Modals

Ability: can, cant, cannot : Cant Is the negative, with cannot as a formal and written from. Questions forms are Can I, Can you, etc. To describe ability or lack of it: Many animals can see clearly in the dark. Human being cant do this+

To describe what Is allowed or not allowed You can look at the animals in the zoo but you cant touch them With a future meaning Sorry but I cant come to the party next week With verbs of perception: hear, see , taste , fell , smell What can you see I can smell gas

Ability: be able to This has the same meaning as can Instead of can Many animals are able to see in the dark When can is unsuitable. Because can has only present and past forms, we use able to for other tenses, and infinitive form I havent be able to finish my proyect Obligation: have to/ has to The forms follow have : I have to, he/she has to etc., do I have to, does she have to; I dont have to etc. To describe what is necessary, a rule, or something we do because other people tell us to. Baby birds have to learn how to fly or they wont survive The negative form, Dont/ Doesnt have to, is used to describe something unnecessary I dont have to go to work. Theres a holiday Obligation: must / mustnt The negative form is mustnt, with must not as a formal and written form. There is no third person s form. Question form is must I, must you etc.

 Use must to describe something is necessary or important to do. Sorry I really have to go Sorry I really must go now In other contexts, there is a difference You must be more careful! You have to wear safety googles (= personal opinion of the speaker) (= an outside opinion or rule

We usually we use the question for of have to for must Do I have to sit here? There is sometimes little difference between first person I must and I have to You mustnt throw things in the science lab its dangerous! Compare mustnt and dont have to You mustnt use a pencil You dont have to use a pen (its not allowed) (its not necessary)

Use should, ought to To say what we think is right or correct, or is a good idea in your opinion. This is not as strong as must. In the same way. Ought to has the same meaning as should You should pay more attention To give advice I think you should study biology next year Use had better TO say what we think someone should do. There is only one form had better Id better. The negative had better not Youd better wear your raincoat. Its going to rain Use need to With the same meaning as have to. Need to is not a modal verb You need to work harder

Modals: ability, Obligation ,Critiscm

Past ability: Could, Couldnt, was/were able to Could/ couldnt are past forms of can/ cant. Could not is used in formal speech and writing To describe past ability

We dont know how fast Ancient Greek athletes could run

To describe what was allowed or not allowed Women couldnt compete or watch the ancient Olympic Games Past Obligation: had to , didnt have to Had/ didnt have to / did you have to etc. are past forms of have to and must To describe past obligation, for both must and have to Athletes who cheated in the Olympic Games had to pay for a statue for Zeus Of course, in ancient times athletes didnt have to take drug tests Past necessity : need to, didnt need to, neednt have Use needed to (regular verb) to describe what was necessary He needed to stop for a drink, but he didnt stop Use dint need to describe what was not necessary In ancient Greece, winning athletes didnt need to work again The question form is did you need to Use neednt have + past participle (a form of modal verb need) to explain that someone did something, but what they did was unnecessary I was worried because I thought that my tickets for the Games wouldnt arrive at time. But I neednt have worried. They arrived this morning Past Criticism: Should have/ Shouldnt have, ought to have, ought not to have Use should have/ shouldnt have + past participle to criticize a past action you started before the gun You shouldnt have done that Use ought to have/ ought not to have + past participle in the same way

Modals: Possibility, uncertainty, certainty (present future)

Possibility and uncertainty Use may, might, could + bare infinitive To describe things that will possibly happen The next earthquake may/ might / could happen tomorrow Use may not and might not + bare infinitive To describe things that will possibly not happen in the future The next Earthquake may not/ might not happen for another fifty years. Its impossible to predict exactly

 Possibility Use can + bare infinitive To describe a possibility in general but not with a future time reference During an earthquake people can suffer injuries when parts of buildings fall into the street Certainty Use will+ bare infinitve When we are certain something will happen in the future During a strong earthquake, some older buildings will collapse Use must + bare infinitive When we are certain something is true (usually with be) or when we suppose what a situation like Ive never been in an earthquake. It must be really frightening. Youve done a lot of work you mut feel very tired ! (Im certain of that) (Im sure you do)

Negative certainty Use cant bare infinitive When we are certain something is not true (usually with be ) or its impossible That cant be an earthquake. We dont have earthquakes here

Modals: Possibility, uncertainty, certainty (past)

Use could may might + have + past participle To describe things that probably happened in the past I dont know where my bag is. I suppose someone else might have taken it by mistake

Use could, might + have + past participle To make contrast between what was possible in the past and what actually happened That was a stupid thing to do, you might hurt someone To criticize someone else actions You might have told me ! The bus left at 3:00 pm I lost it Use can have + past participle When we are certain something was not true

I still can havent heard from Peter. He cant have got my message. Use must have + past When we are certain something was true Congratulations on your exam results. You must have been really pleased when you hear the news Use could, may and might and could have may have, might have

In conditional sentences, when the results are not certain

If you heat the solution to quickly, it may / might / could explode

EXERCICES
1. Are you any good at athletics? How fast __________ you run A) Can B) Will 2. You ______ take some money with you A) should B)had to 3. She ________ run 50 miles per hour. A) can B) would 4. Damian ________ buy the book for math. A) Need to B) might 5. Mark, You __________ run in the hallway A) Shouldnt B) havent 6. ______ you bring me some salt? A) have B) Can 7. You ________________________ do it if you dont want to A) Dont have to B)will 8. The teacher was tired so they __________ leave early A) Could B) need to 9. The human being _________ survive without water A) Cant B) will 10. Ricky _____________ train better A) Need to B) had to