Modals are like chameleons

Can , could , be able to

CAN + infinitive : can do , can see etc

CAN = ability : I can play the piano

CAN = BE ABLE TO : You can / are able to see the Eiffel

tower from here
CAN = permission : Can I leave early?

CAN has only 2 forms - present and past

COULD is the past of CAN

BE ABLE TO is for the other forms : I’ll be able to see you later
COULD is used for general ability : I could play the piano when I was 4.

WAS ABLE TO / MANAGED for 1 particular occasion : They were able /

managed to escape

COULD is also used for possible actions now or in the future : We could
see a film or go to a restaurant

COULD used for situations you don’t mean : I’m so angry I could kill him !

COULD for possibility : The phone is ringing. It could be Tim

COULD HAVE + past participle is the past = possible but did not
happen : I could have won if I had tried harder / You could have hurt
yourself
 MUST , CAN’T : deduction
MUST = I’m sure it’s true : You must be tired after all that travelling

CAN’T = I’m sure it’s not true : You can’t still be hungry! You’ve just had lunch.

MUST HAVE / CAN’T / COULDN’T HAVE + past participle = past

He looks unhappy so I suppose he must have failed.

You can’t have spent all that money in just one afternoon !

You couldn’t have seen him, he’s gone abroad

 MAY, MIGHT
MAY / MIGHT : possibility (future/ present) : It may be true. I might go

When used together might is less likely than may : It may rain , it might even snow.

COULD = MAY = MIGHT : It could / may / might be Tim.

You could / may / might have left it at home.

Past negative : He may not have / might not have = possible

He didn’t wave because he may not / might not have seen you.

BUT not could not have = impossible.

He couldn’t have seen you because he was in Berlin
May / might = possible actions in the future : I may go to Italy next summer /
We may have to wait = perhaps
May / might = possible actions in the future = perhaps :

I may go to Italy next summer / We may have to wait

It is likely that in some time in the future something will have happened

By this time next week I may / might / have finished all my work.

May / might / could + (well / conceivably / possibly ) + have + past

participle :
=It would have happened if things had been different

•
I may / might / could have been rich if I had invested more wisely
 ⚠
A person went skiing hors piste and had an accident.
His friends found him and said:

“Keep still. You may / might / could have broken a leg

“.

= possible that something happened in the past.

“Why did you go hors piste ? You might / could have broken your leg or worse,
been killed.

= it was possible in the past but didn’t happen

Might / could + infinitive to talk about what was typically the case in the past

Before the 1960s, the police might / could arrest you for being homosexual.
 Will / Would for certainty
WILL : future certainty
I’ll be on holiday next week

Guessing about the present

(phone rings) That’ll be John. He said he’d phone around now.

In the past
It won’t / wouldn’t have been Peter you saw last night- he’s in Australia
You saw a girl with blue hair. That will/would have been Fifi
 MUST , HAVE TO
Must = have to = obligation

Must = personal feelings You must do something I must

phone her tonight

Have to = impersonal We have to pay taxes He has to work tomorrow

Past = had to

Mustn’t = don’t do it
 NEEDN’t
Don’t have to = don’t need to = needn’t = not necessary/not an obligation

 You don’t need to / have to book the restaurant, I’ve already done it (not necessary)
 You don’t have to wear a tie here (no obligation / a choice)

I didn’t need to water the plants because it rained ( so I didn’t )

I needn’t have watered the plants because it rained later ( I did but it wasn’t necessary
 SHOULD
Should = good idea or advice / opinion You should stop smoking I should wait
if I were you

Should = not right She should be here by now so where is she

Should = expected to happen She should pass the exam easily

She should have landed by now
Should have done = you didn’t do it but it would have been better if you had
done it

Should = ought to (except giving advice with “I” )

 Should ( part 2 )
Had better = should = ought to to say what is advisable / sensible

If you’re not feeling well, you’d better stay at home

Don’t use “had better” with past or general comments:

• You ought to / should have caught the earlier train

• Children should / ought to use their phones less

« Supposed to » = obligation to do something.

It is used in spoken English

I’m supposed to hand the work in tomorrow
I was supposed to finish the work last week.