MODALVERBS: STRUCTURE& USE - Universidad Veracruzana

1 MODALVERBS: STRUCTURE& USEWhat are modal verbs? Can Could May MightThey are Auxiliaryverbsthat provide additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the sentence Must Shall Should Ought to Will WouldsentenceHow do we use modals?Example: Marycould playthe piano SSubjectVVerbMExample: Marycould playthe piano They do not accept conjugationThey do not need other auxiliary verbsForm He canski He cans ski or He can skisThere is no s in singularThere is no do / does in the questionThere is no don t / doesn t in the negative He canski He cans ski or He can skis Wouldyou like to come with me?Doyou would like to come with me? They can tbe seriousThey don tcan be seriousFormto can / caning to must /mustingModal verbs do not have infinitivesor ingformsShe muststudy (strong obligation)We shouldhave gone the other way (recommendation)He couldplay football in his youth (ability in the past) modal verbs are followed by an infinitive withouttoFormModal verbs do nothave all the tensesModal verbs use other verbs to complete the tensesCanis completed with be able toMustis completed withhave toThey canplay the piano They will be able to play the piano in the futureYou must come earlyYou had to come early yesterdayWhat do they express?

2 Concept modal : they have onemeaningThey can have more than one meaning depending on the Concept modal : they have Concept modal : they have in past: They are used to express a situation in the pastCategoriesSingle conceptModalsDouble ConceptModalsModals in PastWillMightShouldMayMustWould Would haveCould haveMight haveShouldOught toHad betterWould ShallCouldCanMight haveShould haveMay haveMust haveSingle Concept ModalModalConceptExamplesWillFutureJoe will travel to NY next weekMightSmall probabilityI might move to Canada some dayShouldRecommendationYou should go to the doctorOught toFormal recommendation We ought to know about first aidsHad betterWarningI had better study or I will fail the testDoubleConcept ModalModalConceptExamplesMay (1)PermissionMay I come in?

3 May (2)Good probability We may visit Mexico this summerMust (1)ResponsibilityEveryone must pay taxesMust (2)AssumptionShe didn t arrive. She must be sickWould (1)Past (used to)When I was young, I would play soccerWould (2)Present unrealI would buy the car but I can t afford itDouble Concept ModalModalConceptExamplesShall (1)Educated expressionOfferExcuse me, I shall go nowShall I clean it?Shall (2)Contractual obligation The company shall pay on January 1stCould (1)Unreal AbilityI could go if I had timeCould (2)Past AbilityShe could play the piano (but she can tanymore)Can (1)Present AbilityWe can speak EnglishCan (2)PermissionCan I have a candy?PROBABILITY/POSSIBILITYABILITYPERM ISSIONOBLIGATION/ADVICEOFFERSCANI can play the pianoCan I go out tonight?

4 CAN TShe can t be his mum. She s too youngI can t speak GermanCan I borrow the car? No, I can might rain tomorrowCOULDIt could rain tomorrow I could already read when I was twoCould I see your passport please, sir?MAYIt may rain tomorowwMay I leave the table?MUSTShe must be his sister because they look must leave before the clock strikes TOI have to study shall pay on TuesdayShall I help you?SHOULD /OUGHT TOYou should see it. It s BETTERYou had better sleep you like a drink?Modals in the Past They are modals referred to actions that happened in the pastMODAL+ HAVE +verb in past participleItmusthave beena difficult decisionThey shouldhave invitedher to their weddingMODAL+ HAVE +verb in past participleMODAL PERFECTUSESEXAMPLESMUST HAVE + conclusion on a past eventPeter has arrived late.

5 He must have beenin a traffic jamMAY / MIGHT HAVE + on a past eventJoe may / might have takenthe wrong HAVE + to do something, gone unfulfilledYou could have playedbetterCOULDN T HAVE + that something couldn t have happenedHe couldn t have passedbecause you hadn t studied enoughWOULD HAVE + to do something, but impossibility to do it for external causesI would have visitedyou, but I forgot your addressSHOULD /OUGHT TO HAVE + on something that should have been done You should / ought to have warnedme earlierSHOULDN T HAVE + on something that shouldn t have happenedHe shouldn t have told themNEEDN T HAVE + that wasn t necessary doing You needn t have bought it .Modals-like verbs: ModalConceptExampleLike toEnjoyI like to watch TVWant toDesireJohn wants to buy a carA few verbs which often serve as modalstoo.

6 They need to be toDesireJohn wants to buy a carNeed toNecessityWe really needed to talk to youHave toObligationSusan had to pay the rentHave got toHave toI ve got to go nowLook forward to Future planI look forward to seeingyou son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?a. Have tob. wouldc. shouldd. think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency Mightb. couldc. ought tod. canIf you are interested in losing weight, you _____ try this new you are interested in losing weight, you _____ try this new Couldb. mustn t c. don t have to d. had s fallen down the stairs! I _____ call an ambulance!a. Willb. mightc. mayd. ought _____ come too early. We won t leave until 9 o Has tob. mustc.

7 Needn td. can _____ be accompanied by an adult at the Ought tob. mustc. wouldd. mustn _____ talk during tests. It s forbidden!a. don t have to b. mustn t c. couldn td. ought toI can feel the heat. We _____ be near the can feel the heat. We _____ be near the Canb. wouldc. mustd. have _____ hear him because he was Wouldn tb. mustn t c. shouldn t d. couldn ve never heard of Britney Spears? You _____ be serious!a. Mustb. had toc. can td. shouldn you like to have dinner with me tonight?a. Couldb. mayc. shouldd. _____ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It s a surprise!a. mustn tb. wouldn tc. couldn td. cana. mustn tb. wouldn tc. couldn td. I speak to the Chief Councellor, please?

8 A. Mustb. Mayc. Wouldd. has arrived late. He _____ missed the busa. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. mustMore practise Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the same suggest that you get a good lawyer!You university degree isn t necessary for that get a university degree isn t necessary for that my father will pick you father Eating is forbidden in class!You _____needn t have a university degree for that jobdon t have to have a may / might pick you upmustn t eat in classMore practise Re-write the following sentences using modals so that they have the same at his dirty clothes! I m sure he is a poor don t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because there are must be a poor don t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because there are many legend of Hercules _____can t be trueUse your imagination Think about these situations and create a sentence using are going to Paris for a weekend.

9 (Make suggestions about things to do) start school in September. (Talk about necessity) is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability) is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability) have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility) has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him some advice) want to borrow your uncle s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for permission politely)Possible answers1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower2. We have to buy a new notebook3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York5.

10 You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?