Autor: Enrique Hinojosa

MODAL VERBS

CAN

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Ability:
Permission:
Prohibition:
Request:
Offers:
Deduction(neg.):

COULD

1. Ability (past):
2. Permission(polite):
3. Request (polite):
4. Possibility (50%):
5. Suggestion:
6. Advice:

MAY

1. Possibility (50%):
2. Permission

I can swim
Can I go out? / You can go out
You cant stay here
Can you close the door, please?
Can I help you?
It cant be ten oclock now!!

I could swim at the age of 5.

Could I go out? (Podra?)
Could you close the door, please?
He could win the match
We could watch the game today
You could go to the library.

He may win (Puede que l gane)

May I go out? (Tendra permiso?)
You may go out.

MIGHT

1. Remote possibility:
2. Criticism:

He might win (poco probable)

You might as well study!!
(Tambin podras estudiar, no?)

SHALL

1. Suggestion:
Shall we go for a walk?
2. Ask for instructions: Shall I close the door?
3. Future:
We shall go to the party
4. Prohibitions:
You shall not kill
5. Offers:
Shall I carry the bags for you?

SHOULD

1. Subjective advice:
You should study more
2. Instructions (polite): Should I close the door?
3. Suggestions (polite): Should we have a coffee?

OUGHT
TO

1. Objective advice:
2. Prohibitions:

You ought to keep silence

You ought not to smoke here

MUST

1. Obligation:
2. Prohibition:
3. Deduction:
4. Advice:
5. Instructions:

You must be here before 11 pm

You mustnt enter
He must be rich
You must eat vegetables
You must press the red button

WILL

1. Future:
2. Predictions:
3. Promises:
4. Request:
5. Conditionals:

I will not go to the party

He will be a great dancer
I will love you forever
Will you pass me the salt?
If it isnt raining, I will go out

WOULD

1. Conditionals:
2. Request (polite):
3. Advice:
4. Invitations:
5. Preferences:
6. Past habits:

If you helped me, I would finish

Would you open the door?
If I were you, I wouldnt go
Would you like to go out?
I would rather dance than sing
He would smoke after dinner
(Sola)

NEEDNT

1. Absence of
Obligation:

REQUEST
Will you? (Quieres?)
Can you? (Puedes?)
Could you? (Podras?)
Would you?
(Sera tan amable?)

You neednt do the exam

(No tienes porqu...)

PERMISSION
Can I?
Could I?
May I?

ADVICE
You should
If I , I would
You could
You ought to
You must ...

1.- Write sentences with modal verbs so that they have the same meaning
Im sure he has forgotten something
You are not allowed to walk on the grass
Please stop talking (polite)
Do you have to leave so soon?
I dont believe its ten oclock
Youd better call the police
Perhaps he has lost the address
Why dont you go to the library?
Please sit down (colloquial)
I was wrong to say that
Im sure he has heard the news
He wasnt able to lift the piano
Its forbidden to enter the house
Its possible that the phone is broken
He used to smoke his pipe in the evenings
Let me help you
She doesnt work hard enough
I insist that you do as I say
Do you Know how to make an omelette?
Why dont we go for a walk?
Perhaps there has been an accident
You are not allowed to look
Its possible that she visits us tomorrow
I wish I had tried harder
Do you mind if I sit here?
She used to dance for hours
I asked for permission to get up (polite)
I ask for instructions to turn off the TV
Its not possible that he finishes in time
I advise you to do some exercise
I advise you not to talk so loud in class
He was not able to speak French last year
You are obliged to wait for your sister
Alan used to play golf when he was young
Do you have to finish the project today?
I dont have the ability of skiing
You dont have to come tomorrow
I request you to close the door
Do you mind if I open the window?
Do you know how to solve this problem?
It is forbidden to go out of the school
I ask for permission to leave
There are possibilities for her to win
Perhaps she has passed her exam
I advise you not to smoke in the bus
Youd better study the modal verbs
I give you permission to speak
Maybe he got lost
You have to consult the dictionary
Why dont you ask the teacher?
Why dont we have a rest?

2.- Fill in the sentences with can/cant/could/couldnt and a verb:

hear/play/land/understand/help/come/phone/drive/speak/see/read

3.- Rewrite these sentences using may/might

4.- Complete the sentences and give some advice

5.- What advice would you give someone to be healthy??

6.- Use must/mustnt to express obligation, strong advice or prohibition

7.- Anne wants to pass her exams; write sentences with must/mustnt

8. Write sentences with modal verbs so that they have the same meaning
1 It isnt necessary to buy a ticket. You dont need to buy a ticket.
2 I advise him to be more careful.
3 Im sure that is Johns car.
4 I dont think he is her brother. They dont ressemble each other.
5 He wasnt able to swim when he was five.
6 Its possible that he will win the race.
7 You are not allowed to play in the garden.
8 It wasnt necessary for them to repair the car.
9 Do you want me to open the door? (SHALL)
10 Its possible that she is still at work
9. Rewrite the sentences with MODAL PERFECTS
1 Their plane probably crashed over the jungle (MUST)
2 There is no possibility that Mark was involved in the crime (Couldnt)
3 Maybe Janet invited him here tonight (might)
4 She isnt in the office. Perhaps she went home (may)
5 Im sure she was quite angry when she daid it (must)
6 Perhaps he learned English as a child (may)
7 It wasnt necessary for me to go out (neednt)
8 It was a mistake for you to buy that car (shouldnt)
9 Its possible that I left my wallet at home (could)
10 It was unnecessary for you to clean the floor ( NEEDNT)
10. MODAL PERFECTS
1 How did you know about the secret? Someone (tell)................................. you.
2 The money was on the desk. I (take) ........................................ it ,but Ididnt.
3 I know you were angry, but you (not be) .......................................... so rude.
4 I dont know who sent these flowers; it (be) .......................................... Jane.
5 You (wear) .......................................... a raincoat. It wasnt raining.
6 ................... you (not be) ....................... a little more polite last night?
7 They (make) .......................................... a mistake; the two cases were red.
8 You (tell) .......................................... your parents you were going to be late.
9 They (not leave) .......................................... without being seen by anybody.
10 You (apologize) .......................................... for being late.
12 I (not say) .......................................... such a terrible thing. Im sorry.
13 I came here by taxi, so I (leave) my keys there.
14 Im sorry. I (let) .......................................... you know what was happening.
11. TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH
1 Ese cuadro no puede ser un Picasso.
2 No deberas fumar tanto. Es malo para tu salud.
3 No deberas haberle gritado a tu amigo.
4 No estoy segura. Puede que hayan ido al cine.
5 Peter no pudo haber sido el asesino. Estuvo cenando conmigo esa noche.
6 Ella no puede haberse marchado porque su maletn est todava aqu.
7 Debe de haber sido una pelcula muy triste; todo el mundo estaba llorando.
8 El accidente de Juan podra haber sido mucho peor.
9 No tenas que haber venido a verme. Estoy bien.
10 Al final del curso podr hablar ingls mejor.