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    Modal Verbs I

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    Florentino Cabrera
    The document discusses modal verbs and their uses in English. It provides a table that lists common modal verbs such as can, could, may, must, should, and would. For each modal verb, it gives the basic meaning, tense, and examples. It also notes alternatives to the modal verbs if you need to use other verb tenses. The document provides additional information on using modal verbs to express logical deductions, obligations, permissions, probabilities and more. It concludes by comparing the uses of should and had better.

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    Modal Verbs I

    Uploaded by

    Florentino Cabrera
    227 views2 pages
    The document discusses modal verbs and their uses in English. It provides a table that lists common modal verbs such as can, could, may, must, should, and would. For each modal verb, it gives the basic meaning, tense, and examples. It also notes alternatives to the modal verbs if you need to use other verb tenses. The document provides additional information on using modal verbs to express logical deductions, obligations, permissions, probabilities and more. It concludes by comparing the uses of should and had better.

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    Modal Verbs i

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    The document discusses modal verbs and their uses in English. It provides a table that lists common modal verbs such as can, could, may, must, should, and would. For each modal verb, it gives the basic meaning, tense, and examples. It also notes alternatives to the modal verbs if you need to use other verb tenses. The document provides additional information on using modal verbs to express logical deductions, obligations, permissions, probabilities and more. It concludes by comparing the uses of should and had better.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    227 views2 pages

    Modal Verbs I

    Uploaded by

    Florentino Cabrera
    The document discusses modal verbs and their uses in English. It provides a table that lists common modal verbs such as can, could, may, must, should, and would. For each modal verb, it gives the basic meaning, tense, and examples. It also notes alternatives to the modal verbs if you need to use other verb tenses. The document provides additional information on using modal verbs to express logical deductions, obligations, permissions, probabilities and more. It concludes by comparing the uses of should and had better.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    MODAL VERBS I

    MODAL BASIC ALTERNATIVES if you


    TENSE EXAMPLE
    VERB MEANING have to use other tenses

    Be able to
    I can swim very well. (ALL THE TENSES)
    Ability He cant sing flamenco. I am able to swim
    Can we play instruments? I wasnt able to sing
    I will be able to go

    Can I go to the toilet? Be allowed to


    Can Present Permission I cant stay late at night. (ALL THE TENSES)
    I can go out tonight. I was allowed to go
    I will be allowed to go
    You will be able to find a
    Possibility I can go in two directions.
    place to park near the station.
    Impossibility She cant be at home, because
    ------------------------
    (Logical deduction) her car isnt in the garage.

    I could talk at the age of 3. Be able to


    Ability (past ability/habit) I was able to open the door.
    Past (It happened just ONCE)
    Permission I couldnt go to the party last Be allowed to
    night. I wasnt allowed to go
    Could Polite Could you pass the salt,
    -------
    Requests please?

    Present Polite
    You could take me to the shop. -------
    Suggestions
    Tom could be on the train
    Possibility now.
    -------

    Have to (obligation)
    Obligation AFFIRMATIVE: (ALL THE TENSES)
    You must go to school. I have to study
    or Strong He must make his bed. I had to study
    necessity You must tell her the problem. I didnt have to clean
    Ill have to study
    Be allowed to
    (PROHIBITION)
    Must Present You were not allowed to talk.
    ONLY NEGATIVE
    Prohibition You mustnt smoke here. DIFFERENT FROM:
    We mustnt drive a car. Dont have to
    (Absence of obligation)
    I dont have to go (No tengo que ir)
    I mustnt go (No debo ir)
    Certainty ONLY POSITIVE
    (Strong He must be at school now. ----------------------
    belief) This coat must be Johns.

    Should / Advice You should see a doctor.


    Present ----------
    ought to Opinion You ought to respect road signs

    English Teacher: Mercedes Gonzlez Delgado IES Carlos Cano Los Barrios (Cdiz)
    It may rain.
    Possibility ----------
    It may not rain.

    May Present Permission May I come in, please? Be allowed to


    Polite May I give you my phone
    -----------
    request number?
    Might Present Probability Cars might fly in the future. ----------
    Absence of
    obligation You neednt come so early.
    Dont have to
    Neednt Present
    or (only this form, without to) (Absence of obligation)
    I didnt have to come.
    necessity
    Obligation I need to slow down on this
    Need to Present
    necessity road.
    need is not a modal verb.

    Formal
    Would you please turn right? ---------------------
    request
    Would Present
    Would you like to come to my
    Offers party?
    ---------------------

    REMEMBER! MODALS TO EXPRESS LOGICAL DEDUCTION IN THE PRESENT:

    MUST CERTAINTY She must be at home, the lights are on.

    MAY, MIGHT, PROBABILITY


    His shirt might be blue, but Im not sure
    COULD because its very dark in the room.

    CANT IMPOSSIBILITY This coat cant be hers, its too big.

    Should / had better


    Ya has visto que should se utiliza para decir lo que creemos que se debera hacer, dar un consejo o
    una opinin. Pues had better (o la contraccin, d better)
    better es otra forma muy coloquial de expresar lo
    mismo.

    Afirmativa: sujeto + had better + verbo en la forma base. Significa Es mejor que + un verbo en
    presente de subjuntivo.
    Youd better turn at the junction. (Es mejor que gires en el cruce).
    Negativa: sujeto + had better + not + verbo en la forma base.
    Youd better not be late. (Es mejor que no llegues tarde)
    Interrogativa: no se suele usar en interrogativa.
    Por otra parte, tiene un uso distinto de should,
    should ya que tambin se utiliza para expresar una
    advertencia, como avisando al oyente de que algo malo o desagradable le puede ocurrir si no hace
    lo que le decimos. Entonces significa algo como Sera mejor que o Ms vale que.
    Youd better slow down when its raining. (Ser mejor que reduzcas la velocidad cuando est
    lloviendo)
    Youd better not drink while driving! (Ms vale que no bebas mientras conduces!)

    English Teacher: Mercedes Gonzlez Delgado IES Carlos Cano Los Barrios (Cdiz)

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