MODAL VERBS

Introduction to modal verbs

FORM
The modal verbs are CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST,
WILL, WOULD, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

There is no s in the third person singular

There is no do/does in the question
There is no dont/doesnt in the negative
Some modals dont usually have past forms.
Other expressions are used instead
They have no infinitives and no ing form
They are followed by an infinitive without to.
The exception is ought to
They can be used with perfect infinitive to talk
about the past

Basic rules
CAN
MAY

SHOULD

MODALS
COULD

MIGHT
MUST

OUGHT TO

They indicate:
ABILITY
OBLIGATION
PERMISSION
REQUEST
POSSIBILITY
DEDUCTION

Basic expressions
Modal verbs express
our attitudes, opinions
and judgments of
events
They express ideas
such as willingness and
ability, permission and
refusal, obligation and
prohibition, suggestion,
necessity, promise and
intention
All modals can express
degrees of certainty,
probability or possibility

CAN

MUST
HAVE TO

COULD
BE ABLE TO

HAD TO
WILL HAVE TO

MAY
MIGHT

CAN and MAY

These two verbs have only the present
tense and the past tense:
Can ~ Could
May ~ Might
Forms:
Affirmative: I can
I may
Negative: I cant (cannot)
I may not
Question: Can I?
May I?

CAN and MAY (continued)

CAN expresses:
ABILITY: I can speak English. Can you lift this
box?
PERMISSION: Can I go for a swim this
afternoon, mother?
REQUEST: Can I have a sweet?
POSSIBILITY: Can the news be true?
MAY expresses:
PERMISSION: May I go out?

CAN and MAY (continued)

The modal CAN has the following forms:
PRESENT: CAN
PAST: COULD
OTHER TENSES: BE ABLE TO therefore we have:
Present: I am able to
Past: I was able to
Future: I will be able to
The modal MAY has the following forms:
PRESENT: MAY
PAST: MIGHT

MUST OUGHT TO - SHOULD

MUST expresses:
OBLIGATION: You must do as you are told.
NECESSITY: I must see what can be done.
COMMAND: You must come early tonight!
PROHIBITION: You mustnt do that!
DEDUCTION: He must be at home now.
OUGHT TO and SHOULD express:
MORAL OBLIGATION: We ought to be more
careful.
ADVICE and RECOMMENDATION: You should stay
in and work.

MUST OUGHT TO SHOULD

(continued)

These modals have the following

forms:
MUST ~ HAVE TO / HAS TO (Present)
I have to go. I dont have to go. Do I have to go?
She has to wear the uniform. She doesnt have to wear the
uniform. Does she have to wear the uniform?
HAD TO (Past)
I had to go. I didnt have to go. Did I have to go?
WILL HAVE TO (Future)
I will have to do it. I wont have to do it.

MODALS

OUGHT TO

MI
GH
T

MAY

MUST

WI
LL
HA
VE
TO

HA
VE
TO

T
N
A
C

MU
ST
N
T

CAN

HA
DT
O

t
ldn
ou
Sh

BE ABLE TO

CO
UL
D

SHOULD

CA
N

MU
ST

OUGHT TO

COULD

General rules

ABILITY
T
N
A
C

POSSIBILITY

Y
MA

LD
U
O
SH

CO
UL
D

MAY

MIGHT

CO
UL
D

OBLIGATION

PERMISSION

N
CA

Expression obligation MUST and HAVE

TO:

1. MUST and HAVE TO both express strong obligation. Must

is used to express an obligation that involves the
speakers opinion. It is personal!
I must get my hair cut. (This is me talking to me)
You must do this homework carefully. (A teacher talking
to students)
MUST is also associated with a formal, written style.
2. HAVE TO expresses a general obligation based on a law
or rule, or based on the authority of another person. It is
more objective.
I cant play tennis tomorrow. I have to go to the dentist. (I
have an appointment)
Children have to go to school. (a law)
Mom says you have to tidy your room before you go out.
(Mothers order!)

Expressing obligation MUST and HAVE

TO:

3. Be careful! The negatives MUSTNT and DONT HAVE TO

are completely different.
MUSTNT expresses prohibition!
DONT HAVE TO expresses the absence of obligation.
COMPARE:
You mustnt steal other peoples things. (prohibition)
You mustnt drive if youve been drinking. (You could kill
someone!)
Some people iron their socks, but you dont have to.
When you go into a shop, you dont have to buy
something.

Expressing obligation MUST and HAVE

TO:

4. HAVE GOT TO is also very common in British English but

it is more informal than have to:
Ive got to go now. See you!
Dont go to bed late. Weve got to get up early
tomorrow.
Go and tidy your room. Have I got to? Yes, you
have.

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