Modal Verbs and Probability Quiz

Modal Verbs and Related Verbs

• Definition: Modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to) are used frequently to express various meanings, including ability, permission, obligation, suggestion, necessity, a promise, and intention. They can also express degrees of certainty, probability, or possibility.

• Characteristics:

• No "s" in the third person singular (e.g., He can swim).

• No auxiliary "do/does" in questions (e.g., May I ask a question?).

• No "don't/doesn't" in negatives (e.g., You shouldn't tell lies).

• Followed by an infinitive without "to" (except "ought to").

Modal Verbs of Probability

• Degree of Certainty: Modals expressing probability range from high (will) to low (might/could).
• Will/Won't: Express strong prediction about the future, or assumptions about the present based on known routines/character.
• Must/Can't: Express logical interpretations or strong deductions. "Must" is less certain than "will". "Can't" expresses the opposite.
• Should: Expresses expectations based on reasonable assumptions and hopes of the speaker for an event to happen.
• May/Might/Could: Express the possibility that something might happen, they are less emphatic in comparison to "will" or "must".

Willingness and Refusal

• Will/Won't: Express willingness (I'll help you) or refusal (She won't get up).
• Shall: Used in questions about willingness (Shall I give you a hand?).
• Wouldn't: Expresses past refusal.

Requests

• Several modals (can, could, will, would) can be used to express requests.

Ability

• Can/Could: Express present or past ability.
• Be able to: Used for expressing ability in a wider range of tenses and contexts (e.g., I've never been able to, I'd love to be able to, you'll be able to).
• Was/Were able to/Managed to: Used to express past ability in specific situations or on a single occasion in the past instead of using "could".

Advice

• Should/Ought to: Express mild obligation or advice.
• Had better: Gives stronger advice, or directives with slightly more emphasis.

Obligation

• Must: Expresses strong obligation; often used in a formal context or instructions.
• Have to/Have got to: Expresses obligation, based on rules, laws, or the instructions of another person.
• Mustn't: Expresses negative obligation (prohibition).
• Don't have to: Expresses the absence of obligation.

Permission

• May/Can/Could: Used to ask for permission.
• Can/Could/Be allowed to: Used for talking about permission in general or in various tenses.
• Are/am/is allowed to/ permitted to: Expresses permission and prohibition generally or in past/future contexts.

Related Verb Forms

• Other related verbs (e.g., be bound to, be likely to, be required to, be supposed to) express similar ideas to modal verbs.

Other Notes

• Examples of modal usage in various situations (e.g., Asking for permission to enter a gym, explaining probabilities, providing advice) are given in the text to illustrate these points and show different meanings.
• The text also includes examples of how to put modal verbs into past and future tenses.