MODAL

MODAL

1. Ability

   • to talk about ability
     • Present
       • Can
         • I can ride a bicycle.
     • Past
       • Could
         • I could swim when I was 5.
     • Future
       • Will be able to
         • I will be able to drive a car in 2 years.

2. Request

   • Informal Can
     • Can I call you?
   • Polite Could
     • Could I sit down?
   • Formal May
     • May I have this?
   • Polite Would
     • Would you mind if I buy this?

3. Obligation

   • those that primarily express a firm obligation or necessity - must and have to
     • You mustn't smoke here.
     • Children have to go to school.
   • those that express a recommendation or moral obligation - should and ought to
     • You should save some money.
     • You ought to stop smoking

4. Necessity

   • show that something is not optional; it is necessary.
     • must
       • I must study tonight.
     • Have got to
       • I have got to study tonight.
     • have to
       • It is useful for forming questions and negatives.
         • Does she have to study tonight?

5. Prohibition

   • are used to show that something is prohibited
     • Can't
       • You can't go into that restaurant without a tie.
     • mustn't
       • You mustn't use your phone in class.

6. Possibility

   • when we want to make a guess about something.
     • Present
       • can't (sure)
         • She can't be at home.
       • may (maybe)
         • She may be in the wrong room.
       • must (sute)
         • She must be on the bus
       • might (maybe)
         • She might come soon
       • could (maybe)
         • She could be lost
       • modal verb + infinitive
     • Past
       • must / might / could / may / can't + have + past participle
         • She must have forgotten about our date.
         • She may have felt ill.

7. Criticism

   • are used to express criticism or disapproval with reference to present or future time:
     • Can
       • You can be really annoying, you know
     • could
       • George could really have helped you
     • might
       • You might have told me you weren't coming
     • should /shouldn't
       • You shouldn't be sitting here just doing nothing

8. Advice

   • are a type of modal verbs that are used mainly to give or ask for advice
     • should
       • You should visit me more often
     • ought to
       • You ought to be nicer to your brother
     • had better
       • You'd better pay back the money you ove

9. Deduction

   • we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility. focuses on making deductions about the present or future.
     • must have done (90 - 100%)
       • She must have been in the garden when i called
     • can't/ couldn't have done (90 - 100%)
       • you can't have seen her. she was at home
     • might/may have done (30 - 50%)
       • He might have taken a different train. she'll call.
     • might/may not have done (30 - 50%)
       • She might have not understood what we said

10. Permission

    • to talk about permission or ask for things
      • Can
        • Can i borrow your black coat?
      • Could
        • Could my father join us tomorrow for dinner?
      • May
        • Passengers may sit anywhere
        • May I go to the bathroom?

11. Offers And Suggestions

    • to ask for things, make offers, invite people, and order in a restaurant. But some are more formal than others.
      • We use can or will in informal situations.
        • Can I give you a hand with that?
      • We use could, would, or may in more formal situations.
        • We could ask her to join us