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MODAL VERBSMODAL VERBS
1. They are verbs like can, must, might, etc… which give certain meanings to main verbs.
You smoke. / You shouldn’t smoke. / You mustn’t smoke.
2. They are followed by either:– base form of the verb. I should tell him the truth.– have + past participle form of the verb. I should have told
him the truth.
3. Structure:
(+) We should stay.
(-) We shouldn't stay.
(?) Should we stay?
4. Types of Modal verbs:
OBLIGATION: must / have to / *need
LACK OF OBLIGATION: don’t have to / *needn’t
PROHIBITION: mustn’t
ADVICE: should / *ought to
ABILITY: can / could / *be able to
PERMISSION & REQUEST: can / could / *may* Extra ones
Other situations / modal verbs:
CERTAINTY & LOCAL DEDUCTION: must / can’t / couldn’t
PROBABILITY & POSSIBILITY: can / could / may / might
IMAGINARY SITUATIONS: would
OBLIGATION
(must, have to, *need,)1. OBLIGATION which comes from sb else. It’s a law or a rule and
the speaker can’t change it: HAVE TO
In Britain you have to buy a TV licence every year.
She has to wear a school uniform.
2. OBLIGATION with other verbal tenses: HAVE TO
I ‘ll have to pass those exams to go to university.
We had to leave early.
3. OBLIGATION which comes from the speaker. It isn’t a law or a
rule: MUST
I must call my dad tonight.
Mark is a really nice person. You must meet him. (I recommend this)
*In written rules, MUST is used:
You must write your answers in ink.
* NECESSITY: NEED
You need to tell him the truth.
You need to wear suit for the interview.
LACK OF OBLIGATION
(don’t have to / *needn’t)You don’t have to / needn’t order your meal now.
She doesn’t have to cook dinner tonight.
PROHIBITION
(mustn’t)You mustn’t drink and drive.
ADVICE
(should / *ought to)You should / ought to study more for your exams.
You shouldn’t smoke.
* Ought to rarely seen in negatives or questions.
ABILITY (can, could & *be able to)1. Present: can
Two of my friends can play the guitar.
2. Past: could
When he was a child he could ski well.
Other tenses: be able to
- There was a fire and I was able to escape out (= I managed to escape out) of the room. (specific situation in the past)
- Next week they'll be able to vote. (future)
- We haven't been able to go on holiday this year. (present perfect)
PERMISSION & REQUEST
(can, could & may)Can you help me?
Could you send me your picture?
May I use your phone? (a bit more polite)
CERTAINTY & LOCAL DEDUCTION(must , can’t & couldn't)
1. 100% SURE (CERTAINTY)
They must be an item. I’ve seen them kissing.
(I totally believe this)
2. 100% SURE (STRONG DISBILIEF)
They can’t be an item. They don’t get along.
( I don’t believe it)
They couldn’t be an item. They didn’t get along.
PROBABILITY & POSSIBILITY
(can, could, may & might)
We can invite Jim to the party. (Why not?)
We could / may invite Jim to the party. ( Not so sure…)
We might invite Jim to the party. (Could be but I don’t think so…)
IMAGINARY SITUATIONS: would
It would be nice to buy a car, but I can’t afford it.
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