MODAL VERBS

Can – could
May – might
Shall – should
Will – would
Must – ought to
Need to
Have to 
We use modal verbs to show if we believe
something is certain, probable or possible (or
not). We also use modals to do things like
talking about ability, asking permission
making requests and offers, and so on.
 Certain, probable or possible
Possibility:
We use the modals could, might and may to show that something is
possible in the future, but not certain:
They might come later. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come later.)
They may come by car. (= Perhaps/Maybe they will come by car.)
If we don’t hurry we could be late. (= Perhaps/Maybe we will be late)

We use could have, might have and may have to show that

something was possible now or at some time in the past:
It’s ten o’clock. They might have arrived now.
They could have arrived hours ago.

We use the modal can to make general statements about what is

possible:
It can be very cold in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold in winter)
You can easily lose your way in the dark. (= People often lose their way
in the dark)

We use the modal could as the past tense of can:

It could be very cold in winter. (= Sometimes it was very cold in winter.)
You could lose your way in the dark. (= People often lost their way in
the dark)
Impossibility:

We use the negative can’t or cannot to show that

something is impossible:
That can’t be true.
You cannot be serious.

We use couldn’t/could not to talk about the past:

We knew it could not be true.
He was obviously joking. He could not be serious.
Probability:

We use the modal must to show we are sure something to be

true and we have reasons for our belief:
It’s getting dark. It must be quite late.
You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry.

We use must have for the past:

They hadn’t eaten all day. They must have been hungry.
You look happy. You must have heard the good news.

We use the modal should to suggest that something is true or

will be true in the future, and to show you have reasons for your
suggestion:
Ask Miranda. She should know.
It's nearly six o'clock. They should arrive soon.

We use should have to talk about the past:

It's nearly eleven o'clock. They should have arrived by now.
 Exercise 1
Match the sentences with the correct endings

1. I've got another meeting at 11am,

2. It's -15ºC outside.
3. Talk to Miriam in Human Resources.
4. He works every weekend, you know.
5. Mark's starting a new school on
Monday.
6. I am thinking again about what Alison
said.
7. The roads were very bad this evening.
8. I can't see your train on the board.
9. It was a pretty vicious dog.
10.There were no delays.
 Ability permission request and advice
Ability:
We use can to talk about someone’s skill or general abilities:
She can speak several languages.
He can swim like a fish.
They can’t dance very well.

We use can to talk about the ability to do something at a given time in

the present or future:
You can make a lot of money if you are lucky.
Help. I can’t breathe.
They can run but they can’t hide.

We use could to talk about past time:

She could speak several languages.
They couldn’t dance very well.

We use could have to say that someone had the ability/opportunity to

do something, but did not do it:
She could have learned Swahili, but she didn’t have time.
I could have danced all night [but didn't].
Permission:
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
could is more formal and polite than can:
Could I ask a question please?
Could we go home now?
may is another more formal and polite way of asking for permission:
May I ask a question please?
May we go home now?
We use can to give permission:
You can go home now if you like.
You can borrow my pen if you like.
may is a more formal and polite way of giving permission:
You may go home now, if you like.
We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:
We can go out whenever we want.
Students can travel free.
may is a more formal and polite way of saying that someone has
permission:
Students may travel free.
Instructions and requests:
We use could you and would you as polite ways of telling or
asking someone to do something:
Could you take a message please?
Would you carry this for me please?
Could I have my bill please?
can and will are less polite:
Can you take a message please?
Will you carry this for me please?
Suggestions and advice:
We use should to make suggestions and
give advice:
You should send an email.
We should go by train.
We use could to make suggestions:
We could meet at the weekend.
You could eat out tonight.
We use conditionals to give advice:
Dan will help you if you ask him.
Past tenses are more polite:
Dan would help you if you asked him.
Offers and invitations:
We use can I… and to make offers:
Can I help you?
Can I do that for you?
We can also use shall I …
Shall I help you with that?
Shall I call you on your mobile?
We sometime say I can ... or I could ... or I’ll (I
will) ... to make an offer:
I can do that for you if you like.
I can give you a lift to the station.
I’ll do that for you if you like.
I’ll give you a lift to the station.
We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:
Would you like to come round tomorrow?
Would you like another drink?
We use you must or we must for a very polite
invitation:
You must come round and see us.
We must meet again soon
Obligation and necessity

We use must to say that it is necessary to do something:

You must stop at a red light.
Everyone must bring something to eat.
You can wear what you like, but you must look neat and
tidy.
I’m sorry, but you mustn’t make a noise in here.

