LECTURE 6

MODAL VERBS
CONTENTS
I. I.DEFINITION
II. II.TYPES
III. CHARACTERISTICS
IV. MAIN USES – MODALITY
I. DEFINITION
- - described as auxiliary/helping verbs, they “help”/are ALWAYS combined with another
verb to show complete meanings and to express the speaker's attitude to the action;
-
- - known as “defective verbs” because they follow NONE of the regular verb rules;
-
It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.
Could I talk to your supervisor please?
You may not wear sandals to work.
I shouldn’t be late. The train usually arrives on time.

II. TYPES
 core/central/regular/single-word modals:
can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, would

 semi-modals/marginal modals:
dare, need, used to, ought to

 other modal expressions/phrasal modals:

be able to, be allowed to, be about to, have to, be bound to, be going to, be likely
to, be to, be obliged to, be supposed to, had better, would rather, have got to

III. CHARACTERISTICS
 they are defective – NO Long Infinitives, -ing or -ed forms; substitutes are used:
I must water the flowers.
You should have told me you were coming.
You were not allowed to get late.

 they are anomalous – NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs such as do, does,
did etc. to form the interrogative and negative:
Can you swim? Yes, I can.
May they come?
You shouldn’t be doing that.

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  they are uninflected: NO -s form in the third person singular:
He can drive.
She might leave soon.

 they are ALWAYS followed by Short Infinitives – without “to” (exception: ought to
and used to):
You may stay here.
He must be at the tennis club now.

 they are followed by Perfect Infinitive (have + past participle) to express past
actions:
You should have called her yesterday.
He might have been sleeping at three o'clock yesterday.

IV. MAIN USES – MODALITY

• when you want to indicate your attitude towards what you are saying;
• when you are concerned about the effect of what you are saying on the person you
are speaking or writing to;

Modality = meaning associated with the modals used at any given time.

• There are 2 primary types:

 epistemic (belief/logical probability modality)
 deontic (action modality)

1. ABILITY
A. PRESENT AND FUTURE

• can → present/future physical/mental ability/skill

• cannot/can’t → lack of ability in the present:

She can speak Italian but she can’t speak French.
Martin can help us tomorrow.

• is/are able to → if the present ability is surprising/involves overcoming some difficulty;

where can/could is grammatically impossible:
Despite his handicap, he is able to drive a car.
I haven’t been able to swim since I had the accident. (perf. asp.)
He loves being able to talk the local language. (–ing form)
I’d like to be able to offer you a job, but I can’t. (–infinitive)

• will be able to → a future ability:

Will they be able to speak fluently by the end of the course?

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 B. PAST

• could → general ability/skill in the past:

She could play the violin when she was 12.
• was/were able to → the successful use of an ability on a specific occasion:
Mike’s car broke down but fortunately he was able to repair it.
• couldn’t/was/were not able to → lack of ability/success:
Despite having a car jack, John couldn’t change the flat tire and asked for help.
• could/might have + past participle:
 past ability which wasn't used or a past opportunity which wasn't taken:
She could/might have paid by credit card but she preferred to use cash.
 to make criticism:
You might/could have told me about the party!

2. POSSIBILITY-DEDUCTION-SPECULATION
A. PRESENT

• can → things which are generally possible:

Drinks in restaurants can be very expensive.
• may/might/could → specific possibilities:
There may/might/coud be life on Mars.
• may/might/could → to make a deduction based on evidence/our experience:
He always wears smart suits. He could be a businessman.
• could/might → possibilities which depend on certain conditions:
She could/might learn much more quickly if she paid attention.
• can’t/couldn’t → for things which we know are impossible and to make negative
deductions:
You can’t get blood out of a stone. (I am sure it’s impossible.)

B. PAST

• could → general possibility in the past:

Teachers could be very strict at my old school.

• could/might have + past participle → specific past possibility:

She might/could have done it; she had the opportunity.

• might have + past participle → past opportunity which was not taken:
I might have attended ballet classes but my parents wouldn’t let me.

• can’t have/couldn’t have + past participle:

 negative deduction about the past:
She can’t have fixed the computer, it’s still not working.
 surprise or disbelief:
He couldn’t have been so impolite; he’s such a nice man.

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 C. FUTURE

• may/might/could → predictions which are less certain:

The directors may call a stockholders’ meeting. (= perhaps)
You never know, she could meet someone suitable soon. (= it’s possible, but unlikely).

• will/won’t be able to → something will be possible or impossible in the future:

We’ll be able to travel to the moon, but we won’t be able to travel to Mars.

• may/might have + past participle → a possible completed action by a time in the future:
The meeting might have finished by 11 o’clock, so give me a call at 11 o’clock.

