MODALI ABILITY CANT BE ABLE TO ABILITY IN

MODALI

ABILITY • CAN’T • BE ABLE TO • ABILITY IN THE PAST • BE ABLE TO /COULD • Could general ability (the ability to do something at any time ) I could speak Spanish To be able to a particular action I was able to understand all questions in Spanish Could/couldn’t before imagine remember understand see etc

PERMISSION • ASKING PERMISSION • CAN COULD MAY • Prohibition Visitors may not use this entrance To be allowed (asking permission in all tenses) Asking for permission May I take a photo of you Asking about permission are we allowed to take photos

Certainty/Possibility She must be rich(we are certain) She can’t be poor(negative certainty) MAY/MIGHT Something is possible /likely Use: present/future It might be a bomb (Perhaps it is a bomb) COULD (SMALL POSSIBILITY) May Might could in the negative MAY NOT / MIGHT NOT Something negative is possible Daniel may not get the job He might not come(unlikely) COULDN’T Something is impossible I’m completely unfit I couldn’t run a marat. HON

MUST • Something is certainly true • She isn’t answering the phone • he must be out CAN’T • something is impossible • Nick can’t be touring Scotland • I saw him here this morning

NECESSITY MUST HAVE TO (have got to informal) It is necessary the situation makes something necessary MUSTN’T Something is a bad idea NEEDN’T Something is not necessary Don’t have to Don’t need to (English both forms/American Eng. Don’t need to) SHOULD OUGHT TO HAD BETTER BE SUPPOSED TO SHOULD OUGHT ADVICE HAD BETTER (THE BEST THING TO DO) BE SUPPOSED TO (NORMAL OR CORRECT WAY OF DOING THINGS)