modal verbs of english4

8/13/2019 modal verbs of english4

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Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request oroffer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.

Examples:

I can ride a horse. ABILITY e can stay with my brother when we are in !aris. OPPORTUNITY he cannot stay out after #$ !%. PERMISSION Can you hand me the stapler& REQUEST 'ny child can grow up to be president. POSSIBILITY

Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in differentcontexts.

%odal (se !ositive )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture

-egative )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture

ou can also use:

canGENERAL ABILITY

#. I can spea/ Chinese.

+. 0I)1 12 "C2(34"I could spea/ Chinese when I was a /id.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"I will be able to spea/ Chinese by the time Ifinish my course.

#. I can6t spea/ wahili.

+. 0I)1 12 "C2(34"I couldn6t spea/ wahili.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"I won6t be able to spea/ wahili.

be able to

can ABILITY DURING A

SPECIFIC EVENT

#. ith a burst of adrenaline, people canpic/ up cars.

#. Even with a burst of adrenaline, peoplecan6t pic/ up something that heavy.

be able to


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+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"ith a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was

able to lift the car off the child6s leg.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"

ith a sudden burst of adrenaline, he willbe able to lift the car.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"Even the weight lifter, couldn6t lift the car offthe child6s leg.

. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"

Even three men wor/ing together won6t beable to lift the car.

canOPPORTUNITY

#. I have some free time. I can help hernow.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"I had some free time yesterday. I was ableto help her at that time.

. I6ll have some free time tomorrow. I canhelp her then.

#. I don6t have any time. I can6t help hernow.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '53E 12"I didn6t have time yesterday. I wasn6t able tohelp her at that time.

. I won6t have any time later. I can6t helpher then.

be able to

canPERMISSION

#. I can drive usan6s car when she is outof town.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332 E4 12 "I was allowed to drive usan6s car while shewas out of town last wee/.

. I can drive usan6s car while she is out oftown next wee/.

#. I can6t drive usan6s car when she is outof town.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332 E4 12 "I wasn6t allowed to drive usan6s car whileshe was out of town last wee/.

. I can6t drive usan6s car while she is outof town next wee/.

may

canREQUEST

Can I have a glass of water&

Can you give me a lift to school&

R EQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

Can6t I have a glass of water&

Can6t you give me a lift to school&


could, may


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canPOSSIBILITY ,IMPOSSIBILITY

'nyone can become rich and famous if they/now the right people.

3earning a language can be a realchallenge.

T HIS USE IS USUALLY A GENERALIZATION OR A SUPPOSITION .

It can6t cost more than a dollar or two.

ou can6t be 789 I thought you were about# years old.

T HIS USE IS USUALLY A GENERALIZATION OR A

SUPPOSITION .

could

Could

"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to ma/e suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly usedin conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."

Examples: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. POSSIBILITY -ancy could s/i li/e a pro by the age of ##. PAST ABILITY ou could see a movie or go out to dinner. SUGGESTION Could I use your computer to email my boss& REQUEST e could go on the trip if I didn6t have to wor/ this wee/end. CONDITIONAL

Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in differentcontexts.



ou canalso use:

could #. ;ohn could be the one who stole the money. #. %ary couldn6t be the one who stole the money. might,
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html


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POSSIBILITY +. ;ohn could have been the one who stole themoney.

. ;ohn could go to


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R EQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE . R EQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not""Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "%ight not" suggests you do not /now if something happens.

Examples:

;ac/ might not have the /ey. M AYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY . ;ac/ could not have the /ey. I T IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY .

Had Better

"0ad better" is most commonly used to ma/e recommendations. It can also be used to express desperate hope as well as warnpeople.

Examples:

ou had better ta/e your umbrella with you today. RECOMMENDATION 1hat bus had better get here soon9 DESPERATE HOPE ou had better watch the way you tal/ to me in the future9 WARNING

Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "had better" behaves indifferent contexts.

(se !ositive )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture


ou can alsouse:

had betterRECOMMENDATIO

#. 0I)1 12 " 02(34" 2= "2(>01 12"!eople should unplug toasters before they

#. 0I)1 12 " 02(34" 2= "2(>01 12"!eople shouldn6t clean toasters without

should,ought to


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N clean them.