We use had to for this if we are talking about the past:

Everyone had to bring something to eat.
We could wear what we liked, but we had to look neat
and tidy.
Exercise 2
Read the questions and choose the right answer:
Which one of the pair expresses an ability?
Can I lift that for you? I can lift that easily.
Which one of the pair expresses an obligation?
I must go to the dentist. I can't go to the dentist.
Which one of the pair expresses a request?
Could we meet on Thursday? We could meet on Thursday.
Which one of the pair expresses a request for permission?
Could I go now? I could go now.
Which one of the pair expresses a suggestion?
Could we meet on Thursday? We could meet on Thursday.
Which one of the pair expresses an ability?
He could speak several languages. He could speak to the boss.
Which one of the pair expresses an offer?
Can you give me a hand? I can give you a hand.
Which one of the pair expresses an invitation?
We must go out for a drink. We must get out of the building.
Which one of the pair expresses advice?
You should speak to a lawyer. You may speak to a lawyer.
Exercise 3
Write the purpose to each one of the sentences:

1. That can't be right. _________________

2. Can you lend me a pen? _________________
3. He can run really fast. _________________
4. Can I get your bags? _________________
5. Children can be difficult sometimes. _________________
6. You can't watch any more TV. _________________
7. I couldn't see the road. _________________
8. Could I have your autograph? _________________
9. The post could sometimes take weeks. _________________
10.Could I get you anything else? _________________
 Exercise 4
Match each sentence to its purpose:

1. You may not use my mobile phone!

2. Might I have a word in private?

3. I may see you at the weekend.

4. She wondered if she might borrow some

money.

5. They may have forgotten all about it.

6. May I have your attention, please.

 Exercise 5
Read the questions and choose the best answer:
Which one of the pair is a past tense?
I could see them tomorrow. I could see them in the distance.

Which one of the pair is a future possibility?

It wasn't always sunny. It could rain a lot in winter.
It could rain. Take an umbrella.

Which one of the pair is an ability at a given time?

She can't hear. There's too much noise. She can't hear you. She's
deaf.

Which one of the pair is more formal and polite?

Can we have a break, please? Could we have a break, please?

Which one of the pair describes permission?

We can leave at any time. We can drink this water, it's safe.
 Will or Would

We use will:
to talk about the future – to say what we believe will happen
to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do
to make promises and offers

would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past

tense it is used:
to talk about the past.
to talk about hypotheses – things that are imagined rather
than true.
for politeness.
Beliefs
We use will
to say what we believe will happen in the future:
We'll be late.
We will have to take the train.

We use would as the past tense of will:

to say what we believed would happen:
I thought I would be late …… so I would have to take the
train.

Offers and promises

We use I will or We will to make offers and promises:
I’ll give you a lift home after the party.
We will come and see you next week.
Conditionals
We use will in conditionals with if and unless to say what we think will
happen in the future or present:
I’ll give her a call if I can find her number.
You won’t get in unless you have a ticket.

We use would to talk about hypotheses, about something which is

possible but not real:
to talk about the result or effect of a possible situation:
It would be very expensive to stay in a hotel.
in conditionals with words like if and what if. In these sentences the
main verb is usually in the past tense:
I would give her a call if I could find her number.
If I had the money I'd buy a new car.
You would lose weight if you took more exercise.
If he got a new job he would probably make more money.
What if he lost his job. What would happen then?

We use conditionals to give advice:

Dan will help you if you ask him.
Past tenses are more polite:
Dan would help you if you asked him.
Phrases with would:
would you…, would you mind (not) -ing, for requests:
Would you carry this for me please?
Would you mind carrying this?
Would you mind not telling him that?
would you like ...; would you like to ...,  for offers and invitations:
Would you like to come round tomorrow?
Would you like another drink?
I would like …; I’d like … (you)(to) ..., to say what we want or what
we want to do:
I’d like that one please.
I’d like to go home now.
I’d rather… (I would rather) to say what we prefer:
I’d rather have that one.
I’d rather go home now.
I would think, I would imagine, I'd guess, to give an opinion when
we are not sure or when we want to be polite:
It’s very difficult I would imagine.
I would think that’s the right answer.
 
 Exercise 6
Read the sentences and decide whether the gap should be
filled with 'will' 'would, 'won’t' or 'wouldn’t‘:

1. ______ you mind closing the door ?

2. Maybe I ______ speak to her.
3. We ______ see what happens tomorrow.
4. What ______ you like to eat?
5. If I see her I ______ let her know.
6. She ______ speak to me, she was so upset.
7. I promise I ______ tell anyone.
8. She thought she ______ be late, so she took a taxi.
9. When I was in the army, we ______ get up at 5.30 a.m.
10. Come on. You ______ need much, just a change of clothes.