Or Modal auxiliary verbs are used to

moderate the main verb, that is to

enhance or restrict the verb to a certain
context.

modals
• Identify the different patterns of modal verdbs
• Apply the correct modal verbs in the sentnce
• Use modals in a one – on – one conversation
with a classmate.
Modals are different from normal verbs:

• 1: They don't use an 's' for the third person

singular.
2: They make questions by inversion ('she can
go' becomes 'can she go?').
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive
of another verb (without 'to')
Here's a list of the modal verbs in English:

• Can could
• May might
• Will would
• Must ought to
• Shall should
Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences:
I pay my taxes. General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is
something I normally do.
I can pay my taxes. Expresses ability. I have the means (funds)
to pay.
I might pay my taxes. Expresses possibility, but not certainty.
Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't.
I will pay my taxes. Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it
at some later time.
I should pay my taxes. Expresses mild obligation. It is
required, and I expect to comply.
I could pay my taxes. Expresses possibility. If I have nothing
else to do with the money, I might pay taxes.
I would pay my taxes. (In this case), expresses reservation. If I
had the money (but I don't). . .
I must pay my taxes. Expresses strong obligation. I am
required and have to comply.
Using the Imperative

• The imperative is the simple form of the verb. The

subject of an imperative sentence is understood as "you" although
it is usually not spoken.
• Open the door.
• Will you help me?
• Pick up your toys.
• Please help me.
• (You) open the door.
• Yes, I will (help you).
• (You) pick up your toys.
• (You) please help me.
• The imperative is often used by persons of authority when speaking
to subordinates, e.g. parent to child.
Using Modals

• To show respect and politeness, most people use modal

expressions when making requests. For example:

• Will you open the door for me?

• Would you open the door for me?
• Would you please open the door (for me)?
• Could you (please) open the door?
• Could you possibly open the door?
• Would you kindly open the door?
• Would you mind opening the door?
• Would you be so kind as to open the door?
Probability

• how sure we are that something happened / is

happening / will happen.
• Also known as 'modals of deduction' or
'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'
For example:

• It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.

• I don't know where John is. He could have

missed the train.

• This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of

coffee!
Talking about the present:

• must / might / could / may / can't

• must + infinitive
• might / might not + infinitive
• could / could not + infinitive
• may / may not + infinitive
• can't + infinitive
For example:

I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David.

I ask: 'Where is Julie?'
David guesses: She must be on the bus. (I'm fairly sure
this is a good guess)

• She might come soon. (maybe)

• She could be lost. (maybe)
• She may be in the wrong room. (maybe)
• She can't be at home. (I'm fairly sure this isn't true)
• Notice that the opposite of 'must' is 'can't in this case.
Will / won't

Use will and won't when we are very sure:

• She'll be at work now.

Should / shouldn't

• Should and shouldn't are used to make an

assumption about what is probably true, if
everything is as we expect:
• They should be there by now.
• It shouldn't take long to drive here.
• This use of should isn't usually used for
negative events. Instead, it's a better idea to
use will: The underground will be very busy
now (not: 'should be').
Can

• Can is used for something that is generally

possible, something we know sometimes
happens:
Prices can be high in London.

• Can is not used to talk about specific

possibilities:
He could be on the bus (not: 'can be').
2: Using modal verbs to talk about the past:

• must have + past participle

• might / might not have + past participle
• could / couldn't have + past participle
• may / may not have + past participle
• can't have + past participle
For example:

• You: Where was Julie last night?

David: She must have forgotten about our
date.

• She might have worked late.

• She could have taken the wrong bus.
• She may have felt ill.
• She can't have stayed at home.
Will / won't + have + past participle

• Will and won't / will not + have + past

participle are used for past certainty (compare
with present use of 'will' above):

The parcel will have arrived before now.

Should + have + past participle

• Should + have + past participle can be used to

make an assumption about something that
has probably happened, if everything is as we
expect (compare with present use of 'should'
above):

The train should have left by now

Could

• We can use could + infinitive to talk about a

general possibility in the past (compare with the
use of 'can' above):
Prices could be high in the sixteenth century.
• This is not used to talk about specific possibilites
in the past (instead we use could + have + past
participle):
He could have been working late (not: 'could be'.
As this is a specific possiblity, 'could be' is present
tense)
Ability

• We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or

ability.

For example:
• She can speak six languages.
• My grandfather could play golf very well.
• I can't drive.
Present:

• can / can't (for both general and specific

ability) I can play the piano.

• She can speak English.

• He can't drive –he's too tired.
• We can't come now.
Past:

• could / couldn't (for general ability)

• I could read when I was four.

• She could speak French when she was a child,
but now she has forgotten it.
• He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.
• My grandfather couldn't swim.
• was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)
• When the computer crashed yesterday, I was
able to fix it.(not 'I could fix it')
• She was able to pass the exam, even though
she hadn't studied much.(not 'she could pass')
• He called us because he couldn't find the
house.
• I couldn't open the window.
• could + have + past participle (an ability
someone had in the past, but didn't use)

• I could have played the piano well but I didn't

practise enough.
• We could have come earlier.
• She could have studied law, but she preferred
to become a secretary.
Future:

• will / won't be able to (general ability)

• At the end of the course, you will be able to make

your own website.
• He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It
will take months.
• can / can't (specific ability) I can help you
tomorrow
• I can't come to the party
Obligation and Advice

• We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to

say when something is necessary or
unnecessary, or to give advice.
For example:
• Children must do their homework.
• We have to wear a uniform at work.
• You should stop smoking.
• We can use have to + infinitive, must +
infinitive and should + infinitive to express
obligation (something you have to do).
Present Positive Negative
have to / strong obligation (possibly no obligation
don't have to from outside) Children I don't have to work on
have to go to school. Sundays.
(sometimes 'have got to')
You don't have to eat
anything you don't like.

