MODAL VERBS

UNIT 3 2º BachilleratoIES VALMAYOR

OUTLINE

GENERAL FEATURES

MODAL VERBS/SEMI MODALS Different meanings and uses

GENERAL FEATURES THEY ARE FOLLOWED BY BARE INFINITIVE (EXCEPT

OUGHT TO/HAVE TO) Ex: She should be here by five o´clock

They do not have TENSES or forms (-ed, -ing, 3rd person singular –s) Ex: He can speak five different languages

They act as auxiliaries in questions and negative sentences. Ex: She might not come since she is very angry with

me/ Should I speak to her? We do not find those features in be able to, have

to,need (this one can be modal or ordinary verb)

MODALS EXPRESSING ABILITY

CAN: PRESENT ABILITY EX: She can read minds.

COULD: PAST ABILITY Ex: At the age of five , she could read

and write.

SEMI-MODAL VERBS BE ABLE TO To express ability in all those tenses CAN,

COULD can´t be used Ex: she hasn´t been able to find a job yet

Was/were able(managed just once) to vs could (general ability in the past) Ex: At the age of six, I could play the piano Ex: At the age of six, I couldn´t play the piano.

But once, I was able to play the happy birthday song once.

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY AND CERTAINTY 100% SURE. must

50% POSSIBLE may/might

0% SURE / IMPOSSIBLE can´t

MODALS OF CERTAINTY

MUST (Guess, deduction) EX: Lucy must be the winner. She’s the

fastest one.

CAN’T (Negative deduction) EX: Lucy can´t be the winner. She’s not

very fast.

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY

MAY/MIGHT/CAN/COULD (might and could are less probable Might: past of may: The car looked

like it might explode any time. Ex: It may rain tomorrow. You might

fall of the ladder.

MODALS OF OBLIGATION MUST (Inner/speaker obligation)

EX: You must study harder if you want to pass your exams

Have to (Rules) Ex: Girls have to wear uniform in private schools

That difference tends to disappear Have to Semi-modal in form For all the tenses where MUST cannot be

used. She had to get up early last Saturday since she

had to attend a very important lecture

PROHIBITION/NO OBLIGATION

MUSTN´T (PROHIBITION) Ex: You mustn´t lie on your CV

NEED (NECESSITY) You need to take some time off

(NOT HAVE TO) NO OBLIGATION Ex: you don´t have to pick me up if you don´t

want to (it´s not compulsory) NEEDN´T isn´t followed by to

Ex:You needn’t study for this exam.

MODALS OF ADVICE

SHOULD/OUGHT TO They are used to express advice

Ex: You ought not to apply for that job. Ex: He should walk to school. Ex: You shouldn’t eat so many

chocolates.

Permission

CAN/MAY/COULD It depends on the degree of

politeness (May is more formal) Can / May I come in? Could I come in Mr Robinson?

WILL/WOULD/SHALL

SHALL OFFER/SUGGESTION:Shall I help you? WOULD Offer: Would you like a cup of tea? Past habit: I would visit my

grandparents every weekend. (used to) and past of will.

WILL

Future and predictions: We will be there on time.

Polite request: Will you please fetch me the book?

MODALS+PERFECT INFINITIVES

MIGHT/MAY/COULD HAVE +PAST PARTICIPLE (They refer to the past)

Something which was possible in the past but it didn´t finally happen EX: She could have taken the job but she

didn´t. I might have phoned her

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

Must have…. Logical inference about the past

Ex: you must have seen John at the party.

They must have felt very upset after the incident.

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

Can’t have….. ( It’s impossible that) Ex: She can’t have understood the

question. That can’t be Tom, because Tom is taller.

SHOULD HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE

To express your opinions about something in the past that was not right or an advice that wasn’t followed. Ex: He should have apologised. Ex: You should have come with us.

SHOULDN´T HAVE

It´s used to express or show regret or express some criticism I shouldn´t have drunk that much He shouldn’t have behaved like that.

HAD BETTER

FORM HAD BETTER+ BARE INFINITIVE HAD BETTER NOT+BARE INFINITIVE

Ex: We´d better stop for petrol soon. The tank is almost empty

Use: We use it for a particular situation and not for general advice

Warning: You’d better stop shouting.

WOULD RATHER

FORM WOULD RATHER+BARE INFINITIVE WOULD RATHER NOT+BARE

INFINITIVE Ex: I´d rather not go out this evening if

you don´t mind Ex: I´d rather stay at home than go out

WOULD RATHER

I´d rather you did something Notice the difference:

I´d rather cook the dinner now. I´m in a hurry I´d rather you didn´t cook. You are a

terrible chef

RATHER

Used together with prefer I prefer coke to water I prefer drinking coke to drinking water I prefer drinking coke rather than water