Modal Verbs PDF

MODAL VERBS ABILITY CAN/CAN’T + INF ○ ABILITY NOW/GENERALLY “I can run a kilometre in four minutes” ○ DECISIONS MADE NOW ABOUT THE FUTURE “We can meet at the gym tomorrow” COULD + INF ○ ABILITY IN THE PAST “I could do...

MODAL VERBS ABILITY CAN/CAN’T + INF ○ ABILITY NOW/GENERALLY “I can run a kilometre in four minutes” ○ DECISIONS MADE NOW ABOUT THE FUTURE “We can meet at the gym tomorrow” COULD + INF ○ ABILITY IN THE PAST “I could do fifty press-ups with one hand when I was younger” ○ HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS (PRESENT, FUTURE, GENERALLY) “I wish I could quit smoking” BE ABLE TO + INF ○ OTHER TENSES “I’d love to be able to fit into these jeans again!” “I’ll be able to leave hospital in a few weeks, apparently.” “I’ve been able to swim since I was three.” WAS/WERE ABLE TO + INF / MANAGED TO + INF / SUCCEEDED IN + -ING ○ ABILITY ON A SPECIFIC OCCASION IN THE PAST “I couldn’t find any information about it last night, but I was able to find some this morning.” The paper succeeded in fooling millions of readers with their fake news story. I managed to convince my brother to watch a horror film last night. COULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE ○ ABILITY IN PAST HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS “I could have roasted the potatoes, but I decided that boiling them was healthier.” PERMISSION ASKING FOR PERMISSION MAY + INF (+ POLITE) ○ “May I see the doctor, please?” COULD + INF (POLITE) ○ “Could I have some water, please?” CAN + INF ○ “Can I go to the toilet, please?“ GIVING PERMISSION MAY + INF (POLITE) ○ “You may send the fax when you like.” CAN + INF ○ “She can finish the homework later.” BE ALLOWED TO + INF ○ PERMISSION ON ONE OCCASION IN THE PAST He was allowed to post a video on the site yesterday. ADVICE ASKING FOR AND GIVING ADVICE SHOULD / OUGHT TO / HAD BETTER + INF ○ “Liam should / ought to / had better watch less TV.” ○ “You shouldn’t / ought not / had better not drink too much coffee.” ○ “What should I wear for a job interview?” ★ OUGHT TO IS MORE FORMAL THAN SHOULD. ★ HAD BETTER IS STRONGER THAN SHOULD / OUGHT TO CRITICISM SHOULD / OUGHT TO + PERFECT INFINITIVE ○ CRITICISING A PAST BEHAVIOUR “He should / ought to have made more of an effort with his diet.” OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY MUST / HAVE TO / NEED TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE PRESENT. “All visitors must turn off their mobile phones.” “You have to press ‘send’.” “Do I need to take this medicine?” HAD TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE PAST. “I had to take the pills three times a day for two weeks.” WILL HAVE TO / WILL NEED TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE FUTURE. “I will need to be more careful about what you eat in the future.” LACK OF OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY DON’T HAVE TO / DON’T NEED TO / NEEDN’T / THERE’S NO NEED TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING LACK OF OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE PRESENT. “You needn’t pick up that prescription from the chemist as I’ll get it while I’m in town.” DIDN’T HAVE TO / DIDN’T NEED TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING LACK OF OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE PAST. “You didn’t have to go to the doctor because I suddenly felt better.” WON’T HAVE TO / WON’T NEED TO + INF ○ EXPRESSING LACK OF OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY IN THE FUTURE. “I won’t need to drive to school in summer.” NEEDN’T + PERFECT INFINITIVE ○ UNNECESSARY PAST ACTION “I needn’t have bought red paint because we didn’t use it.” PROHIBITION MUSTN’T + INF ○ “ You mustn’t do that!” CERTAINTY MUST / CAN’T / COULDN’T + INF ○ CERTAINTY ABOUT NOW OR GENERALLY. “The phone is ringing - it must be Simon.” “This letter can’t / couldn’t be from Japan because it’s got a French stamp. ” MUST / CAN’T / COULDN’T + PERFECT INFINITIVE ○ CERTAINTY ABOUT THE PAST - CERTAIN. “She must have been in a lot of pain.” “His leg can’t / couldn’t have been in plaster for two years. POSSIBILITY COULD / MIGHT / MAY + INF ○ POSSIBILITY ABOUT NOW, THE FUTURE OR GENERALLY. “You should talk to your doctor first because that diet could / might / may be dangerous.” He might not / may not be a very reliable journalist. COULD / MIGHT / MAY + PERFECT INFINITIVE ○ POSSIBILITY ABOUT THE PAST - UNCERTAIN. “That could / might / may have been the doctor who rang while we were out.” ★ COULD / MIGHT SUGGEST MORE UNCERTAINTY THAN MAY. PROBABILITY SHOULD / OUGHT TO + INF ○ PROBABILITY ABOUT NOW, THE FUTURE OR GENERALLY. “You should feel better in a few days, as long as you get lots of rest.” SHOULD / OUGHT TO + PERFECT INFINITIVE / WAS/WERE MEANT TO + INF ○ PROBABILITY ABOUT THE PAST - EXPECTED TO HAPPEN “The bruise ought to have disappeared days ago.” “The bus was meant to arrive at six o’clock, but didn’t come.