MODALS

MODALS

The modal auxiliaries generally express speaker’s attitudes.

For example, modals can express that a speaker feels something is necessary, advisable, permissible, possible or probable.

Can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would

MODALS THAT EXPRESS NECESSITY OR OBLIGATION

Must Have to Have got to (informal)

You must eat healthy food!

MODALS THAT EXPRESS ADVISABILITY

Should Ought (to) Have better Could

You should drink water

PAST FORM OF SHOULD

Should + past participle

Example: You should have called us You should have written the essay last

week

EXPRESSING EXPECTATIONS

Be supposed to expresses the idea that someone expects something to happen also scheduled events Ex: The meeting is supposed to begin at 08:00 am

  Expresses expectations about behavior

Ex: The kids are supposed to clean up their room

Be supposed to in the past expresses unfulfilled expectationsEx: Jack was supposed to call me last night. I wonder why he didn’t.

POLITE REQUESTS WITH “I” AS THE SUBJECT

May or Might and Could I are used to request permission. They are equally politeEx: May I use your bathroom?

Could I borrow your bathroom?  Can I is used informally to request

permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone he knows fairly wellEx: Can I use the bathroom?

POLITE REQUEST WITH “YOU” AS THE SUBJECT

The meaning of Would you, will you, could you is the same. Would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The degree of politeness is often determine by the speaker’s tone of voice

Ex: Would you please pass me the bottle? Will you please pass me the bottle? Could you please pass me the bottle?

The auxiliary “Can” is often used informally. It sounds less polite than Could you and would you.

Ex: Can you please pass me the bottle?

POLITE REQUEST WITH WOULD YOU MIND

Asking for permission Would you mind, if I is followed by the

simple pastEx: Would you mind if I closed the door?

Is the same if I say: May I closed the door? Will I cause you any trouble if I close the

door?

MAKING SUGGESTIONS: LET’S, WHY DON’T, SHALL I/WE

Let’s is followed by the simple form of a verb Negative form: let’s + no + simple verb

Ex: Let’s go to a movie Let’s not go to a movie Let’s stay home.

Why don’t is used to make friendly suggestions Why don’t we go to a movie?