MODAL VERBS: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

•Modal verbs don’t change at all.Ex.: I/He/We/They can speak English •They needn’t use auxiliary verbs for questions or negatives.Ex.: Could you open the door? They shouldn’t speak in class.•They are followed by the bare infinitive.•Ex.: He must be her brother / She may have my umbrella.

MODAL VERBS

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

CAN ABILITYREQUESTPOSSIBILITY

Mary can swim very fast.Can you call me tonight?I can meet you later.

CAN’T INABILITYPROHIBITIONDISBILIEF

I can’t speak German.You can’t drive without a driving licence.That can’t be the price – it’s too cheap!

COULD PAST ABILITYPOLITE REQUESTPOLITE SUGGESTION

POSSIBILITY

She could run fast.Could you help me wiht the suitcase?You could exercise and eat healthier food.Mark coul join us at the cinema.

MAY POSSIBILITYPOLITE REQUEST

It may rain tomorrow.May I come in, please?

MODAL USE EXAMPLE

MIGHT POSSIBILITY It might rain tomorrow.

WILL FUTUREPROMISESOFFERSINSTANT DECISIONS

I’ll go to Uni next year.I will study harderI will help you with you homework.I’ll have the tomato soup.

WOULD FORMAL REQUEST

OFFERSWould you open the window, please?Would you like something to drink?

SHALL SUGGESTIONS Shall we go?

MUST OBLIGATIONCERTAINTY THAT SOMETHING IS TRUE

You must study harder for the exam.She’s got a great job. She must be very happy.

MUSTN’T PROHIBITION You mustn’t exceed the speed limit.

SHOULD ADVICE, OPINION

You should improve your pronunciation.

OUGHT TO

ADVICE, OPINION

You ought to eat less fast food if you want to keep fit.

SEMIMODAL VERBS: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS•Semimodal verbs are used in all tenses and change for the third person singular.Ex.: He has to help his father. She was able to swim well when she was only 3 years old. •They may need auxiliary verbs for questions or negatives.Ex.: do you have to study at the weekend? They don’t have to train this afternoon.

SEMIMODAL VERBSSEMI

MODALSUSE EXAMPLE

BE ABLE TO

ABILITY I was able to finish my homework on time.

HAVE TO OBLIGATION I have to buy the tickets today.

DON’T/DOESN’THAVE TO

LACK OF OBLIGATION

I don’t have to get up early on Saturday.

THESE VERBS ARE NOT SEMIMODALS, BUT THEY SHARE SOME USES WITH MODAL VERBS.

NEED OBLIGATION I need to cook dinner tonight/ He needs to cook dinner tonight.

NEEDN’T LACK OF OBLIGATION

You needn’t bring anything to the party / You didn’t need to bring anything to the party..

HAD BETTER

ADVICE/PERSONAL OPINION

You’d better go to the doctorYou’d better not to take my car!No negative

MODAL PERFECTS: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS•Modal verbs don’t change at all and are followed by “have + past participle”.

Ex.: I/He/We/They should have studied harder.

•They needn’t use auxiliary verbs for questions or negatives.

Ex.: Could you have passed the exam without studying? They shouldn’t have eaten so much.

MODAL PERFECTS

MODAL PERFECT

S

USE EXAMPLE

MUST CERTAINTY THAT SOMETHINGWAS TRUE

Rob has arrived late. He must have been in a traffic jam.

MAY /MIGHT

A GUESS ABOUT A PAST ACTION

She may /might have taken the wrong bus

COULD PAST ABILITY /ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING IN THE PAST THAT IN THE END WAS NOT DONE

You could have asked the doctor before taking that medicine.

COULDN’T CERTAINTY THAT SOMETHING DID NOT HAPPEN

He couldn’t have gone to the party because he was ill.

MODALPERFECT

S

USE EXAMPLE

WOULD DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING IN THE PAST WHICH IN FACT COULD NOT BE DONE

I would have gone to the party, but I was too busy.

SHOULD CRITICISM OR REGRET AFTER AN EVENT

You should have told me before.

OUGHT TO

CRITICISM OR REGRET AFTER AN EVENT

You ought to have studied harder for the final exam.

NEEDN’T AN UNNECESSARY PAST ACTION

You needn’t have bought a present for me.

Some practise 1-I have no time. I________ leave now or I ________ miss the bus. 2-I wish I _________ buy a new mobile phone but I don't have enough

money. 3-She looks tired; she ___________ take some days off. 4-Judy is not at home. She__________ have gone to Madrid, I don't know. 5-Tom __________ play tennis quite well. I usually play with him every

weekend. 6- _________ we go out tonight, please? Yes, but you __________ be late. 7-I haven't decided yet where I __________ go in my next holidays. I think I

__________ go to Paris. 8- ___________ you water my plants while I am away? If they don't get

enough water they __________certainly die. 9-Jack ____________ come to our wedding, but we aren't sure. 10 -__________ I buy the tickets for the concert? I see you're too busy. 11-We __________ pay the fees at the fixed time. 12-You __________ clean your room more often. 13-If it rains on Saturday, we __________ go to the beach. 14-Jane ___________ not play the violin when she was five, but now she

___________ play it very well. 15-You __________ not be so nervous. I think it ___________ be very easy.

THAT’S ALL FOLKS