Modals

Modal auxiliaries are:

Can May Must Shall Will

Could Might Ought to Should Would

Modals have rules:

 Rule 1: They do not have a third person 's'. Example: I can swim. She can swim.
 Rule 2: They invert in questions. Example: I should go. Should I go?
 Rule 3: They cannot be linked together. Example: I will must do it.
 Rule 4: They have their own negatives. Example: I couldn't call him.
 Rule 5: All modals must be followed by the infinitive form of the verb without “to”, except
ought to. Example: You must run fast. She must be very smart.
Example: I can to swim. She can swim.

Semi-modals pose problems for classification. Functionally, modals have several meanings each.

They could be:

managed to have to used to be allowed to

be able to need to be supposed to

The modals’ rules don’t apply for semi-modals

 Rule 1: They do not have a third person plural 's'. I have to go. She has to go.
 Rule 2: They invert in questions. Example: I have to go. Do I have to go?
 Rule 3: They cannot be linked together. Example: I will have to do it.
 Rule 4: They have their own negatives. Example: I don't have to call him.
 Rule 5: They are not followed by a “to”. Example: I have to go home.

USES:
 We use can, could, be able to and managed to (+ infinitive without `to') to say that
somebody is able to do something.
Use Examples
to say that somebody has the ability to I can speak English.
can / can't
do something in the present or future Can you speak Japanese?
be able to to say that somebody has the ability to Can you speak any languages?
do something
NOTE: “can” is more usual than “be able to” in I haven't been able to sleep lately.
the present. However, can only has a present (present perfect)
and past form (could), so it is necessary to use
 “be able to”, for example in the present perfect He would like to be able to sing.
or infinitive. (infinitive)
- To say that somebody had the general ability
to do something in the past. My cousin could play the piano
- General ability means something that you can when she was five.
could/
do any time you want after learning it, for
couldn't
example reading, swimming, etc. We often use I couldn't hear what she was saying.
could + see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, I could smell a fire.
understand
to say that somebody had the ability to
was able to/ We were able to win the match.
do something in a specific situation,
couldn't I wasn't able to open the door.
for example win a match, escape from a
managed to Did she manage to find you?
dangerous situation, lift something, etc.

 We use must, have to, need to and should to say that something is necessary or to give
advice.
Modal verb Use Examples
to say that something is necessary or It's getting late. I have to go now.
mandatory.
NOTE: must vs. have to You must get up early if you don’t
must
There is a small difference between must and want to get fired.
have to
have to. In general, must refers to an internal
need to
feeling whereas have to can also refer to an Joaquim isn't ready for his exam. He
external obligation, e.g. a rule, a time needs to study harder.
limit,etc
I'm not working tomorrow so I don't
have to get up early.
don't have to
You don't need to give me your
don't need to to say that something is not necessary
phone number. I already have it.
needn't
You needn't worry about me. I'll be
fine.
to say that something is prohibited or You mustn't smoke here. This is a
mustn't
forbidden non-smoking area.
 You should spend some time in
England to improve your English.
should /
to say that something is a good or bad idea
shouldn't
You shouldn't drink so much. You
will get drunk.

 We use may, could, might, can't and must to talk about things that are possible or certain.

Modal verb Use Examples

to say that you are certain that You haven't eaten all day. You must be hungry.
must
something is true
to say that you are certain that "Is Anne at home?" "No, she can't be at home.
can't
something is not true She's working today."

to say that it is possible Anne could be at work, but I'm not sure.
could
"Who's that at the door?" "It may be the post-
man."
may / may not that something is true or not true
"Ask Jack if he knows a good restaurant." "Sure,
but he may not know."
You might like to know that we are having a
to say that it is possible (but not
might / might meeting tomorrow evening.
very likely) that something is true
not It might not be a good idea to call John. He
or not true
usually prefers email.
to say that we expect or
should / The price should be $10, not $20.
don't expect something to
shouldn't If we leave now, we should get there on time.
happen or to be different

 We use can, could, may, would, will and shall for requests, offers, invitations and
permission.
 Use Examples
to ask somebody to do something Can you help me with my bags?
can to ask for or give permission to offer Can I have another chocolate?
to do something No, you you can't use my laptop.
to ask somebody to do something, to Could you call me a taxi?
could
ask for permission (more polite) Could I come to work a little later?
May I speak to you for a second?
may to ask for or give permission (polite)
No, you may not use my laptop.
would Would you like another chocolate?
to make an offer or invitation
you like Would you like to go out?
will to ask somebody to do something Peter, will you come here for a minute?
to ask somebody to do something
would Would you carry my bags for me, please?
(very polite)
shall I ... to offer to do something Shall I answer the phone for you?

 Modal verbs for obligation, prohibition, necessity and advice

Modal
Past forms and examples
verb

have to,
had to I had to leave early this morning.
must

We cannot use mustn't to talk about the past. We use other structures, for example: We
mustn't
couldn't arrive late. We weren't allowed to smoke.

needn't have + past participle

You needn't have told him.
NOTE: I needn't have (done) and I didn't need to do are different.
 I needn't have done something = I did something that I thought was necessary,
needn't but now I know that it was not necessary.
 I needn't have told her. She already knew.
If something was not necessary in the past, we use didn't need to or didn't have to:
I didn't need to go to bed so early, but I was tired. I didn't have to go to bed so
early, but I was tired.

should/ should/shouldn't have + past participle

shouldn't
 He failed his exams. He should have studied harder.
He failed his exams. He shouldn't have been so lazy.

 Modal verbs for certainty, possibility and expectation

Modal verb Past forms and examples

must have + past participle Norman wasn't at home. He must have been on his way to
must
work.

can't have + past participle Andrew can't have missed his train. He got there 10
can't
minutes early.

may / may may/may not have + past participle Robert isn't usually so rude. He may have been
not tired. Dan didn't say hello. He may not have seen me.

might/might not have + past participle I'm not totally sure, but I think the match might
might /
have started already. "Why wasn't John at the meeting?" "He might not have known
might not
about it."

could/couldn't have + past participle Why didn't you answer the phone? It could have
could / been Anne. NOTE: couldn't have + past participle has a similar meaning to can't have
couldn't + past participle: James couldn't have been on holiday. I saw his wife at the
supermarket. (= it is not possible that James was on holiday.)

should / should/shouldn't have + past participle Where's George? He should have been here an
shouldn't hour ago. The price shouldn't have been $10. It's usually much more.