3. ARRANGEMENTS
• can/could/be able to → possible arrangements for a time in the future:
The doctor could see you at 6; he can’t see you before then as he’s too busy.
He’ll be able to contact you only after the lecture.

• may/might → if the arrangement is uncertain:

I’m not sure if I’m available; I may be working that weekend.
The dentist might be free to see you after lunch; I’ll have to check the diary.

4. OFFERS-REQUESTS-SUGGESTIONS

OFFERS REQUESTS SUGGESTIONS

LESS Can I help you? Can you close the We can try the
FORMAL door? new device.

FORMAL We could do that Could you pass me You could lose

for you. the salt, please? some weight.

MORE May I help you? You might/may get You might/may

FORMAL Might I be of some me some milk while give Helen a ring.
assistance? you’re there.

• may and might → more formal and tentative than can and could;

• can/could always → more tentative suggestion and alternative:

We could always go to the Italian café.

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 5. ASKING FOR AND GIVING/REFUSING PERMISSION
A. PRESENT AND FUTURE

• can/can’t → for permission granted/refused:

Can I use your dictionary? Of course, you can./No, you can’t.

• may/may not → in the same way in more formal situations:

May I interrupt?
Candidates may not bring calculators into the exam room.

• could/might → to ask for permission in a more tentative way; might is very formal:
Excuse me, could I smoke in here?
Might he ask for an adjournment at this point?

B. PAST

• could/couldn’t → general permission in the past:

In the 1950s British children could leave school at the age of 14.

• was/were allowed to → permission on a specific occasion in the past:

I was allowed to leave earlier yesterday.

6. OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY

MUST HAVE (GOT) NEED TO SHOULD/

TO OUGHT TO

PRESEN MUST HAVE/HAS NEED/ SHOULD/

T GOT TO NEEDS TO OUGHT TO

PAST HAD TO HAD (GOT) TO NEEDED TO SHOULD/

OUGHT TO
HAVE (done)

FUTURE MUST WILL HAVE TO WILL NEED SHOULD/

TO OUGHT TO

• must, should and ought to (unlike need to and have to) → modal verbs;

• have to → as an alternative to must or when we can’t use must (past, future,

infinitive, participle):
The students at the university had to evacuate the campus.
It’s difficult to have to stand by and watch your child in pain.

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 A. OBLIGATION

 must → a strong obligation imposed by the speaker:

I must get up earlier – I waste so much time in the mornings.

 have to → an obligation outside our control (e. g. rules):

Students have to wear school uniforms in the sixth form.

 should/ought to → a subjective/moral obligation felt by the speaker, but the obligation is

weaker than with must:
You should/ought to treat your parents with more respect.

 need to → external obligation, particularly in the future:

We will need to get our visas sorted out or we won’t be able to stop over in the States.

 have got to → an external obligation (= have to); informal:

What time have we got to be at the airport?

 should/ought to have + past participle → an unfulfilled obligation in the past:

You should have/ought to have registered before term started.

B. NECESSITY
 need to, must and have to → necessity (i.e. a requirement that results from things other
than just commands/rules):
All living beings need to/must/have to take in nutrients in order to live.
I really need to/must/have to get some more sleep. I’m always exhausted.
 need + -ing form → a necessity without suggesting who should deal with it:
That poor bird – his cage really needs cleaning.
 need → in questions:
Need he really play his music so loudly?

7. ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY
NOT HAVE TO NEED NOT

PRESENT DO/DOES NOT HAVE TO NEED NOT/

DO/DOES NOT NEED TO

PAST DID NOT HAVE TO DID NOT NEED TO/

NEED NOT HAVE (done)

FUTURE WILL NOT HAVE TO WILL NOT NEED TO/

NEED NOT

• don’t have to/don’t need to → a lack of external obligation:

You don’t have/need to pay to visit most museums in Paris.
• needn’t → the speaker’s personal opinion:
We needn’t/don’t need to put the heating on yet; it’s not so cold.
• don’t need to/needn’t → absence of necessity felt by the speaker;

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• need → 2 past forms:

 didn’t need to – we don’t know if the action happened or not:

We didn’t need to take warm clothes as the weather was so good.

 needn’t have + past participle → the action happened but was not necessary:
We needn’t have taken warm clothes. (We know that the speaker took warm clothes.)

• didn’t have to/didn’t need to → absence of obligation in the past:

You didn’t have to/didn’t need to finish the washing-up. I could have done it.

• won’t have to/won’t need to/needn’t → absence of obligation in the future:

With one of the new generation of food processors, cooks won’t have to/won’t need
to/needn’t peel or chop any more.