must / mustn't strong obligation (possibly negative obligation

based on the speaker's You mustn't smoke here.
opinion) I must study
today.

should / shouldn't mild obligation or advice mild negative obligation or

You should save some advice You shouldn't
money. smoke so much.
• Be careful about the difference between mustn't
and don't have to!
Mustn't means it's not allowed, or it's a bad idea:
• You mustn't eat so much chocolate, you'll be sick
• Don't have to means you don't need to do
something, but it's fine if you want to do it: I
don't have to get up early at the weekend(of
course, if I want to get up early, that's fine, but I
can stay in bed if I want).
Past Positive Negative
had to / didn't have to obligation in the past I had no obligation in the past
to wear a school uniform We didn't have to go to
when I was a child. school on Saturdays.

must* changes to 'had to'

should have + pp / a past action which didn't a past action which didn't
shouldn't have + pp happen: the advice / regret happen: the advice / regret
is too late You should have is too late You shouldn't
gone to bed earlier, now have taken that job., it was
you have missed the train. a bad idea.
Permission

• We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and

'may' to ask for and give permission. We also
use modal verbs to say something is not
allowed.
For example:
• Could I leave early today, please?
• You may not use the car tonight.
• Can we swim in the lake?
Habits

• We can use 'will' and 'would' to talk about

habits or things we usually do, or did in the
past.

For example:
• When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in
the restaurant next to my flat.
• John will always be late!
Common Problems with Modals
1. Using "to" unnecessarily:

• They going to meet us at the theater.

They are going to meet us at the theater
• He should to eat his dinner.
He should eat his dinner
• I had better to go now.
I had better go now.
• You must not to use that pencil.
You must not use that pencil.
2. Using anything but the base form after a modal:

• John could heard the bell.

John could hear the bell.
• Penny will going to the movie.
Penny will go to the movie.
3. Using double modals:

• You should ought to speak English.

You ought to speak English. /should speak
• She might can help me.
She might be able to help me.
4. Omitting "be" in certain modal expressions:

• They going to meet us at the theater.

 They are going to meet us at the theater
• Jack supposed to take his medicine.
Jack is supposed to take his medicine.
5. Using wrong word order in questions:

• How I can help you?

How can I help you?
• Where I should go for the meeting?
Where should I go for the meeting?
vocabulary

(in future
Will I will be there.
tense)
Will you do it
(in requests)
for me?
(negative of
Won't No, I won't.
will)
(to indicate
Can I can do it.
ability)
Can you help
(in requests)
me?
(informally to Can I use your
ask permission) phone?
 (negative form
Can't No, you can't.
of can)
(to indicate I may go to
May
possibility) New York.
(to ask
May I help you?
permission)
(to indicate He could play
Could
past ability) cards well.
(to indicate I could give you
possibility) a ride.
Could you open
(in requests) the door
please?
(to ask Could I use
permission) your restroom?
 (negative I couldn't
Couldn't
past tense) help it.
(to express I should go to
Should
obligation) the wedding.
He should be
(to
in Miami by
conjecture)
now.
(negative You shouldn't
Shouldn't
suggestions) do that.
Put in 'can', 'can't', 'could' or 'couldn't'. If none of these is
possible use ‘was able to' in the correct tense

• 1) ______you swim when you were 10? .

• 2) We _____get to the meeting on time yesterday, because
the train was delayed by one hour. .
• 3) He_____ arrive at the party on time, even after missing
the train, so he was very pleased. .
• 4) He's amazing, he______ speak five languages, including
Chinese. .
• 5) I_____ drive a car until I was 34. Then I moved to the
countryside, so I had to learn.. .
• 6) I _____looked everywhere for my glasses but I find them
anywhere. .
• 7) I______ searched for your house for ages. luckily I find it
in the end. .
8) She's seven years old, but she________ read yet. Her parents are
getting her extra lessons. .
9) I ______read the book three times, but mom told me to .
10) James____ speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but he's
forgotten most of it now. .
11) I____ understand the chapter we had to read for homework. It was
so difficult. .
12) I_____ lift this box - it's too heavy! Would you help me? .
13) Lucy _____make it to our meeting after all. She's stuck in traffic. .
14) John _____play tennis really well. He's champion of his club. .
15) Unfortunately, I really_____ sing at all. No-one in my family is
musical either.. .
1. Could
2. Couldn’t
3. Was able to
4. Can
5. Couldn’t
6. Couldn’t
7. Was able to
8. Can
9. Couldn’t
10. Could
11. Couldn’t
12. Can’t
13. Can’t
14. Can
15. Can’t
Choose 'must' or 'can't':

• 1.Why is that man looking around like that?

He____ be lost. .
• 2) That woman ____be a doctor! She looks far
too young. .
• 3) John always fails the tests, even though he's
clever. He_____ study enough. .
• 4) The food is really good at that restaurant. They
_____have a great chef. .
• 5) Who's that at the door? It _____be Susie -
she'll still be at work now.
• 6) This_____ be John's house. This house has a
red door and it's number 24, just like he said. .
• 7) Julie _____have much money or she would
buy a new car. Her old one is falling apart. .
• 8) He_____ be at work now, can he? It's nearly
midnight. .
• 9) What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You
____really like gardening. .
• 10) David _____drink a lot of coffee. He's finished
two packets already this week. .
1. Must
2. Can’t
3. Can’t
4. Must
5. Can’t
6. Must
7. Can’t
8. Can’t
9. Must
10. Must