Modals Verbs

MODAL VERBS

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very

differently from normal verbs. Here are some important
differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:
He can speak Chinese.
She should  be here by 9:00.
2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative.

Examples:
He should not be late.
They might not come to the party.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses

or the future tenses.

He will can go with us. Not Correct

She musted study very hard. Not Correct
Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can
be used to express ability or to request or offer permission.

Examples:

ABILITY IN PRESENT*
 I can ride a horse. 
 She can analyze risks
 You can`t swim very well

PERMISSION INFORMAL
 She cannot stay out after 10 PM. 
 can I upload the evidence later?

REQUEST INFORMAL
 Can you hand me the stapler? 
 Can you repeat, teacher?
Could
"Could" is used to express past ability , possibility and requests.

Examples:

PAST ABILITY*
 Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. 
 I could not speak english when I was a child

REQUEST
 Could I use your computer to send a message to my boss? 
 Could you lend me money?

POSSIBILITY:
 She could help her sister in the school work.
 They could forget the evidence.
May

"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to

give or request permission.

Examples:

POSSIBILITY
 Chery may be at home, or perhaps at work.
 He may forget the appoiment.

GIVE PERMISSION FORMAL

 Johnny, you may  leave the table when you have finished your dinner. 
 Students may not upload the evidence until next week

ASK PERMISSION FORMAL

 May I go to the bathroom, please?
 May she go out tonight?
Might

"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is

also often used in conditional sentences.

Examples:

POSSIBILITY
 Your purse might be in the living room. 
 She might not be in her house. 
 Might they arrive late today? 
Should

"Should" is most commonly used to make

recommendations or give advice.
Examples:

RECOMMENDATION
 When you go to Berlin, you should  visit the palaces in
Potsdam. 
 She should be careful with her health

ADVICE
 You should focus more on your family and less on work.
 They shouldn`t watch too much tv 
Must

"Must" can be used to express necessity or strong recommendation although

native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to
prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe.
Examples:

NECESSITY
 Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. 
 You must wear security boots at SENA.

STRONG RECOMMENDATION OR OBLIGATION

 You must take some medicine for that cough. 
 She must be punctual in her job.

PROHIBITION
 Jenny, you must not play on the street! 
 They must not get in the classroom without overall
Have To* present-past simple grammar

"Have to" is used to express necessity, obligation and lack of obligation.

Examples:

NECESSITY
 The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning.
 She had to pass the exam to get into the university.

STRONG RECOMMENDATION OR OBLIGATION

 They have to leave early. 
 He had to hand out the report
 Do I have to study on Saturday?
 Does she have to work today?
 Did they have to clean up the room?

LACK OF OBLIGATION
 I don’t have to work on Sundays
 She didn`t have to come here
 ABILITY REQUEST PERMISSION POSSIBILITY LACK OF RECOMENDA ADVICE OBLIGATION- PROHIBITION
OBLIGATION TION NECESSITY
STRONG
RECOMMEN
DATION

CAN X X X
(PRESENT) (INFORMAL) (INFORMAL)

COULD X (PAST) X (FORMAL) X

MAY X X
(FORMAL)

MIGHT X

SHOULD X X

MUST X X

HAVE TO X X
 PRACTICE
Complete the sentences using the words listed in the box
below, then check your answers. Some gaps may have
more than one correct answer.

can - could - have to - must - might –may – should

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours.

He ____be exhausted after such a long flight. He
________prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.
2. Dave:  _______ you hold your breath for more than a
minute?
Nathan: No, I can't.
3. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough
water, they ________die
4. The book is optional. My professor said we ________  read it if we needed
extra credit. But we  _______ read it if we don't want to.
5. You  ______________take your umbrella along with you today. The
weatherman on the news said there's a storm north of here and it _______rain
later on this afternoon.
6. Ned:  ___________I borrow your lighter for a minute?
Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you   ___________keep it if you want to.
I've given up smoking.
7. My clothes are dirty _________wash them.
8. I'm cold. I  _________wear  coat.
9. You're driving too fast! You _________slow down.