+. 0I)1 12 " 02(34 0'?E" 2= "2(>0112 0'?E"

ou should have unplugged the toaster beforeyou tried to clean it.

. ou had better unplug the toaster before youtry to clean it.

unplugging them first.

+. 0I)1 12 " 02(34 0'?E" 2= "2(>0112 0'?E"

ou shouldn6t have cleaned the toaster withoutunplugging it first.

. ou had better not clean the toaster until youunplug it.

had betterDESPERATE HOPE ,WARNING

1he movie had better end soon.

1hey had better be here before we start dinner.

DESPERATE HOPES AND WARNINGS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

1hey had better not be late.

1hey had better not forget 1om6s birthday gift.

DESPERATE HOPES AND WARNINGS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

"Had better" is often simply pronounced as "better" in spo/en English.

Have o

"0ave to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.

Examples:

1his answer has to be correct. CERTAINTY 1he soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. NECESSITY 1hey have to leave early. OBLIGATION

Using "Have to" in Present, Past, and Future

"0ave to" behaves quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "have to" behaves in differentcontexts.


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"0ave got to" is used to express necessity and obligation.

Examples:

4rivers have got to get a license to drive a car in the ( . NECESSITY I have got to be at wor/ by : $ '%. OBLIGATION

Using "Have #ot to" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "have got to" behaves indifferent contexts.

(se !ositive )orms#. * !resent +. * !ast . * )uture


oucanalsouse:

have got toNECESSITY

#. !eople have got to be on time if theywant to get a seat in the crowded theater.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"ou had to be on time if you wanted to get a

seat in the crowded theater.

. ou have got to be there on time tonight ifyou want to get a seat in the crowdedtheater.

#. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"!eople don6t have to be there on time to get a seat.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"ou didn6t have to be there on time to get a seat.

. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"ou won6t have to be there on time to get a seat.

haveto,must

haven6t got toFUTURE OBLIGATION

0aven6t you got to be there by @:$$&

0aven6t you got to finish that pro


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Ma$

"%ay" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or request permission, although this usage isbecoming less common.

Examples:

Cheryl ma$ be at home, or perhaps at wor/. POSSIBILITY ;ohnny, you ma$ leave the table when you have finished your dinner. GIVE PERMISSION Ma$ I use your bathroom& REQUEST PERMISSION

Using "Ma$" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "may" behaves in differentcontexts.



oucanalsouse:

mayPOSSIBILITY

#. ;ac/ may be upset. I can6t really tell if he isannoyed or tired.

+. ;ac/ may have been upset. I couldn6t really tell

if he was annoyed or tired.. ;ac/ may get upset if you don6t tell him the

truth.

#. ;ac/ may not be upset. !erhaps he is tired.

+. ;ac/ may not have been upset. !erhaps he wastired.

. ;ac/ may not get upset, even if you tell him thetruth

might

mayGIVE PERMISSION

#. ou may leave the table now that you6refinished with your dinner.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332 E4 12"ou were allowed to leave the table after you

finished your dinner.

#. ou may not leave the table. ou6re not finishedwith your dinner yet.

+. 0I)1 12 "5E '332 E4 12"ou were not allowed to leave the table because

you hadn6t finished your dinner.

can


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. ou may leave the table when you finish yourdinner.

. ou may not leave the table until you are finishedwith your dinner.

mayREQUEST PERMISSION

%ay I borrow your eraser&

%ay I ma/e a phone call&


-2 -E>'1I?E )2=% can,might

Might

"%ight" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English spea/ers can alsouse "might" to ma/e suggestions or requests, although this is less common in 'merican English.

Examples:

our purse might be in the living room. POSSIBILITY If I didn6t have to wor/, I might go with you. CONDITIONAL ou might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. SUGGESTION Might I borrow your pen& REQUEST

Using "Might" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "might" behaves in differentcontexts.



ou canalso use:

mightPOSSIBILITY

#. he might be on the bus. I thin/ her car is havingproblems.

#. he might not be on the bus. he mightbe wal/ing home.

could,may
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html


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+. he might have ta/en the bus. I6m not sure howshe got to wor/.

. he might ta/e the bus to get home. I don6t thin/5ill will be able to give her a ride.

+. he might not have ta/en the bus. hemight have wal/ed home.

. he might not ta/e the bus. he mightget a ride from 5ill.

mightCONDITIONAL OF MAY

#. If I entered the contest, I might actually win.

