MODAL VERBS

Can, could, may, might, must, need, should, ought to, shall, will, would.

Verbele modale exprima atitudinea vorbitorului fata de enunt, actiunea din cadrul acesteia fiind vazuta ca
posibila, probabila, necesara, obligatorie, de dorit etc.
Caracteristici generale: 1)Nu primesc to inaintea lor si dupa ele - sunt urmate de infinitivul scurt al
verbelor notionale: Ex. Can is a model verb.
I can do this. (Pot sa fac aceasta.) Spre deosebire de: I want to do this. (Vreau sa fac aceasta.)
2) Nu primesc s la persoana III singular, prezent. Ex. He can speak English.
3) Nu formeaza negativul si interogativul cu do/did. Ex. He cannot (cant) speak English.
4) Sunt defective-adica le lipsesc anumite forme verbale; in consecinta nu pot fi conjugate la toate modurile
si timpurile. Se folosesc inlocuitori.

CAN / COULD. Can este folosit pentru toate persoanele la indicativ prezent. Could este
folosit pentru toate persoanele la Past Tense i subjonctiv-condiional.
Can/could poate exprima:
1) capacitatea (fizic sau intelectual) de efectuare a unei aciuni: Tom can
speak three foreign languages. Tom tie trei limbi strine. I could run faster than you
last year. Puteam s alerg mai repede dect tine anul trecut.
Can exprimnd capacitatea fizic sau intelectual (ability) este nlocuit de be able
to/be capable of/know how to:
Prezent: I can ski now/I am able to ski now. (mai puin frecvent)
Past Tense: I could skate when I was a child. tiam s patinez cnd eram copil.
(capacitatea de a patina n general). Although it was very cold yesterday, we were able
to skate for an hour. Dei a fost foarte frig ieri, am reuit s patinm o or.
(capacitatea de a patina - manifestat n anumite condiii, n special nefavorabile).
Viitor: Ill be able to skate next year. Condiional: Would you be able to manage by
yourself if it was necessary ?
Could you manage by yourself if it was necessary ?Te-ai putea descurca singur dac ar
fi nevoie ?
Atenie ! Diferena de sens ntre could i was/were able to se pierde la negativ sau cu
verbe de percepie:
I couldnt ski yesterday as the weather was very bad. I wasnt able to ski yesterday as
the weather was very bad.
I couldnt see him in the dark. I wasnt able to see him in the dark.
2) Can este folosit pentru a exprima permisiunea, ca o alternativ a lui many
n exprimarea familiar: A: Can I borrow your umbrella ? B: Of course you can. Pot
s iau umbrela ta ? Desigur.
Could este folosit pentru a exprima permisiunea n trecut: On Sundays we could stay in
bed until ten oclock. Duminic aveam voie s stm n pat pn la ora 10.
n acest sens, can/could poate fi nlocuit de be allowed to, be permitted to: On Sundays
we were allowed to stay in bed until ten oclock.
3) Posibilitatea datorit circumstanelor se exprim astfel:
Prezent: You can ski at Predeal now. There is enough snow. Past Tense: We could ski at
Predeal last year. There was enough snow. Viitor: It will be possible for you to ski at
Predeal, there will be plenty of snow in December.
You will be able to ski at Predeal, there will be plenty of snow in December.
Forme de condiional: Its foggy. The airport could be closed. If he had enough money
he could buy a bicycle.
4) Can/could sunt folosite pentru a exprima: o cerere, rugminte politicoas:
Can you wait a few moments ?
Could este mai politicos dect can.
5) Could + infinitivul perfect este folosit pentru a exprima capacitatea
nerealizat de efectuare a unei aciuni n trecut: She could have helped me. (But
she didnt). Ar fi putut s m ajute.
6) Cant/couldnt + infinitivul prezent al verbului be exprim o deducie
negativ despre un eveniment prezent: A: Im hungry. B: You cant be hungry.
Youve just had your dinner.
Cant/Couldnt + infinitivul perfect exprim o deducie negativ despre un eveniment
trecut: A: Did Ann type the report ?B: She cant/couldnt have typed it. She hasnt
learned to type yet.

MAY/MIGHT. May este folosit la toate persoanele cu valoare de indicativ prezent i

viitor.
Might este folosit pentru toate persoanele cu valoare de condiional i subjonctiv. Might este ntrebuinat cu
valoare de Past Tense doar n vorbirea indirect. It may rain later. , he said. He said it might rain later.

