Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

may

can

must should

will

could

mightwould

ought to

shall

A modal verb is also known as a helping verb. It gives additional information about the main verb that follows it. Examples:

They must go out .

Must: ObligationThey go out .

Present simple

They should go out .

Should: Advice

They may go out .

May: possibilityThey can go out .

Can: permission

They will go out .

Will: Future tense

A modal verb are different from normal verbs.

Remember:

1. They don't use an 's' for the third person singular

2. They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')

3. They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')

Subject Modal verb

Main verb

Complement

I We

TheyYouHeSheIt

must

can

should

may

will

go to sleep.

drink some water.

eat some food.

do some exercise.

Use the basic form or INFINITIVE of the main verbs after the modal verbs.

Exercise 1:

1. You must (coming / come / came) back home early.

2. My mother can (cooked / cooking / cook) seafood hotpot.

3. I may (finish / finished / finishing) my homework today.

4. Should I (turning / turned / turn) off the TV?

5. My daddy will (bought / buy / buying) me a robot.

_____

_____

_____

____

____

6. Would you (give / giving / gave) me your opinion?

7. You don’t need to (finish / finished / finishing) the homework.

4. You can’t (going / go / went) to the meeting

____

____

____

Obligation - opinion

We can use verbs such as 'must’, ’have to’ ‘need to’ to say when something is necessary or to express obligation

Examples:

Children must do their homework You have to go to school

You need to save some money

Ability

We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability

Examples:

She can speak six languages.

My grandfather could play golf very well

I can't drive

Permission

We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could’ ‘may’ and ’might’ to ask for and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say something is not allowed.

Examples:

Could i leave early today, please?

You may not use the car tonight

Can we swim in the lake

Might i ask a question

Request

We can use ’may’, ’can’ ‘could’ ‘will’ or ‘would’ for making requests. But ‘would’ and ‘could’ are more formal than ‘will’ and ‘can’Examples:

Will you help me with the washing-up?

Can you send me the newspaper?

Would you give this ring to Camila

Could i invite my boyfriend to the party?

Advice - opinion

We can use ’should’, ’had better’ ‘need to’ to give an advice or make a suggestion.

Examples:

We should go by train

You had better tell him everything

You need to talk louder

Prohibition

We use ’mustn’t’ or ‘can’t’ to show that something is prohibited or not allowed

Examples:

We musn’t use your phone in class

You can't drive here unless you are over eighteen

Absence of obligation

We can use ’don’t have to’ or ‘don’t need to’ to say when something is necessary or unnecessary

Examples:

We don’t have to go to school today, it’s sundayYou don’t need to write again the same thing

One of the meanings of modal verbs is to do with degrees of certainty. Modal verbs can be used to say for instance that a situation is certain, probable, possible or impossible.

Certainly (we are absolutely sure about something): •WillPossibility (something is possible to happen but we are not sure): •Can, may, might, couldPositive deduction (we are almost sure that something is true): •MustNegative deduction (we are almost sure that something is not true):• Can’t

Let’s look at the modal verbs of deduction.

Use:• Must: when I’m 100% sure that something

is possible.

• May (not), might (not) and could : when I’m unsure about something.

• Can’t: when I’m sure that something is not possible.

Let’s practice. Look at the pictures of some celebrities when they

were young. Guess who they are!

Use:• Must or can’t if you’re sure• May (not) or might (not) if you are

unsure.

Who is it?

can’t/must/may (not)/might (not)/

He…

be…

He _______ be …

• Michael Jackson?

• Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G)?

• David Beckham?

• or Eminem?

He might be Eminem

Who’s that?

Use modal verbs to make your deductions.

• Lady Gaga?

• Madonna?

• Scarlett Johanson?

• Eva Longoria?

• Or Britney Spears?

She can’t be Madonna. She must be Britney Spears

Who is it?

She _____ be …

• Lady Gaga?

• Madonna?

• Britney Spears?

• Sarah Jessica Parker?

She must be Sarah Jessica Parker

Who is it?

He ________ be …

• Tom Cruise

• Jack Nicholson

• Leonardo di Caprio

• Orlando Bloom

He may be Leonardo di Caprio

Who is it?

He ________ be …

• Paul McCartney

• Jack Nicholson

• Leonardo di Caprio

• John Lennon

He could be John Lennon

The End