Modals verbs

Mónica Grillo Cancino

Uses The modal verbs include can, must, may,

might, will, would, should. They are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on.

Modal verbs are unlike other verbs Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They do not change their

form (spelling) and they have no infinitive or participle (past/present). The modals must and can need substitute verbs to express obligation or ability in the different tenses.

Past simple:

Sorry I'm late. I had to finish my

math test.

Present prfert:

She's had to return to Korea at

short notice

All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.

Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.

Common mistakesModals are auxiliary verbs. They do not need an additional auxiliary in negatives or questions. For example: Must I come? (Do I must come?), or: He shouldn't smoke (He doesn't should smoke).

Modal

Can

Could

Example

-They can control their own budgets.We

can’t fix it.

-Can I smoke here?

-Can you help me?

-Could I borrow your dictionary?Could you

say it again more slowly?

We could try to fix it ourselves.

I think we could have another Gulf War.

He gave up his old job so he could work for us.

Uses

- Ability / PossibilityInability /

Impossibility

-Asking for permission

-Request

-Asking for permission.Request

-Suggestion

-Future possibility

-Ability in the pas

Modal

May

Might

Example

- May I have another cup of

coffee?

- China may become a major economic power

-We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now.

- They might give us a 10% discount.

Uses

- Asking for permission

- Future possibility

-Present possibility

-Future possibility

Modal

Shall(More

common in the

UK than

the US)

Example

-Shall I help you with your

luggage?

-Shall we say 2.30

then?

- Shall I do that or will

you?

Uses

-Offer

-Suggestion

-Asking what to do

Modal

Will

Example

- I can’t see any taxis so I’ll

walk.

-I'll do that for you if you like.

- I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday.

- Profits will increase next

year.

Uses

-Instant decisions

-Offer

- Promise

- Certain predictio

Modal

Wuould

Example

-Would you mind if I brought a colleague

with me?

-Would you pass the salt please?

-Would you mind waiting a moment?

- "Would three o`clock suit you?" -

"That’d be fine."

- Would you like to play golf this Friday?

-"Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "I’d

like tea please."

Uses

-Asking for permission

-Request

-Request

-Making arrangements

-Invitation

-Preferences

Modal

May

Might

Example

- May I have another cup of

coffee?

- China may become a major economic power

-We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now.

- They might give us a 10% discount.

Uses

- Asking for permission

- Future possibility

-Present possibility

-Future possibility

Modal

Must

Ought to

Example

-We must say good-bye now.

-They mustn’t disrupt the work

more than necessary

- We ought to employ a

professional writer.

Uses

Necessity / Obligation

Prohibition

-Saying what’s right or correct