 12 modal verbs in English: can, may, must, should
ought, shall, will, would, need, dare, to be, to have (to have got).
■ Ten of them are also called defective verbs:
1. they do not take -s in the third person singular;
2. they have no verbals, so they have no analytical forms;
3. they have (except for can and may) only one form and no past
tense;
4. they are followed (except for ought) by a bare infinitive
5. they need no auxiliary to build up the interrogative and negative
forms.
 Negative forms

full form Contracted form

■ may not ■ mayn’t
■ must not ■ mustn’t
■ would not ■ wouldn’t
■ should not ■ shouldn’t
■ need not ■ needn’t
 Spelling and pronunciation

■ cannot ■ Can’t [ka:nt]

■ shall not ■ Shan’t [∫a:nt]
■ will not ■ Won’t [wount]
 Can

■ Two forms: can - for the present tense and could - for the
past tense and for the subjunctive mood.
Examples:
■ I can’t dance now but I could when I was young.
■ I wish I could go with you.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 1

 Physical and mental ability or capacity. (The notion

of ability is also expressed by “to be able to”)
Examples:
1. Mary can speak English quite well but she can’t write it at all.
2. She can drive a car.
3. He could (was able to) speak English very well when he was
twelve.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 2

■ Possibility.
a) due to circumstances:
Examples:
1. Anybody can make a mistake.
2. You can hardly blame him for that.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 3

■ Possibility.
a) due to the existing rules of laws:
Examples:
1. In old days a man could be sentenced to death for a small
crime.
2. The Lower House alone can initiate financial measures.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 4

■ Permission.
Examples:
1. Can we go home?
2. Не can go now.
3. The teacher said we could go home.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 5

■ Prohibition (it is found only with the negative form of the

modal verb).
Examples:
1. You can’t cross the street here.
2. You can’t touch the exhibits in a museum (it is not allowed).
3. - Can we stay here? - No, I’m afraid you can’t.
 Can + indefinite infinitive - 6

■ Request.
Examples:
1. Can you hold on a minute, please?
2. Can I have some water?
Could suggests a greater degree of politeness:
3. Could you come again tomorrow?
 Can + any form of the infinitive - 1

■ Strong doubt, improbability, incredulity. (in negative

sentences)
Examples:
1. He can’t be working at this time.
2. He can’t have seen it.
 Can + any form of the infinitive - 2

■ Could is used instead of can to express greater doubt.

Examples:
1. He can’t / couldn’t be so old.
2. He can’t / couldn’t be telling the truth.
3. He can’t / couldn’t have told the truth.
 Can + any form of the infinitive - 3

■ Surprise (in questions).

Examples:
1. Can it be so late?
■ То refer the action to the past a perfect infinitive is used.
1. Could he have known her before?
2. Could he have been telling her the truth?
 Notes - 1

■ The verb can expressing surprise is not used in the negative

form. To express the meaning of surprise in the negative form
we use:
a) by complex sentences:
1. Can it be that you haven’t seen him?
 Notes - 2

b) by different lexical means:

1. Can you have failed to see him?
2. Can you dislike the book?
3. Can nobody have seen him?
4. Can he have never written that letter?
 Could + any form of the infinitive

■ Reproach
■ Purpose (in clauses of purpose)
Examples:
1. You could at least have met me at the station, couldn’t you?
2. I wrote down the telephone number so that I could remember
it. (adv. cl. of purpose)
 Set expressions

■ Cannot/can’t help doing 1. When I saw him I couldn’t

smth. help laughing.
■ Cannot/can’t but do smth. 2. I cannot but suggest...

■ One cannot but wonder 3. We cannot but hope he is

right.
■ as can be - an intensifying 4. They are as pleased as can
expression be.
5. It’s as ugly as can be.