Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

1. Advice

   • Should
     • You should study more
     • You should go to a dentist. (Recommending action)
   • Ought to
     • You ought to go to dentist before you leave

2. Ability

   • Sorry, I can not undestand what you are saying
   • A fish can't walt, but can swin.
   • Past Ability
     • A years ago I couldn't speak English, but now I can.
     • Our son could walk when he was one year old
   • I can drive stick-shift car.

3. Permission

   • May(Formal)
     • May I smoke here? (Asking)
     • May I use your Umbrella? (Asking)
     • May I ask you a question?
     • Yes, children, you may have a cookie after dinner.
     • You may not have a cookie.
   • Could
     • Could I leave early today, please?
     • Could I leave now?
   • Can
     • Can I smoke here? (Asking)
     • Can I leave now?(Informal) (Asking)
     • Okay, kids, you can have a cookie after dinner.
     • You can't have a cookie.

4. Possibility

   • Can
     • They can control their own budgets.
     • She can arrive after dinner
   • May
     • He may be in the library?
     • It may rain tomorrow. It may not rain tomorrow.
     • What are you going to do tomorrow? I don't know. I may go downtown. Maybe(adverb) I'll study all day. Or I might go to a restaurant
   • Could
     • I could be home late tonight. Don't wait for me for dinner.
     • You could have call me.
     • Why isn't Greg in class? I don't know. He could be sick.(present)
     • Look at those dark clouds. It could start raining any minutes.(future)
     • He could take the bus to work. (his car is completely of gas)(sugestion)
   • Might
     • It might rain tomorrow. It might not rain tomorrow.
     • He might come here tomorrow.

5. Obligation

   • Must
     • You must drive carefully
     • You must stop smoking
     • You must study hard.(you have a test)
     • You must to do something
     • Prohibition
       • We must not use that door. The sign says Private:do not enter.
       • You mustn't turn right.
       • Children, you must not play with matches!
     • Logical
       • The bank must not be open today. Today's a holiday, remember? Oh, of course
       • Amy play tennis every day. She must like to play tenis
       • There are sharks in the ocean near our hotel. We must not swimming there.
   • Have to
     • I have to drive carefully. If not, I may involved in an accident
     • "is used much more frequently in everyday speech"
     • Do we have to bring pencils to the test? (Simple Present)
     • Why did he have to leave so early? (simple PAst)
     • Rita has to go to the bank.
   • Have got to
     • Informal-> Bye now! I've got to. My wife's waiting for me.
   • Had to
     • Form of have to, have got to e must is had to
       • I had to study last night.

6. Polite Question?

   • Answers
     • Formal
       • Yes. / Yes. Of course./ Yes. Certainly./Of course./Certainly.
     • Informal
       • Sure. /Okay.
   • I
     • May
       • May I please borrow your pen?
     • Could
       • Could I please borrow your pen?
     • Can
       • Can I please borrow your pen?
   • You
     • Would
       • Would you please open the door?
     • Could
       • Could you please open the door?
     • Will
       • Wil you please open the door?
     • Can
       • Can you please open the door?