8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

1/11

Isabel Quesada Gmez

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

2/11

Fixed forms (-s, -ed)

Take no Auxiliary for thenegative or interrogative

+ bare infinitive(Except for Ought to/Need to/Have to)

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

3/11

CAN (ability)

CANT (inability) Present

COULD (General ability) Past

BE ABLE TO ( ability in a particular

situation)Present, Past and Future

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

4/11

Will, Must (logical deductionCertainty)Can, Could, May (may not), Might

(might not / mightnt)

(gradedpossibility)Cant (logical deductionImpossible /

disbelief)

MUSTNTis not correct with this meaning

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

5/11

OBLIGATION/NECESSITY MUST (external obligation / strong necessity)

HAVE TO (internal obligation/necessity)

NEED TO (necessity) LACK OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY

DONT HAVE TO /DONT NEED TO/ NEEDNT

DIDNT NEED TO / NEEDNT

PROHIBITION MUSTNT (stronger prohibition)

CANT

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

6/11

SHOULD (NOT)

OUGHT (NOT) TO

HAD BETTER (NOT)

CAN

MAY

COULD(polite)

WOULD (formal)

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

7/11

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

8/11

In the PRESENT:

NEED TO (+) /DONT NEED TO/Neednt (- / ?)

Doyou need tosee her today? Yes, I needto

speak to her urgently. Vegetarians think we dont need to / needntkill

animals to eat.

You dont need to/ neednthurry. Theres plenty

of time. You dont need to / needntcome before 10.

Work starts later on.

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

9/11

In the PAST:NEEDED (+) /DIDNT NEED TO / NEEDNT (-). Possible meanings:

Lack of obligation A) I didnt have to do it, so I didnt do it

They didnt need to get up early, so they didnt.

B)I didnt have to do it, YET I did it She didnt need towash the T-shirt because it wasnt dirty. You neednthurry as there was plenty of time.

I did something that wasnt necessary. C) Didnt have to do it but I didnt know I didnt have to.

(regret). Ineednt have bought tomatoes. When I got home, I found that I

already had some. Sheneednt have washed the T-shirt because it wasnt dirty. We neednt havetaken the umbrella. But we didnt know this

when we went out.

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

10/11

Use a MODAL VERB + HAVE + V3 to make your modal perfect(Image taken from Get it Right OUP)

MustCertainty ShouldRegret or Criticism CantImpossibility

May/Mightpossibility Couldalternative WouldWillingness

8/13/2019 Modal Verbs Bach

11/11

http://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htm(basic)

http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/

http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexer

cise/contenidotematico.htm(Units 15and 16)

http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htm

http://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htmhttp://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htmhttp://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexercise/contenidotematico.htmhttp://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexercise/contenidotematico.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htmhttp://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htmhttp://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexercise/contenidotematico.htmhttp://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omexercise/contenidotematico.htmhttp://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-grammar-lessons.com/http://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htmhttp://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htmhttp://www.english-4u.de/modal_verbs1.htm