Modal Forms

Modal + base Simple Progressive Perfect Perfect Progressive form helper or main verb I can go. He should be going. We would have gone if They might have been going to go when

Modals Information and Practice

Coleman

2008

Coleman

2008

Overview Modal Meaning

Present May Might Could Must Past May have Might have Could have 50 % Certainty Must have 90 % Certainty
Coleman 2008

Overview Modal Meaning

Present Should Past Should Have

Advice or Expectation Couldnt Couldnt have Impossibility Must Have to Had to Necessary
Coleman 2008

Should

Practice: Should

SHOULD/SHOULD HAVE = ADVICE (GOOD IDEA) or = EXPECTATION

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence. I didnt bring a sweater, and now Im cold.
Coleman 2008

Coleman

2008

Practice: Should

Practice: Should

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence.

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence. If you study hard, I expect you can pass.

I expect the bus will be here soon.

Coleman 2008

Coleman

2008

Practice: Should

Practice: Should

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence. The student didnt study hard for the test, so he didnt pass.
Coleman 2008

Make a new sentence with the same meaning or comment on the sentence. I took a shortcut going home, but I got lost.

Coleman

2008

Must / Must Have

MUST/MUST HAVE = 90% GUESS MUST HAVE = PAST TENSE FOR STRONG GUESSES ONLY HAD TO = PAST TENSE OF MUST (necessary, need to)
Coleman 2008

meaning (guess)

present past must must have

(necessary) must have to had to need to needed to

must have is only for past guesses (or inferences) !!!

Coleman 2008

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. Example: Jim needs a loan to pay his tuition. - Jills father must not earn a lot of money. - Jim must think that education is important.
Coleman 2008

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. 1. You notice that there are a lot of advertisements and TV commercials in the United States for dog and cat food.
Coleman 2008

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. 2. You receive your telephone bill, and it lists two calls to Chicago. You dont know anyone in Chicago.
Coleman 2008

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. 3. A coffee shop near campus is always crowdedday and night.

Coleman

2008

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. 4. An apartment house in your neighborhood has a private swimming pool and tennis courts.

Must Practice Make statements about the following situations using must. 5. Most graduates of the Computer Science Department at CSULB get good jobs after graduation.

Coleman

2008

Coleman

2008

Could (1) 1. POLITE REQUEST Could you open the window, please?

Could (2) 2. PERMISSION

Could I borrow a dollar for a Coke?

Coleman

2008

Coleman

2008

Could (3) 3. PAST ABILITY / INABILITY I could swim 3 miles when I was younger. I couldnt drive until I was 17 years old.
Coleman 2008

Could (4) 4. GUESS Present: I didnt see Chuck this morning. He could be sick. Present Continuous: Ive been trying to reach Keiko for an hour. She could be talking to her boyfriend.
Coleman 2008

Could (5) 5. PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDNT HAPPEN Mariko could have gotten an A on the test, but she didnt study. Tom could have finished his essay, but he went to the movies instead.
Coleman 2008

Could (6) 6. IMPOSSIBILITY Present: A: Fred weighs 250 pounds. B: He couldnt weigh 250. Hes only 52 and wears a medium.
Coleman 2008

Could (6) 6. IMPOSSIBILITY Past: A: I saw Henry at the disco last night. B: You couldnt have seen him at the disco. I was studying with him at the library all night.
Coleman 2008

Could Uses
1. POLITE REQUEST 2. PERMISSION 3. GUESS / INFERRENCE 4. PAST ABILITY / INABILITY 5. PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDNT HAPPEN 6. PRESENT IMPOSSIBILITY 7. PAST IMPOSSIBILITY
Coleman 2008

Could with Possibility COULD / COULD HAVE = POSSIBLE, BUT IT DIDNT HAPPEN COULDNT / COULDNT HAVE = IMPOSSIBLE

Meaning Politeness / Permission Ability Guess Possibility

Present Can could Can Could Could

Past

could Could have Could have Couldnt have

Impossibility Couldnt
Coleman 2008 Coleman 2008

Modal Problems Using the WRONG verb form with modal We must to come to class on time. They can being late for class. I could was late for class. He should comes on time.

Modal Problems Using ENDING on modal He musts come to class on time. They coulded be late for class.

Coleman

2008

Coleman

2008

Modal Problems Using TWO modals together He might can come to class on time. They should could be on time for class.

Modal Problems Using dont with modals He dont can come to class on time. They dont should be on late for class.

Coleman

2008

Coleman

2008

Modal Problems Using incorrect Past Part with modals He cant have went to class on time. They should have was on time for class.
Coleman 2008

Paraphrase Practice with Modals

Paraphrase each sentence using a modal. Im not sure if they were going steady when I met them, but its possible. They ...
Coleman 2008

Paraphrase Practice with Modals

Paraphrase Practice with Modals

Paraphrase each sentence using a modal. They told everyone that they were happy, but we can only conclude that they were lying. They...
Coleman 2008

Paraphrase each sentence using a modal. It is unfortunate that they werent seeing a marriage counselor. They ...
Coleman 2008

Paraphrase Practice with Modals

Verbs

Paraphrase each sentence using a modal. I cant believe they were expecting to settle this in one month! They ...
Coleman 2008 Coleman

Spend time and effort on Verbs! It will be worth it!

2008