+. If I had entered the contest, I might actually havewon.

. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I might actuallywin. (nfortunately, I can6t enter it.

#. Even if I entered the contest, I might notwin.

+. Even if I had entered the contest, I mightnot have won.

. Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, Imight not win.

mightSUGGESTION

#. -2 !=E E-1 )2=%

+. ou might have tried the cheese ca/e.

. ou might try the cheeseca/e.

#. -2 !=E E-1 )2=%

+. !' 1 )2=% (-C2%%2-

. ou might not want to eat the cheeseca/e. It6s very calorific.

could

mightREQUEST

A5ritish formB

%ight I have something to drin/&

%ight I borrow the stapler&R EQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

-E>'1I?E )2=% (-C2%%2- could,may,

can

REMEMBER: "Might not" vs. "Could not""%ight not" suggests you do not /now if something happens. "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen.

Examples:

;ac/ might not have the /ey. M AYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY .


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;ac/ could not have the /ey. I T IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY .

Must

"%ust" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, althoughnative spea/ers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "%ust not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severespea/ers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.

Examples:

1his must be the right address9 CERTAINTY tudents must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. NECESSITY ou must ta/e some medicine for that cough. STRONG RECOMMENDATION ;enny, you must not play in the street9 PROHIBITION

Using "Must" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "must" behaves in differentcontexts.



ou canalso use:

mustCERTAINTY

#. 1hat must be ;erry. 1hey said he was tallwith bright red hair.

+. 1hat must have been the right restaurant.1here are no other restaurants on this street.

. -2 )(1(=E )2=%

#. 1hat must not be ;erry. 0e is supposed to havered hair.

+. 1hat must not have been the right restaurant. Iguess there is another one around heresomewhere.

. -2 )(1(=E )2=%

have to


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must notPROHIBITION

ou must not swim in that river. It6s full ofcrocodiles.

ou must not forget to ta/e your malaria medicationwhile your are in the tropics.

P ROHIBITION USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE .

mustSTRONG RECOMMENDATION

A'mericanspreferthe form

"should."B

#. ou must ta/e some time off and get somerest.

+. 0I)1 12 " 02(34"ou should have ta/en some time off last

wee/ to get some rest.

. 0I)1 12 " 02(34"

ou should ta/e some time off next wee/ toget some rest.

#. ou mustn6t drin/ so much. It6s not good for yourhealth.

+. 0I)1 12 " 02(34"ou shouldn6t have drun/ so much. 1hat caused the

accident.

. 0I)1 12 " 02(34"

ou shouldn6t drin/ at the party. ou are going to bethe designated driver.

should

mustNECESSITY

A'mericanspreferthe form"have to."B

#. ou must have a permit to enter thenational par/.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e had to have a permit to enter the par/.

. e must get a permit to enter the par/next wee/.

#. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e don6t have to get a permit to enter the national

par/.

+. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e didn6t have to get a permit to enter the national

par/.

. 0I)1 12 "0'?E 12"e won6t have to get a permit to enter the national

par/.

have to

REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "!o not have to""%ust not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "4o not have to" suggests that someone is not required to dosomething.


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Examples:

ou must not eat that. I T IS FORBIDDEN , IT IS NOT ALLOWED . ou don t have to eat that. Y OU CAN IF YOU WANT TO , BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY .

%ught o

"2ught to" is used to advise or ma/e recommendations. "2ught to" also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strongprobability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "2ught not" Awithout "to"B is used to advise against doing something,although 'mericans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."

Examples:

ou ought to stop smo/ing. RECOMMENDATION ;im ought to get the promotion. I T IS EXPECTED BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT . 1his stoc/ ought to increase in value. PROBABILITY %ar/ ought not drin/ so much. ADVICE AGAINST SOMETHING NOTICE THERE IS NO " TO "!

Using "%ught to" in Present, Past, and Future

%ost modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. tudy the chart below to learn how "ought to" behaves in different

contexts.



oucanalsouse:

ought toRECOMMENDATION , ADVICE

#. %argaret ought to exercise more.

+. %argaret ought to have exercised more

#. %argaret ought not exercise too much. It mightcause in


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so she would be better prepared for themarathon.

. %argaret ought to come to the fitnesscenter with us tonight.