May este folosit:

1) pentru a cere (a) sau a acorda (b) permisiunea (mai oficial dect can):
a) May I go ? Pot s plec ? b) You may go. Poi s pleci.
Forma negativ de neacordare a permisiunii de may not, rar maynt: A: May I go out ?
B: No, you may not.
Must not (musnt) este folosit pentru a exprima interdicia, mai ales n regulamente,
instruciuni: You mustnt walk on the grass. Nu clcai pe iarb.
Echivalentul modal pentru exprimarea permisiunii este be allowed to / be permitted to:
He was allowed to go. I s-a permis/I s-a dat voie s plece. He was permitted to go. I s-a
permis/I s-a dat voie s plece.
2) May/might poate exprima o cerere, o rugminte politicoas (may este mai
politicos i oficial dect can/could): May I use your phone ? mi dai voie s dau
telefon ? Folosirea lui might n acest sens indic un grad de nesiguran mai mare
dect may (cu privire la rspuns): Might I use your phone ? A putea s dau un
telefon ?
3) May/might + infinitivul prezent exprim o posibilitate prezent sau
viitoare (n sau dup momentul vorbirii):He may come today. Se poate s vin
azi. He might come tomorrow. S-ar putea s vin mine.
Might este folosit:
a) pentru a exprima o posibilitate mai ndeprtat (s-ar putea...)
b) dup un verb trecut, n vorbirea indirect: He said he might come.
c) n fraze coninnd subordonate condiionale: If you shouted, he might hear you.
Dac ai striga, s-ar putea s te aud.
La forma interogativ i negativ, may exprimnd posibilitatea este nlocuit de
construciile do you think + prezent / viitor sau be likely + infinitiv:
Do you think hell come today ? Crezi c o s vin astzi ?Is he likely to come today ?
Crezi c o s vin astzi ?
May/might + infinitivul perfect este folosit pentru a exprima o speculaie despre o
aciune trecut:
He may have arrived. Se poate s fi sosit. He might have arrived. S-ar putea s fi sosit.
4) Might mai este folosit:a) n cereri insistente sau atunci cnd vorbitorul este iritat
de nendeplinirea unei aciuni (might + infinitivul prezent): You might give me a copy
of that paper. (Please give me a copy. Im annoyed that you havent given me one.)
b) pentru a exprima iritarea, reproul n legtur cu neefectuarea unei aciuni trecute
(might + infinitivul perfect): You might have told me what had happened. Ai fi putut s-
mi spui ce s-a ntmplat.

MUST / HAVE TO / NEED. Must este folsit la toate persoanele, la indicativul prezent
i viitor.
Have to este folosit ca nlocuitor a lui must exprimnd obligaia, iar need este folosit cu
valoare de prezent i viitor, mai ales n propoziii negative i interogative.
Must se folosete pentru a exprima:
1) obligaia: They must stop because the traffic light is red now. Must exprimnd
obligaia poate fi nlocuit de have to sau ve got to.
HAVE TO. ntre must i have to exist urmtoarele diferene de sens:
a) Must exprim o obligaie impus de ctre vorbitor, pe cnd have to exprim o
obligaie impus din exterior: I must go. (Its my decision). We have to go. (The shop is
closing).
b) Must exprim o obligaie important, urgent: I must be at the hospotal at two. Its
most important.
Have to exprim o obligaie obinuit, repetat (habitual obligation): I have to be at
the hospital at seven oclock every morning. I begin work ar seven.
Prezent: You must stay in bed for a few days. Youve got flu. You have to stay in bed
when you have flu.
Past Tense: He had to stay in bed last week. He was quite ill. Viitor: You must stay in
bed tomorrow if you dont feel better. Youll have to stay in bed when you feel feverish
again.
HAVE GOT TO n vorbirea familiar, se adaug got la have to, iar have se contrage
obinndu-se Ive got/I havent got to phone her.
Aceast form exprim de obicei obligaia mplinirii unei singure aciuni.
Forma must not (mustnt) exprim interdicia, sau un sfat la prezent sau viitor: You
must not move. You mustnt walk on the grass. You mustnt miss that film, it is very
good.
Lipsa obligativitii se exprim cu ajutorul lui neednt, sau not have to/not need to:
You neednt come early. You dont have to come early.
Forma negativ a lui have to exprim o obligaie extern sau repetat, habitual:
We dont have to get up early Sundays. (We dont go to schoool on Sundays).
We wont have to get up early Sundays. (We dont go to schoool on Sundays).
Need poate fi folosit la mai multe timpuri (ca i not have to):
Prezent: A: Need I go there now ? B: No, you neednt. A: Do I need to come every day ?
B: You dont need to.
Past Tense: Did you need to go there yesterday ? I didnt need to go.
Viitor: You neednt/wont need to go there tomorrow.
Not: n propoziiile interogative, folosirea lui need n locul lui must arat v vorbitorul
se ateapt la un rspuns negativ: A: Need I wash the dishes ? (I hope not.)
Atenie ! Need i neednt sunt urmate de infinitivul scurt. Celelalte forme sunt urmate
de infinitivul lung: You neednt have bought two loaves of bread. Ive bought a loaf
myself.
Not: Need poate fi folosit i ca verb principal, nsemnnd: He needs help. Are nevoie
de ajutor. Did she need the dictionary ? A avut nevoie de dicionar ?
2) Must poate exprima i deducia logic: She must be at home. She left an hour
ago.
Deducia negativ se exprim cu ajutorul lui cannot/cant + infinitivul prezent al
verbului to be: She left ten minutes ago, she cant be at home now.
Must + infinitivul perfect exprim o deducie logic (n prezent) despre o aciune
trecut: Shes got a ten in her term paper. She must have worked very hard.
Deducie logic negativ se exprim cu ajutorul lui cant/couldnt + infinitivul perfect:
She cant have baked this pie. She cant cook. She couldnt have baked this pie. She
cant cook.
n vorbirea indirect se folosete must sau have to dup caz, dup un verb declarativ
la un timp trecut: She said she would have to leave early in the morning (obligaie). We
thought she must be ill. Am crezut c este bolnav (deducie logic).

