Modal verbs

Modal verbs

1. May, Might

   • Formal Permission / Formal Prohibition may / may not + base form of the verb
     • may / may not + base form of the verb
       • Ex: You may start your exam now.
       • Ex:, You may not wear sandals to work
   • Polite Request May + subject + base form of the verb
     • May I help you?
   • Possibility / Negative Possibility
     • may/ might + base form of the verb
       • We may go out for dinner tonight. Do you want to join us? Our company might get the order if the client agrees to the price.
     • may not / might not + base form of the verb
       • Ex: Adam and Sue may not buy that house. It’s very expensive. .
       • Ex: They might not buy a house at all

2. Can, could and be able to are used to express a variety of ideas in English:

   • Present and Future:
     • can/can’t + base form of the verb
       • Ex: I can help you with that next week.
     • am / is / are / will be + able to + base form of the verb am not/ isn’t / aren’t/ won’t be + able to + base form of the verb
       • Ex: lucrecia is able to solve complicated math equations
   • Past:
     • could / couldn’t + base form of the verb
       • When I was a child I could climb trees.
     • was / were + able to + base form of the verb wasn’t / weren’t + able to + base form of the verb hasn’t / haven’t + been able to + base form of the verb
       • I wasn’t able to visit her in the hospital.
     • Note: Can and could do not take an infinitive (to verb) and do not take the future auxiliary will.
       • Incorrect: I can to help you this afternoon.
       • Correct: I can help you this afternoon. Correct: I will (I’ll) be able to help you this afternoon.
   • Possibility / Impossibility
     • can / can’t + base form of the verb
       • Ex: You can catch that train at 10:43. He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.
     • could + base form of the verb
       • Ex: I could fly via Amsterdam if I leave the day before

3. Shall, Should, Ought to

   • To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are quite sure of a positive answer)
     • Shall + subject + base form of the verb
       • Ex: Shall we go for a walk?
       • Note: Shall is only used with I or we. It is used instead of will only in formal English.
   • To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are not sure of a positive answer)
     • Should + subject + base form of the verb
       • Ex: Should I call a doctor?

4. Must, Have to, Need to, Don’t have to, Needn’t

   • Present and Future:
     • must / have to / need to + base form of the verb
       • Ex: You must have a passport to cross the border
       • I need to drop by his room to pick up a book
       • Ex: Luciana has to apply for her visa by March 10th.
   • Past: had to / needed to + base form of the verb
     • I had to work late last night.
     • I needed to drink a few cups of coffee in order to stay awake.

5. Modals: Will / Would

   • will / won’t + base form of the verb
     • Ex: Jacob will pick you up at 7:00am
     • Beth won’t be happy with the results of the exam.
   • Polite Request or Statement
     • Will / Would + base form of the verb
       • Will you please take the trash out?
       • Would you mind if I sat here?
   • Habitual Past Action
     • Would/Wouldn’t + base form of the verb
       • Ex: When I was a child, I would spend hours playing with my train set.
       • Ex: Peter wouldn’t eat broccoli when he was a kid. He loves it now