Modals verbs

Modals verbs

1. ABILITY

   • Are used mainly to express the ability or possibility that someone has to perform an action
     • CAN
       • to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in the present
         • Subject + can + verb in infinitive+complement
           • Margarita can cook very good.
     • COULD
       • For a general ability in the past
         • Subject + could (not / could) + verb in infinitive + complement.
           • Camila could concentrate for hours when she was child.
     • WAS/WERE
       • was/were able to for a single specific ability in the past
         • Subject + wasn't / weren't + able to + infinitive complement
           • The vet was able to save our puppy
     • Be able to
       • Is the ability n past, present or future
         • Subject+ Able to + the verb in the infinitive+ complement
           • The doctor is able to treat the patient

2. REQUESTS, OFFERS AND SUGGESTIONS

   • We use the manners of requests, offers, suggestions
     • REQUEST
       • They are used to ask someone to do something, either formally or informally.
         • AFFIRMATIVA: SUBJECT+MODAL VERB+VERB IN INFINITIVE WITHOUT "TO"+COMPLEMENT
           • LESS POLITE
             • CAN:Can you give me my coat? WILL: Will you take this cake for me?
           • MORE POLITE
             • COULD: Could you lend me your math notes, please? WOULD: Would you please email that document to me?
     • OFFERs
       • You can also manage in invitations ,using the expression WOULD YOU LIKE...
         • NEGATIVE: SUBJECT+MODAL VERB+NOT+VERB IN INFINITIVE WITHOUT "TO"+COMPLEMENT
           • LESS POLIT
             • CAN:Can I help you carry a bag from the supermarket? WILL:I will distribute the Christmas gifts.
           • MORE POLITE
             • SHALL:Shall I give you a neck massage? COULD:I could arrange if you want the decoration for the party.
     • SUGGESTIONS
       • They are for making suggestions and giving advice to someone.
         • INTERROGATIVE: MODAL VERB+SUBJECT+VERB IN INFINITIVE WITHOUT "TO"+COMPLEMENT+?
           • LESS POLITE
             • CAN:Can you drink ginger tea to relieve your cough ?
           • MORE POLITE
             • SHALL: Shall we go to the movies tonight to distract ourselves? COULD:We could travel to Mexico in September to visit Clara.

3. PERMISSION

   • We use can, could or may to ask permission and can ´t or may not to refuse permission.
     • MAY
       • May+Subject+verb+complement+?
         • May I make a phone call?
     • COULD
       • Could+Subject+verb+complement+?
         • Could I bring my bag into the concert
     • CAN
       • Can+Subject+verb+complement+?
         • Can I use your pen ?
     • WAS/WERE ALLOWED TO
       • allowed to for permission on a particular occasion in the past
         • I WAS ALLOWED TO PLAY IN THE PARK YESTERDAY
     • COULD OR WAS/WERW ALLOWED
       • to for general permission in the past
         • I COULD/WAS ALLOWED TO EAT SWEETS WHEN I WAS YOUNG

4. POSSIBLITY

   • these modals are often used to talk about the future, but we can use in present and past sentences to.
     • MIGHT
       • we use might in an informal way.
         • Subject + Might + have + past participle of the verb + Complement
         • I might have left my coat in the hotel
     • MAY
       • we use may in formal speaking and writing
         • Subject + May + not + Infinitive verb + Complement
         • They may not help you with your work.
     • COULD
       • we use might in an informal way.
         • FUTURE: It could cost more than you expect

5. OBLIGATION & NECESSITY

   • we use must, have to or need to, to express obligation or to say that something is necessary.
     • Subject+modal verb+principal verb+complement
       • PAST AND FUTURE TENSE
         • PAST TENSE
           • had to / needed to + base form of the verb
             • I had to work late last night.
         • FUTURE TENSE
           • will have to / will need to + infinitive
             • I will need to drink a few cups of coffee in order to stay awake.
       • QUESTION FORM
         • PRESENT TENSE: we use Do/Does
           • Do you have to do sport every day?
         • PAST TENSE: we use did.
           • Did you have to go to the hospital yesterday?
         • FUTURE TENSE: we use will.
           • Will I have to walk the dog tomorrow?

6. ADVICE & CRITICISM

   • we use
     • Should and ought to + bare infinitive to give advice
       • You ought to see a dentist
     • Should and ought to + bare infinitive to express our opinion,
       • I think you should stay in bed
     • Should,ought to + have + past participe to express criticism of someone’s actions
       • I ought to have called

7. DEDUCTION

   • we can use modal verbs of deduction for guessing if something is true using the available information
     • MUST
       • must+bare infinitive to show that we are almost certain that something is true
         • He is just been to the dentist
     • CAN
       • can't+bare infinitive to show that we are almost certain that something is not true
         • Judy can't have an earache; she is listening to music¡
     • MUST/CAN'T
       • must/can't+ have+past participle to talk about the past
         • Dad's tired. He must have worked all night.

8. LACK OF OBLIGATION & PROHIBITION

   • LACK OF OBLIGATION: We use this modal verb to express that something is not necessary or obligatory.
   • PROHIBITION: We use this modal verb to express that something is prohibited or forbidden.
   • don't have to, don't need to or needn't to talk about something that is not necessary in the present and future
     • ou needn't put on any ointment
   • didn't have to or didn't need to or needn't have+past participle to talk about something that was not necessary in the past
     • I didn't have/need to go to the chemist's
   • Mustn't+ bare infinitive to say that something is not allowed
     • You mustn't forget to take your medicine