SHALL/SHOULD. Shall este folosit:

1) pentru a exprima obligaie, n stil oficial - acte, regulamente, etc. la
persoana a II-a i a III-a: The seller shall supply the spare parts in due
time.Vnztorul va furniza piesele de schimb n timp util.
Vnztorul este obligat s furnizeze piesele de schimb n timp util.
2) Shall este folosit n propoziii interogative, la persoana I singular sau
plural:
a) pentru a cere un sfat, o sugestie, un ordin: Where shall we put the flowers ? Unde s
punem florile ? Shall we go to the cinema tonight ? (Ce spui), mergem la cinema
disear ? What shall I do ? Ce trebuie s fac ?
b) pentru a face o ofert: Shall I help you ? S te ajut ?
Should este folosit pentru a exprima:
1) obligaia, necesitatea logic de nfptuire a unei aciuni, de obicei sub
form de sfat de ctre vorbitor: The book is very interesting. You should read it.
Cartea e foarte interesant. Ar trebui s-o citeti. He shouldnt tell lies. N-ar trebui s
mint.
2) o presupunere (indicnd un grad de nesiguran mai mare dect will): He
should be there by now. Ar trebui s fi ajuns acolo deja. He should have left by now. Ar
trebui s fi plecat deja.
Should + infinitivul perfect exprim nendeplinirea unei obligaii sau a unei aciuni n
trecut:You should have sent her a telegram. Why didnt you? Ar fi trebuit sa-i trimiti o
telegrama. De ce n-ai facut-o?

OUGHT TO- indica obligatia sau datoria, de obicei sub forma de sfat dat de catre
vorbitor( la fel ca should):
You ought to finish the book before going on holiday. Ar trebui sa termini cartea inainte
sa pleci in vacanta.
Exprimarea unui sfat, a unei recomandari, sugestii, prin ought to/should este mai putin
puternica decat prin must:
You should/ought to see a doctor. Ar trebui sa te duci la doctor.You must see a doctor.
Trebuie sa te duci la doctor.
Ought to+ infinitivul perfect exprima o datorie neindeplinita, o actiune care ar fi trebuit
efectuata (la fel ca should):
You ought to/should have crossed when the lights were green. Ar fi trebuit sa
traversezi cand lumina semaforului era verde.

WILL/WOULD este folosit pentru a exprima:

