Modal Verbs Introduction to Simple and Perfect Modal

Modal Verbs Introduction to Simple and Perfect Modal Verbs. Intermediate level.

Ability: CAN / BE ABLE / CAN’T /COULD • In the present: �“I can drive” / “I can’t speak German”. • In any tense: �“I have been able to open the tin” • In the past: �“I could ride a bike for hours when I was younger”

Request – ask & give permission: CAN /WOULD/ COULD / MAY • Informal request �Can you pass me the sugar, please? • Formal request �Would you send me the documents by email? • Polite request �Excuse me, Could you tell me the way to the post office, please? • Polite request �May I have the menu, please? • Give permission: �You can go out if you want. �You may leave the class when the bell rings.

Possibility: CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT • Probable: ▫ I think we can easily find an agreement • Less probable: ▫ I am not sure but we could meet one of these days ▫ They say it may snow in Seville next weekend • Even less probable: ▫ Who knows? She might like your idea

Offer – Suggestion: SHALL / WOULD / COULD /CAN • Offer: ▫ I shall do the activity on the board ▫ Would you like a cup of coffee? • Suggestion: ▫ Shall we go to the cinema? ▫ You can drink some water if you’re thirsty • Polite suggestion: ▫ You could try and stop smoking

Obligation-Prohibition: MUST / HAVE TO / MUSTN’T • Obligation: ▫ You must come to class on weekdays. ▫ I have to study hard to pass this term. • Prohibition: ▫ Students mustn’t bring mobile phones to school

Necessity-lack of obligation/necessity: NEED TO/ NEEDN’T/DON’T HAVE TO • Necessity: ▫ I need to understand what’s happening to us. • Lack of necessity: ▫ You needn’t give anything in return. ▫ You don’t need to be so nasty • Lack of obligation: ▫ You don’t have to pay for that, it’s free

Inference: MUST / CAN’T • Positive certainty that something is true: ▫ She must be living in this neighbourhood because I see her everyday at the baker’s. • Negative conclusion or disbelief: ▫ Look! That’s Mary’s car! –No, It can’t be her car, she has recently left the city.

Advice: SHOULD/ OUGHT TO / HAD BETTER • Advice, opinion: ▫ They should pay more attention to the explanations ▫ You ought to reconsider your decision • Colloquial speaking: ▫ You’d better go to the dentist if that toothache continues. • Warnings: ▫ You’d better not touch my Wii.

Modal Perfect • Inference for the Past: ▫ He must have left because the lights are off • Guess about a past action: ▫ He may/might have taken the tube if he missed the bus • Regret about something undone in the past: ▫ He could have said he was sorry ▫ I would have done it if I had the chance • Criticism after an event: ▫ You should/ought to have woken me up earlier • An unnecessary past action: ▫ You needn’t have bothered to bring anything for dinner