MODAL VERBS, revision

Loreta Vainauskiene, Kruonis Gymnasium, Lithuania

FORM OF MODAL VERBS Are followed by infinitives without ‘to’. Can be followed by past infinitives

(have+V3). The 3rd person singular doesn’t take –s. Don’t have –ing forms, past/passive/third

forms.

NEGATIVE FORMS.QUESTIONS To form negative we use modal verb + not:

E.g. He couldn’t see the importance of what I said. To form question we use inversion of the

modal verb and the subject:E.g. Have I to read this book till next Monday?

Never use two modal verbs together.

OBLIGATION, NECESSITY Comes from the speaker:

You must behave yourself! Comes from external rules, circumstances:

I have to work from 8.30 to 5.30 every day.

Past obligation/necessity: We had to leave early yesterday.

LACK OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY 1 Comes from the speaker:

We’ve got plenty of time. We needn’t hurry!

Comes from external rules, circumstances: You don’t have to tell him, but you

can if you want to. Lack of obligation/necessity in the past:

I didn’t have to get up early, but it was a lovely morning, so I did.

LACK OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY 2 Someone didn’t do something because it

wasn’t necessary: I didn’t need to get up early, so I

didn’t. (It wasn’t necessary). Someone did something although it was

unnecessary: I got up very early because I had to

get ready to go . But in fact it didn’t take long to get ready. So, I needn’t have got up so early.

PERMISSION Formal (given by the speaker):

Tourists may use the sauna 24 hours. Neutral permission:

You can use your notes during the test.

Request for permission: May I park my car here? Can I leave my books here? Could I copy this task from your

exercise-book?

PROHIBITION Very formal (from an authority):

Passengers may not smoke in a non-smoking compartment.

Comes from the speaker: We mustn’t make any noise.

Mother is sleeping. Neutral:

You can’t eat/aren’t allowed to eat in the classroom.

ADVICE/WEAK OBLIGATION Asking for advice:

Shall/Should I invite Susan to the party?

Giving advice: You should apologise. You shouldn’t work till late

evening. You ought to consult the doctor.

ABILITY In the present:

Their friends can speak Japan very well. Lack of ability in the present:

She’s broken her leg and can’t drive her car.

In the past: He could speak French some twenty

years ago. Lack of ability in the past:

Judy couldn’t play the piano.

POSSIBILITY 1 Theoretical (in the present/future):

The weather can be very severe in the Arctic.

Lack of possibility (in the present/future): It can’t be true.

In the past: They could stay in Paris with Julia.

Lack of possibility (in the past): I couldn’t live in a big city.

POSSIBILITY 2 Past achievement:

She was able to raise a lot of money for children’s home.

In the past that was wasted: (galėjo įvykti, bet neįvyko): I could have got a better job.

In the future: I could stay with you if you want. It’s a strange story but it

could/may/might be true.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE(from the most to the least certain)

I will be late this evening. (for sure) I may/might be late this evening.

(possible) I don’t know what time Liz is coming.

She could get here any time.

SPECULATIONS 1(about the present)

MUST – strong conviction that something is true:E.g. Her clothes are very expensive. She must be

earning a lot of money. CAN’T – strong conviction that someting is

not true:E.g. He’s got a very nice suntan. He can’t be

working in an office all day.

SPECULATIONS 2(about the present)

COULD, MAY, MIGHT – a possibility that something is true:E.g. He looks depressed. He may be having some

problems. MAY NOT – a possibility that something is

not true:E.g. She goes out every weekend, she may not have a

family.

MODAL + BE + -ING Speculation about something happening at the

moment:

E.g. She seems not to hear anything. She could be thinking about the test.

SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE PAST MUST CAN’T COULD PERFECT INFINITIVE MAY MIGHT MAY NOT

E.g. They have bought a new house. They must have won a lot of money.

MODALS IN THE PAST HAD TO (must/have to) DIDN’T HAVE TO (needn’t/don’t have to) COULD (can) COULDN’T (can’t/ mustn’t) WAS/WERE ABLE TO (can/be able to) MIGHT (may) WOULD (will)