Modals & semi-modals

Modals & semi-modals

1. Offer

   • Can
     • Can I help you?
   • Could
     • Could I help you?
   • May
     • May I help you ?

2. Asking for permission

   • Can
     • Can I go to the festival?
   • Could
     • Could I go out , please?
   • May
     • May I open the window , please?

3. Making Requests

   • Can
     • Can you help me open the door ?
   • Could
     • Could you show me the way to class?
   • May
     • May I have some more coffee?

4. prohibition

   • mustn't
     • You mustn't use your mobile here.

5. Making suggestions

   • Shall
     • Shall we go away for the weekend ?

6. Ability

   • be able to
     • all tenses
       • I haven't been able to go shopping since last month. / I will be able to speak English in the future .
   • could
     • past
       • I could climb trees when I was young .
   • Can
     • present
       • The baby can speak.

7. absence of necessity

   • don't have to
     • We don't have to go out if you don't want to .
   • don't need to
     • You don't need to give me the money.
   • needn't
     • You needn't worry.

8. obligation

   • must
   • have to
     • present + future
       • I must buy ted a present for his graduation .
       • You have to put on a uniform at school.
   • had to
     • past
       • I had to drink milk everyday when I was a child.

9. necessity

   • need to
     • I need to talk to you?
   • need
     • Need you buy new shoes?

Images and files in the map