8. PROHIBITION AND CRITICISM

MUST CAN OTHER FORMS SHOULD NOT/

NOT NOT OUGHT NOT TO

PRESENT MUST CAN MAY NOT/IS/ARE SHOULD NOT/

NOT NOT NOT ALLOWED TO OUGHT NOT TO
(have) (have)

PAST ___ COULD WAS/WERE NOT SHOULD NOT HAVE

NOT ALLOWED TO (done)/OUGHT NOT
TO HAVE (done)

FUTURE MUST CAN MAY NOT/WILL NOT SHOULD NOT/

NOT NOT BE ALLOWED TO OUGHT NOT TO

• must not/mustn’t → prohibition imposed by the speaker/ writer:

You must not/mustn’t touch that kettle. It’s hot!
• shouldn’t/ought not to → weaker, moral prohibition:
You really shouldn’t/ought not to speak to your son like that!

• other modal verbs/non-modal expressions → prohibition imposed by an external

authority:
Guests may not use the pool after 11 p. m. (formal)
Women can’t/aren’t allowed to drive in some Arab states.

• couldn’t/wasn’t/weren’t allowed to → prohibition in the past:

We couldn’t/weren’t allowed to go into the disco because we were too young.

• won’t be allowed to/can’t → prohibition in the future:

Let’s eat before we go. We won’t be allowed to/can’t take food into the auditorium.

• shouldn’t/ought not to + past participle → to criticize a past action:

You shouldn’t/ought not to have driven through the red light. You could have caused an
accident.

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 9. RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE

MUST SHOULD OUGHT TO HAD BETTER

PRESENT MUST SHOULD OUGHT (NOT) HAD BETTER

(NOT) (NOT) TO (NOT)

FUTURE MUST SHOULD OUGHT (NOT) HAD BETTER

(NOT) (NOT) TO (NOT)

• must → strong recommendations and advice:

You really must read his latest article. It’s stunning!

• should/ought to → less emphatic recommendation/advice:

Even people as young as twenty-five should/ought to consider a personal pension.

• should/ought to → often used with the passive:

The underlying shift in public opinion ought not to/should not be exaggerated.

• had better (not) → expresses the best thing to do in a particular situation; can be a
warning or a threat:
Your dog had better not dig up my rose bush again!

10. LOGICAL DEDUCTION AND PROBABILITY

MUST HAVE (GOT) TO SHOULD

PRESENT MUST HAVE/HAS (GOT) TO SHOULD (NOT)

PAST MUST HAVE + PAST HAD (GOT) TO SHOULD NOT + HAVE

PARTICIPLE + PAST PARTICIPLE

FUTURE MUST HAVE/HAS (GOT) TO SHOULD (NOT)

• must → logical deduction:

This must be the place – it’s the only café in the street.

• have (got) to + past participle → emphatic logical deduction:

There has got to be some mistake. I didn’t order this dish.

• must have + past participle → a past logical deduction:

I couldn’t wake you up this morning. You must have been sleeping really soundly.

• can’t/couldn’t have + past participle → negative deduction about the past:

She can’t have fixed the computer, it’s still not working properly. (I’m sure she didn’t fix it.)

• must have + past participle → deduction about the past:

Their new single has been played non-stop. You must have heard it!

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• should/ought to → probability:
The plane should be landing about now.

• shouldn’t/ought not to → improbability:

There shouldn’t be problems with traffic this evening.

• should (not)/ought (not) to have + past participle → to talk about the probability of
an action in the past:
I don’t know where our main speaker can be. He should have arrived hours ago.

11. PREDICTIONS
A. FUTURE

• will/won’t → to make predictions about the future:

He’s been found guilty of murder. He will be in prison for a long time.
You must work hard for this exam. It won’t be easy.

B. PAST

• would/wouldn’t + verb → past predictions about the future:

We had to hurry to get him to the hospital. We knew it would be too late otherwise.

12. CERTAINTY
A. PRESENT

• will/won’t + verb → ‘predictions’ about the present based on our knowledge/

previous experience or on current expectations:
I hope Sue has taken warm clothes because at this time of year it won’t be warm.

• present simple → to state a fact:

Janet isn’t here at the moment. She’s in France. = fact

• will/won’t + verb → we believe something is certain:

It’s four o’clock. Janet will be in Paris now.

• will/won’t + be + -ing form → certainty about something ongoing:

Jason is sympathetic because he knows his successor will be having a hard time
at the moment.

B. PAST

• will/must have + past participle → certainty about a past event:

We sent the invitations on Monday, so they will/must have received them by now.
Why hasn’t anyone replied?

