Modal verbs

Modal verbs

1. MUST

   • Must vs Have to
     • Must can be replaced by Have to with little difference in meaning:
       • • You have to study. (= you must study)
     • Also, Must expresses obligation imposed by the speaker while Have to expresses external obligation.
       • • Teacher: You must complete this essay by Friday • Student: We have to complete this essay by Friday.
     • When we are mentioning someone else's obligations
       • • John has to quit smoking
     • Questions
       • • Does he have to take a blood test?
   • It's used to
     • Express obligatior or duty
       • • You must wear a seatbelt at all times.
     • Emphasize the necessity
       • • You must drive carefully.
     • Deduction
       • We use this when we don't know but we are certain that it is true
     • Expresses positive logical assumptions
       • Must + have + past participle
         • • She must have been at home - her car was there.
     • A strong recommendation
       • Something that is highly recommended
         • • We really must get together for dinner sometime

2. May/Might

   • MAY
     • Is used to
       • give permission
         •    May not can be used to NOT give permission or to prohibit someone from doing something.   
         • • You may take only one brochure.
       • talk about typical occurrences
         • May is used in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things that typically happen in certain situations
           • • Drivers may feel tired if they do not take a break every 2 hours.
       • Speculate about past actions
         • May + have + past participle
           • • She is late. I think she may have missed her plane.
       • express wishes
         • May the odds be ever in your favor. May the Force be with you.
       • express posibility
         • In the future Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.
         • There is a chance that something is true or that there is a possibility of something happening
           • • He's very good, in fact, I think he may win the competition
       • ask for permission
         • Can is used more frequently than May in spoken English though May sounds more polite
         • May I sit next to you? May I borrow your pen?
   • MIGHT
     • Is used to
       • express possibility
         • In the future. Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.
         • There is a chance that something is true or that there is a possibility of something happening
           • I might go to the movies tonight. She might be late because of the public transport strike.
       • suggest something
         • to suggest that you will do something because there is nothing better or more interesting to do.
           • • There is nothing on TV. I might as well go to bed.

3. Shall

   • It's used to
     • Suggestion
       • Notice how each of these can easily be replaced by should.
         • • Shall I get a pizza for dinner tonight?
     • Offers or Volunteering
       • shall make the arrangements for you.
     • Confirmation
       • Notice how each of these can easily be replaced by will.
         • • I shall turn 30 next week.
     • Promises
       • • I shall get you a new bike for your birthday.
     • Formal written regulations and rules
       • This is very formal and normally avoided in spoken English
         • • A record shall be kept of all students arriving late to class
     • Instructions
       • asking for or giving
       • • I shall meet you there at 7.

4. Would

   • It's used to
     • as a polite invitation or to offer
       • • Would you like some more tea?
     • Describe a prediction
       • • It would be nice to have a barbecue.
     • not sound impolite when disagreeing with someone
       • • I wouldn't agree with that.
     • Refusal
       • Wouldn't: To describe a past unwillingness
         • • He said he wouldn't help us
     • describe past habits
       • • Before internet people would send letters to each other
     • Future in the past
       • talking about the past but we want to talk about something which was in the future at that time
         • • She promised she would send a postcard from Peru.

5. Can/Could

   • COULD
     • It's more formal than can
     • It's used to
       • Express ability
         • In the past
         • • I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.
       • ask for permission or to request something
         • General permission in the past
           • • He couldn't go to the concert because his mother wouldn't let him.
         • • Could I please use your bathroom?
       • Choices and opportunities
         • • He could try and fix it himself.
       • A conditional form of Can
         • Would + Can = Could.
           • Would be able to can replace could in the following examples.
           • • I could write the letter if you told me what to include.
   • CAN
     • Have three principal uses
       • Holi <3  La quiero maestra uwu Si descubre este easter egg  es porque es muy atenta a los detales :3
       • Ability
         • Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.
           • Ex. Birds can fly. Elephants can't fly .
       • Possibility
         • This refers to a theoretical possibility. Read the corner note.
           • We don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might.   
           • Ex. It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.
       • Permission
         • Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission. Read the corner note
           • Can't is used to refuse permission
           • Ex. You can use my umbrella. Can I ask you a question? You can't go to the park.

6. Should

   •    Should + Verb (base form of infinitive)   
   • It's used to
     • give advice, recommendation or a suggestion
       • This is to say that it is the right thing to do or the correct thing.
         • • You really should go to the new restaurant on Main Street
     • Expresses an obligation
       •    that is not as strong as Must.   
       • Sometimes Should is used instead of Must to make rules, orders or instructions sound more polite.
         •    This may appear more frequently on formal notices or on information sheets.   
         • • You should never lie to your doctor. You should pay more attention in class..
     • Expresses that a situation is likely in the present
       • • Mary should be at home by now. Give her a call
     • Predictions
       • Expresses that a situation is likely in the future.
         • • It should be fine tomorrow.
     • Was expected in the past but didn't happen
       • This expresses the idea that the subject did not fulfill their obligation in the past or did not act responsibly.
         • • I should have studied more but I was too tired.
       • should + have + past participle
     • Not fulfilling an obligation
       • This expresses the idea that the subject is not fulfilling their obligation or is not acting sensibly
         • • You should be wearing your seatbelt. • We should be studying for the test.
       • should + be + verb-ing

7. Made by Dilan B T