+. %argaret ought not have run the marathon.he wasn6t in good shape.

. %argaret ought not stay at home in front of the1?. he should go to the fitness center with us.

ought to ASSUMPTION ,EXPECTATION , PROBABILITY

#. he ought to have the pac/age by now.

+. he ought to have received the pac/ageyesterday.

. he ought to receive the pac/agetonight.

"OUGHT NOT " IS USED PRIMARILY TO EXPRESS NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS . SEE ABOVE .!

should

&otice "%ught not"=emember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "2ught not" is more commonlyused in 5ritish English. 'mericans prefer "should not."

Examples:

ou ought not smo/e so much. he ought not ta/e such ris/s while s/iing. 1hey ought not carry so much cash while traveling.

'hall

" hall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions,such as " hall we go&" " hall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describefuture events often expresses inevitability or predestination. " hall" is much more commonly heard in 5ritish English than in 'mericanEnglish 'mericans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formaliDed language.

Examples:


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'hall I help you& SUGGESTION I shall never forget where I came from. PROMISE 0e shall become our next /ing. PREDESTINATION I6m afraid %r. mith shall become our new director. INEVITABILITY

More E(am)les o* "'hall"

%odal (se !ositive )orms -egative )orms ou can

alsouse:

shallFUTURE

ACTION

A5ritish formB

I shall be replaced by someone from the -ew or/office.

I shall be there by :$$.

I shall not be replaced after all.

I shall not be there. I have a previous obligation.

will

shallSUGGESTIONS

hall we begin dinner&

hall we move into the living room&

should

shallVOLUNTEERING,PROMISING

A5ritish formB

I shall ta/e care of everything for you.

I shall ma/e the travel arrangements. 1here6s no needto worry.

I shall never forget you.

I shall never give up the fight for freedom.

will

shallINEVITABILITY

A5ritish formB

%an shall explore the distant regions of the universe.

e shall overcome oppression.

%an shall never give up the exploration of theuniverse.

0e shall not be held bac/.


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e should return the video before the video rental storecloses.

"S HOULD " CAN ALSO EXPRESS SOMETHING BETWEEN RECOMMENDATION AND OBLIGATION . "BE SUPPOSED TO "

EXPRESSES A SIMILAR IDEA AND CAN EASILY BE USED IN THE PAST OR IN NEGATIVE FORMS .

to

shouldEXPECTATION

#. usan should be in -ew or/ by now.

+. usan should have arrived in -ew or/ last wee/. 3et6scall her and see what she is up to.

. usan should be in -ew or/ by next wee/. 0er new


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willFUTURE

ACTION ,PREDICTION

1he mar/eting director will be replaced by someone fromthe -ew or/ office.

)red will be there by :$$.

1he mar/eting director will not bereplaced after all.

)red will not be there. 0e has aprevious obligation.

shall

willVOLUNTEERING,PROMISING

I will ta/e care of everything for you.

I will ma/e the travel arrangements. 1here6s no need toworry.

I will never forget you.

I will never give up the fight forfreedom.

shall

+ould

" ould" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will."

'dditionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past. )or more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would," visit thefollowing tutorials: Conditional 1utorial , )uture in the !ast , and ould 'lways .

Examples:

If he were an actor, he ould be in adventure movies. CONDITIONAL I /new that she ould be very successful in her career. PAST OF " WILL" hen they first met, they ould always have picnics on the beach. REPETITION

Using "+ould" in Present, Past, and Future



oucanalsouse:

wouldCONDITIONAL

#. If I were president, I would cut the cost ofeducation.

#. If I were president, I would not raise taxes.

+. If I had been president, I would not have
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/would.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/would.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/futureinpast.htmlhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/would.html


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+. If I had been president, I would have cut the cost ofeducation.

. If I were elected president next year, I would cutthe cost of education.

raised taxes.

. If I were president, I would not sign the taxincrease next wee/.

wouldPAST OF " WILL"

I said I would help you.

0e told me he would be here before :$$.

I said I wouldn6t help you.

0e told me he would not be here before :$$.

wouldREPETITION IN PAST

hen I was a /id, I would always go to the beach.

hen he was young, he would always do hishomewor/.

hen I was a /id, I wouldn6t go into the water bymyself.

hen he got older, he would never do hishomewor/.

used to

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modal verbs of english4