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FCEby Matifmarin Modal Verbs Modal Verbs (10) UNIT 5(10) UNIT 5

willwould

should

must

shall

Instead of Modals, we can use:need - be able to - have to - allow

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can could may might ought to

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal VerbsModal Verbs

1. Structure of Modal Verbs1. Structure of Modal VerbsI

Modal Verb(can /should, etc.)

Bare Infinitive(without TO)

YouHeSheIt

WeThey

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● For obligation we can often use MUST or HAVE TO:

I must go now or  I’ll  miss the bus. I have to go now or  I’ll  miss the bus.

● We also use MUST to give orders or strong advice, including to ourselves: You must tell me everything. (=I feel curious about all this) Sara must be home by midnight. (=these are my instructions) You must come to the hotel one day. (=I strongly advise you to) I  must go now. (=I have decided to do this)

FCEby Matifmarin.

1. OBLIGATION 1. AFFIRMATIVE:

Must + verb: You must leave now. Have to/has to + verb: She has to leave now.

2. INTERROGATIVE Must … + verb?: Must she leave now?  Do / Does … + have to + verb?: Does she have to leave now? 

You must leave now.

Women must stay home and

raise their children.

Modal VerbsModal Verbs of Obligation and Necessity of Obligation and Necessity

I must catch the bus or I’ll have to

walk

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[Contents of UNIT 5]

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityModal Verbs of Obligation and Necessity

We only use must in the present tense. In all other tenses, we use have to:

I had to work every day. (past simple) I’ll  have to work longer hours. (future) I avoided  having to speak to him by crossing the street. (verb + -ing) If I got the job, I’d  have to buy a car. (Necessity)

□ The Present: Karen must cook for all the guests.

□ The Past: Karen had to cook for all the guests.

□ The Future: Karen will have to cook for all the guests.

□ Verb + -ing: She avoided  having to cook for all the guests by pretending she was ill.

□ Necessity: If she had 100 guests, she’d have to cook for all of them.

EXAMPLES:

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FCEby Matifmarin.

Modal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityModal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityMUSTN’T and DON’T HAVE TO

 ● Although must and have to both express obligation, mustn’t and don’t have to have different meanings.

● MUSTN’T means “don’t do it” and DON’T HAVE TO means “it’s not necessary to do it”: 

We mustn’t make a lot of noise (= it is wrong to do this and it isn’t allowed)

You don’t have to stay at school until  you’re 18. (= you are not obliged to but you can if you want)

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GRAMMAR – UNIT 5

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityModal Verbs of Obligation and Necessity

SHOULD – OUGHT TO

● We use should and ought to to express advice or make recommendations: You should eat less fat if you want to lose weight. You ought to relax if you don't want to get ill. You shouldn't be rude to anybody. You oughtn't to tell lies.

● When we are talking about the right thing to do, we use SHOULD:

Mark should take more care when he’s cycling. (= it’s a good idea but he doesn’t)

I shouldn’t spend so much time watching TV. (it’s a bad idea but I still do it)

● To talk about the past, we use SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE:

We shouldn’t have lent him the money. (=it was a bad idea but we still did)

1.1. OBLIGATION or ADVICE

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityModal Verbs of Obligation and Necessity

  ● We can use NEED like a normal verb in all the tenses, but it can also be used as a modal verb in questions and in the negative:

Need I come with you? (=Do I need to come with you?)

I needn’t come. (if I don’t want to) (=I don’t need to come. / I don’t have to come)

● In positive statements, we say: I need to come. (not I need come.)

3. NECESSITY

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I needn't buy any more bread; I have plenty here.But I need to buy some vegetables.

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal Verbs of Obligation and NecessityModal Verbs of Obligation and Necessity

● To talk about the past we say:

Peter needed to buy a computer. (=it was necessary because he didn’t have one)

Peter didn’t need to buy a computer. (=it wasn’t necessary because he already had one)

● NEEDN’T HAVE has a different meaning: Peter needn’t have bought a computer. (= he bought a computer but his parents gave him

one so now he has two!)

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You needn’t have come here. There is nothing wrong with

you, you’re a Picasso.

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FCEby Matifmarin. Modal Verbs for Ability, Possibility and PermissionModal Verbs for Ability, Possibility and Permission

Can – Could - May

● CAN is used to indicate ABILITY, POSSIBILITY and PERMISSION

Ability: He can sing very well. (= He’s able to sing) Possibility: You can add graphics to your web pages. (= You can do it if you want to.) Permission: Can I use your mobile phone? (= Am I allowed to use it?)

● COULD is also used to indicate POSSIBILITY, ABILITY or PERMISSION.

He could swim very well when he was 5. (= he was able to swim) We couldn’t send e-mails 30 years ago (= we didn’t have the possibility) Could I just interrupt you for a minute? (= polite request / permission)

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● BE ALLOWED + TO INFINITIVE is also used for general permission (all tenses are possible)

We are allowed to smoke in the office. (= We can smoke in the office). We aren’t allowed to smoke in the office. (= We can’t smoke in the office).

● Past tense: was/were allowed We were allowed to smoke in the office.

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FCEby Matifmarin.

● MAY is used to indicate POSSIBILITY, and PERMISSION.

(May is a polite modal verb used to ask for permission)

He may talk about e-business.

Can/May I go to the bathroom? (In this case May is more formal than can)

● MIGHT is also used to indicate WEAK POSSIBILITY.

The prices of Smartphones might go down next month.

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Modal Verbs for Ability, Possibility and PermissionModal Verbs for Ability, Possibility and Permission

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FCEby Matifmarin.

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● We use "be supposed to" when we are talking about the normal or correct way of doing things. 

The guests are supposed to buy flowers for the hostess. Look at these cars. This area is supposed to be kept clear of traffic. The bus driver needs to concentrate. You’re not supposed to talk to him. How am I supposed to cook this? - It tells you on the packet.

● We can use "was/were supposed to" for the past.

It’s eleven o’clock. You were supposed to be here at ten thirty, you know.

Be supposed to - Had betterBe supposed to - Had better

1. be supposed to1. be supposed to

2. had better2. had better● We use "had better" to say what is the best thing to do in a situation.

It’s cold. The children had better wear their coats. The neighbours are complaining. We’d better turn the music down. My mother is complaining. I 'd better help her with the household. My husband is waiting for me. I’d better hurry up.

● We could also use "should" or "ought to" in these examples, although "had better" is stronger. The speaker sees the action  as necessary and expects that it will happen.

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FCEby Matifmarin. Let and MakeLet and Make

Grammar:

• Make  +  Someone  + Infinitive (without to)  means "to force someone to do something“ • Let     +   Someone + Infinitive (without to)  means "to allow someone to do something"

My parents make me do the homework every day.

My parents let me watch TV late at night at the weekend.

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