• won’t have + past participle → impossibility about a past event:

We sent the invitations by second-class post. They won’t have received them yet.

• can’t have + past participle → impossibility about a past event:

We sent the invitations by second-class post. They can’t have received them yet.

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 13. CHARACTERISTICS, HABITS & ROUTINES
A. PRESENT

• will/won’t + verb → actions that have become so routine that they are predictable:
Every lesson is the same: he will sit down, get his books out and then he’ll start
giving us instructions. He won’t greet us or show any interest in us.

• will + verb → habits and characteristics:

The public will always side with the nurses in any dispute.
The dominant male of the group will not tolerate the presence of other males.

• present simple → characteristics and habits:

The public always sides with the nurses in any dispute.
The dominant male of the group does not tolerate the presence of other males.

• will + verb → characteristics of capacity or ability:

The Olympic stadium in Sydney will hold 110,000 people.
This model will do 0 to 100 km per hour in 8 seconds.

• can + verb/present simple → characteristics of capacity or ability:

Our town stadium can hold/holds 20,000 people.
This model can do/does 0 to100 km per hour in 8 seconds.

• will + verb → to describe an annoying habit/to criticize:

We enjoy going out with Carol and Frank, but they will argue in public!

• will/won’t + verb → to criticize inanimate objects:

Whatever I do, my car won’t start first time on cold mornings.

• present simple → to state a simple fact:

My car doesn’t start/never starts first time on cold mornings.

B. PAST

• would/wouldn’t + verb:

 to talk about habits in the past:

Every lesson was the same: he would sit down, get his books out and then he
would start giving us instructions. He wouldn’t greet us or show any interest in us.

 to criticize or talk about annoying habits in the past:

I miss Dad, even though he would always tell me how to run my life!

 to talk about inanimate objects:

The car would never start on winter mornings when we were in Sweden.

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 14. WILLINGNESS AND REFUSAL
A. PRESENT AND FUTURE

• will + verb → willingness to do something:

The doctor will act as a witness to your signature. He doesn’t mind doing that sort
of thing.

• won’t/shan’t + verb → unwillingness/refusal to do smth.:

‘Go and buy some milk, will you, love?’ ‘No, I shan’t. I’m busy.’

B. PAST

• would + verb → only to refer to general willingness (i.e. a habit):

Dad would help us with our English homework.

• would not + verb → for refusal on a single past occasion:

The shop assistant wouldn’t change this jumper for me, even though I hadn’t worn it.

15. OFFERS AND PROMISES

• will in the affirmative → to make offers to do something ourselves and on behalf of
other people:
Sit down. I will wash up this evening.
The mechanic will take a quick look at your car, if you like.

• shall in questions → to make more tentative offers than with will in the affirmative:
Shall I wash up this evening?

• will + verb → to make promises:

My government will turn round the economy and reduce unemployment.

• would/will/won’t + verb → when we offer something to another person:

Would/Will you have some more of the pie? (neutral)
Won’t you have some more of the pie? (more encouraging)

16. SUGGESTIONS
• shall + we in questions → to make suggestions:
Shall we go out for a movie tonight? (= Why don’t we …?/How about …?)

• shall + a question word → to ask for suggestions or advice:

What shall we do about Tom if he doesn’t get into university?

• shall in question tags after let’s:

Let’s forget about it now and talk about something else, shall we?

• would → in suggestions or responding to invitations (to be more tentative or distant):

It would be a good idea to get together one evening.
‘Come to dinner on Sunday.’ ‘That would be nice. I’ll let you know.’

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 17. REQUESTS
• will → informal requests (only with people we know quite well):
Will you give me a call when you get to the hotel?

• would → polite requests (with people we do not know so well):

Would you fill in this form, please, sir?

• will you as a question tag → to make a request more insistent:

Come and look at this, will you?
Pick up my suit from the cleaner’s when you’re out, will you?

18. ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS

• will/shall → orders and formal instructions:
You will/shall all stay behind for thirty minutes and clean this room.

• shall → more formal instructions, especially in official documents:

The secretary shall minute the proceedings of each meeting.

• shall/will→ for rules, for example of examinations and competitions:

The judge’s decision shall be final.

19. DISAGREEING

• would/wouldn’t + verb → to show disagreement in a polite way:

I wouldn’t say that./I wouldn’t go that far.

20. DESIRES AND PREFERENCES

• would + verbs of liking and preference (like, love, prefer etc.) → to express
desires and preferences which we think we can realize:
We would love to come to your wedding on 6th September. Thank you for the
invitation.
I would prefer to lose weight by a tried and tested method than by a new trendy
diet.

• would rather → to express a preference:

Our delegates would rather not stay at the conference centre.

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