1) o comanda impersonala ( similar cu must, be to): You will come here at once.
Vino incoace imediat.
2) insistenta hotararea de a efctua o actiune: He will study chemistry whatever
his father says. Va studia/este decis sa studieze chimia, indiferent de parerea tatalui
sau.
3) o actiune repetata, un obicei al unei persoane(will frecventativ): He will sit
on the bench for hours and gaze at the stars. Obisnuieste sa stea ore-n sir pe banca si
sa se uite la stele.
4) o inviatie, in propozitii interogative, la persoana a IIa: Will you have another
sandwich? Mai vrei/ ia te rog un sandvis.
5) o cerere sau o rugaminte (pe un ton politicos, dar mai autoritar decat
would): Will you sign the register? Va rog sa semnati un registru.
6) o intentie spontana, nepremeditata, in momentul vorbirii la persoana
I( contras de obicei in ll): A: Im thirsty.
B: Ill fetch you a glass of water. A: Mi-e sete. B: Sa-ti aduc un pahar cu apa.
Will devine would sau infinitiv n vorbirea indirect, n funcie se sens:
Would este folosit:
1) pentru a exprima o cerere, o rugminte politicoas:
Would you do me favour ? Vrei s-mi facei un serviciu ? Would you do me a favour ?
V rog s-mi facei un serviciu ?
Not: Would like este de obicei folosit n locul lui want, fiind o form de exprimare mai
politicoas:
I would like to talk to the manager. I want to talk to the manager. A dori s vorbesc cu
directorul.
Would you like to talk to him now ? Dorii cu el acum ?
2) Ca forma de Past Tense a lui will, woud este folosit pentru a exprima:
a) intenia (n vorbire indirect): I said, I will help her. I said I would help her.
b) intenia negativ (refuzul): Present: He wont help me. Nu vrea s m ajute. Past
tense: He wouldnt help me. Nu voia s m ajute.
c) insistena, hotrrea de a efectua o aciune n trecut: He would keep silent
for hours, no metter what arguments I used.
d) o activitate repetat, un obicei n trecut (would frecventativ): She would
wait for me in front of the school gates.
3) Would este folosit i pentru a exprima probabilitatea: That would be their
car. Probabil c aceea este maina lor. (Aceea trebuie s fie maina lor).
Atenie ! Would + rather/sooner + infinitivul scurt este folosit pentru a exprima
preferina:
I would rather listen to the concert than see the film. I d sooner listen to the concert
than see the film.
A prefera s ascult concertul dect s vd filmul.

USED TO. Used to este folosit doar la Past Tense, pentru a exprima:
1) o aciune repetat, un obicei trecut, care nu mai este practicat n prezent:
I used to swim in the Olt river when I was a child, but I dont do this any longer.
Obinuiam s not n Olt cnd eram copil, dar acum nu mai not.
2) o aciune repetat, un obicei trecut, care mai este practicat i n prezent:
They used to spend their holidays in the mountains. (Its very likely they still do it.).
Atenie ! 1. Used to poate fi nlocuit de would la sensul 2). Would este frecvent: They
would spend their holidays in the mountains. i petreceau vacanele la munte.
Obinuiau s-i petreac vacanele la munte.
Atenie ! Used to nu are form la prezent. Pentru a exprima un obicei prezent, folosii
prezentul simplu: I (usually) spend my holidays in the mountains. De obicei mi petrec
vacanele la munte. Obinuiesc s-mi petrec vacanele la munte.

BE TO. Be to este folosit pentru a exprima:

1) o comand sau instruciuni ntr-un mod impersonal (de obicei la persoana
a III-a):
He is to stay here till we return. Trebuie Va sta s stea aici pn ne ntoarcem.
Urmeaz Va sta s stea aici pn ne ntoarcem.
2) o aciune planificat (construcie des folosit n limbajul jurnalistic): The
competition is to start in a weeks time.
3) un ordin sau comand, n vorbirea indirect: He says, Wait here till I come.
He says that I am to wait here till he comes.
La Past Tense, be poate fi urmat:
a) de un infinitiv prezent: He was to go. Urma s plece.
propoziie din care nu aflm dac aciunea planificat a fost ndeplinit sau nu;
b) de un infinitiv perfect, pentru a exprima o aciune plnuit dar
nendeplinit: He was to have gone (but he didnt).

DARE. Dare se folosete cu saensul de a ndrzni, a avea curajul, n special n

propoziii interogative i negative: How dare you contradict me ? Cum ndrzneti s
m contrazici ? The boy dared not tell his father what he had done. Biatul n-a
ndrznit s-i spun tatlui su ce a fcut.
La afirmativ, dare se conjug ca un verb principal:
Prezent: dare, dares; Past Tense: dared.
La negativ i interogativ, dare poate fi conjugat ca un verb noional sau ca un verb
modal: Dare he speak ? ndrznete s vorbeasc ? Does he dare (to) speak ?
Dare ca verb modal este urmat:
a) de infinitivul fr to dup forma invariabil dare (persoana a III-a singular sau Past
Tense): I wonder whether he DARE come. M ntreb dac va ndrzni s vin. He felt
that he DARENT try. i-a dat seama c n-are curajul s ncerce.
b) de infinitivul cu to, dup participiul prezent sau dup persoana a III-a singular: Now
he dares to attack me ! Acum ndrznete s m atace !
c) de infinitivul cu sau fr to dup forma de infinitiv a verbului, forma de Past Tense
dared i participiul trecut: He wouldnt dare (to) tell me this. N-ar ndrzni s-mi spun
acest lucru. He dared (to) write upon the subject. A avut curajul s scrie despre acea
problem. He had never dared (to) ask me. Nu ndrznise niciodat s m ntrebe.

Atenie ! Verbul dare este urmat de infinitivul cu to cnd este folosit ca verb principal:
He dared me to compete with him. M-a provocat la ntrecere.