2. Modal Verbs II

2. Modal Verbs II

1. Form

   • Uses
     • Examples
   • Form
     • Uses
       • Examples

2. NEEDN'T

   • Present, Negative
     • 1. You "needn't do" something (without "to") = it's not necessary to do it (but you can if you like)
       • 1. We've got plenty of time. We needn't hurry. (= it is not necessary to hurry)
     • 2. You can also use "don't/doesn't need to" (with "to")
       • 2. We don't need to hurry
   • NEEDN'T HAVE (DONE)
     • Past, negative
       • 1. They needn't have reserved a table = They reserved a table, but this was not necessary. / He did it, but know we know that it was not necessary.
         • 1. Everything was OK. You needn't have worried. (you worried, but it was not necessary
           • Everything will be OK. You needn't worry. (It is not necessary)
   • DIDN'T NEED TO (DO)
     • Past, negative
       • 1. He didn't need to do something = it was not necessary to do it. I dosn't matter whether he did it or not
         • 1. He didn't need to get up early, so he didn't

3. SHOULD

   • Present, positive, negative, questions
     • 1. You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do. You can use should to give advide or to give an opinion
       • 1. You look tired. You should go to bed.
     • 2. We often use should with I think / I don't think / Do you think...?
       • 2. I think the government should do more to improve education / I don't think you should work so hard. / Do you think I should apply for this job?
     • 3. Should is not as strong as must or have to
       • 3. You should apologise (=it would be a good thing to do) ; You must / have to apologise (= you have no alternative)
     • 4. You can use should when something is not right or what you espect
       • 4. That man on the motorbike should be wearing a helmet.
     • 5. To say thata we expect something to happen
       • 5. Helen has been studying hard for the exam, so she should pass. (= I expect her to pass)
     • 6. You can use should after: insist , recommend , suggest, demand , propose [ also without should => subjunctive = infinitive without to]
       • 6. I insisted that he should apologise. / I insisted that he apologise (subjunctive)
       • After "suggest", you cannot use "to" ; You can also use -ing after suggest
         • What do you suggest we should do? or I suggested that she should buy a car. / I sugggested that she buy a car. / I suggested that she bought a car
         • What do you suggest doing?
     • 7. Also It's important / vital / necessary / essential that ... should ... [ also without should => subjunctive = infinitive without to]
       • 7. It's essencial that everyone should be here on time. / It's essential that everyone be here on time (subjunctive)
     • 8. After a number of adjectives, especially: strange, odd, funny, typical, natural, interesting, surprised, surprising
       • 8. It's strange that he should be late. He's usually on time. ; I was surprised that he should say such a thing.
     • 9. You can say "If something should happen...". You can also begin with should (Should something happen...) ; With should, the speaker feels that the possibility is smaller
       • 9. We have no jobs at present, but if the situation should change, we will contact you. / Should the situation change, we will contact you.
     • 10. You can use I should... / I shouldn't... to give somebody advice
       • 10. "Shal I leave now?" "No, I should wit a bit"; I should wait = I would wait if I were you, I advise you to wait
         • I shouldn't stay up too late. You have to be up early tomorrow.
   • SHOULD NOT = SHOULDN'T
     • Negative, Present
       • 1. You shouldn't do something = it isn't a good thing to do
         • 1. You shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspaper
   • SHOULD HAVE (DONE)
     • Positive, past
       • 1. You should have done something = you didn't do it, but it would habeen the right thing to do
         • 1. You missed a great party las night. You should have come. Why didn't you? ( = you didn't come, but it would have been good to come)
   • SHOULD NOT HAVE (DONE)
     • Negative, past
       • 1. You shouldn't have done something = you did it, but it was the wrong thing to do
         • 1. I'm feeling sick. I shouldn't have eaten so much. ( = I ate too much)

4. OUGHT (NOT) TO (DO)

   • Positive, Negative, Present, Past
     • 1. You can use Ought to instead of should in the sentences of the examples below
       • 1. Do you think I ought to apply for this job? / Jack ought not to go to bed so late. / It was a great party last night. You ought to have come. / Helen has been studying hard for the exam, so she ought to pass.
     • 2. We say "ought to do" (with to)

5. HAD BETTER

   • Positive, Negative, Present, Future
     • 1. I'd better do something = it is advisable to do it. If I don't do it, there will be a problem or a danger
       • 1. I have to meet Amy in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late.
       • I'd better phone Chris, hadn't I?
       • We say "I'd better do" (not "to do")
     • I'd better / you'd better ... I had better not (I'd better not)
     • 2. Had better is similar to should, nut not exactly the same. Had better = only for a specific situation, not for things in general, there is a danger or a problem if you don't follow the advice; Should = in all types of situations ton give an opinion or give advice. means only 'it is a good thing to do'
       • 2. A SPECIFIC SITUATION: It's late. You'd better go/You should go ; IN GENERAL: You're always at home. You should go out more often.

6. IT'S TIME...

   • Present
     • 1. It's time (for somebody) to...
       • 1. It's time to go home. / It's time for us to go home.
     • 2. It's time + past (we went / I did / they were etc = It's time somebody did something = the meaning is present , not past ; they should have already done it or started it. We often use this structure to criticise or to complain
       • 2. It's time they were here. Why are they so late? (NOT It's time they are here) ; This situation can't continue. It's time you did something about it. ; He's very selfish. It's time he realised that he isn't the most important person in the world.
     • 3. You can also say "It's about time...". This makes the criticism stronger
       • 3. Jack is great talker. But it's about time he did something instead of just talking.

7. WOULD = 'D

   • Positivo, Negativo, Present, (Past)
     • 1. When we imagine a situation or action ( = we think of something that is not real
       • 1. It would be nice to buy a new car, but we can't afford it.
         • I would call Lisa, but I don't have her nuber. (now)
     • 'd ; wouldn't
     • 2. Things that I would not do if I was in your situation
       • 2. A. Shall I tell Chris what happened? B. No, I wouldn't say anything. (I wouldn't say anyting in your situation)
     • 3. In sentences with IF
       • 3. I would call Lisa if I ha her number.
     • 4. Sometimes would/wouldn't is the past of will/won't
       • 4. PRESENT: Tom: I'll call you on Sunday. PAST: Tom said he'd call me on Sunday.
     • 5. "Somebody wouldn't do something = he/she refused to do it"
       • 5. I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen to me (=he refused to listen) ; The car wouldn't start ( = it 'refused to start)
     • 6. You can also use would to talk about things that happened regularly in the past ; similar to 'used to'
       • 6. In summer, if the weather was fine, we would all get up early and go for a swim (=we did this regularly) ; Whenever Richard was angry, he would walk out of the room.
       • 7. Will and Would are used to ask people to do things (requests) (can/could are more usual)
         • 7. Would you please be quiet? Hellen, will you do me a favor?
     • 8. Offering and inviting: Would you like...?
       • 8. Would you like a cup of coffee? Yes, please / Would you like to eat with us tonight? I'd love to.
         • "I'd like ..." is a polite way of saying what you want "I'd like some information about hotels, please"
   • WOULD HAVE (DONE)
     • Past
       • 1. When we imagine situations or actions in the past (=things that didn't happen)
         • 1. They helped us a lot. I don't know what we'd have done without their help.
           • II would have called Lisa, but I didn't have her number. (past)