Modal Verbs PDF

MODAL VERBS AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS COMPILED BY MDM NUR HIDAYAH MD YAZID Main Reference: Fuchs, Bonner & Westheimer (2017), Focus on Grammar: 5th Edition. NJ: Pearson Education. Types of Modal Verbs ABILITY AND PERMISSION REQUEST ADVICE POSSIBILITY...

MODAL VERBS AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS COMPILED BY MDM NUR HIDAYAH MD YAZID Main Reference: Fuchs, Bonner & Westheimer (2017), Focus on Grammar: 5th Edition. NJ: Pearson Education. Types of Modal Verbs ABILITY AND PERMISSION REQUEST ADVICE POSSIBILITY NECESSITY EXPECTATION FUTURE PRESENT S POSSIBILITY CONCLUSIONS ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY (CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO) Use can and am/is/are able to to Use can and will be able to to talk about present ability or talk about future ability or possibility. possibility. We often use be able to when the We use could, couldn’t and ability to do something comes was/were able to to talk about after a lot of hard work / for past ability or possibility. things you learn. Examples: I can help you with the project. (ability/possibility) She tried, but she couldn’t/wasn’t able to finish the unappetizing bowl of soup. (past ability-negative form) He’s an intelligent student. He’s the only one in class who is able to answer any Physics question. (present ability) “Could she play tennis when she was younger?” “Yes, she could.” or “No, she couldn’t.” (past ability – question & answer form) When I finish this degree, I’ll be able to apply for my dream job! (future ability)  PERMISSION (CAN, COULD, MAY, DO YOU MIND IF) 01 02 03 Asking for permission Giving permission Refusing permission ◦ We use can to ask for ◦ We use can to give ◦ We use can't and may permission to do something. permission. not to refuse ◦ Could is more formal and permission or say polite than can. ◦ May is a more formal and polite way of giving that someone does not ◦ May & Do you mind if is even more formal and permission. have permission. polite way of asking for permission. Examples: Asking for permission Giving permission Refusing permission Can/Could/May/Do you Yes, you can/may. No, she can’t/may not. mind if I stay at your house tonight? Sure. / Sure, she can/may. Sorry, but she can’t/may not. Can/Could/May/Do you Not at all. / No, I don’t. mind if my sister joins this (I don’t mind.) Sorry, but…(reason). year’s school competition? DO NOT SAY: Sure, you could.  REQUEST (CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, WOULD YOU MIND)  Pointers We use could, would and would you mind + Can and will are less gerund as polite ways polite. of telling or asking someone to do something. Examples: 1. Can/Could/Will/Would you please close the door? ◦ Accepting request: ◦ Sure. / Of course. / Certainly. / I’d be glad to. / No problem. (less formal) ◦ Refusing request: ◦ I’m sorry, but I can’t. 2. Would you mind turning off the TV? I’m trying to study. ◦ Accepting request: ◦ Not at all. / Of course not. ◦ Refusing request: ◦ I’m sorry, but I can’t. ◦DO NOT SAY: Sure, I would. / I’m sorry, but I couldn’t.  ADVICE (SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER)  Use the modals should and ought to to say something is advisable. Use the expression had better for strong advice – when you believe that something Pointers bad ill happen if the person does not follow the advice. Use should not and had better not in negative statements. Modal/Expression Affirmative Negative Interrogative Should √ √ √ Ought to √ X X Had better √ √ X Summary of usage in forms Examples: You should/ought to/had better register now. The deadline is approaching very soon. (Affirmative) She shouldn’t/had better not go out now. It’s past curfew! (Negative) Should I call the authorities? (Interrogative)  NECESSITY (HAVE (GOT) TO, MUST, CAN’T)  Use have to, have got to or the modal must to show something is necessary. Have to is the most common expression in conversation and writing. Pointers You can also use have got to in conversation and informal writing. Must is much stronger than have to and have got to. Authorities would usually use this modal to describe rules and regulations.  Affirmative Interrogative Negative Use: have (got) to or must Use: have to Use: not have to/must not/can’t Examples: Examples: Examples: 1. He has (got) to travel a lot for his 1. Do you have to check your bags? 1. Tourists don’t have to have an job. (present) (present) IDP in Canada. (present-not 2. You must turn off your phone 2. When do we have to get to the necessary) now. (present) airport? (future) 2. You must not/can’t smoke on the 3. We have (got) to leave tomorrow. 3. Are we going to have to check plane. (present-against the rule) (future) this bag? (future) 3. We don’t have to get there before 4. She’s going to have to leave at 4. When will we have to show our 7:00. (future-not necessary) 2:00. (future) passports? (future) 4. You won’t have to go through 5. They’ll have to visit them soon. 5. Did you have to renew your customs. (future-not necessary) (future) passport? (past) 5. We didn’t have to show our 6. We must meet the new clients this 6. Not common: Must I leave right passport. (past-not necessary) afternoon. (future) now? 6. Do not use: Tourists haven’t got 7. He had to work last night. (past) 7. Do not use: Have I got to leave to have an IDP in Canada. 8. Do not use: He had got to work right now? last night. More He has (got) to/must go to the airport now! (Necessity – affirmative form) examples: She doesn’t have to bring her passport if she’s travelling locally. (Necessity – negative form) Do I have to bring my laptop to the library? (Necessity – Interrogative form) Answers: Yes, you do. / No, you don’t. You can’t attend the class late or you’ll be considered as absent. (Prohibition-negative form) EXPECTATIONS (BE SUPPOSED TO)  Rules Use be supposed to + base Customs form of the verb to express Predictions different kinds of Hearsay expectations: Plans or arrangements Use am/is/are supposed to We do not use will to express present and future expectations. with be supposed to for future expectations. Pointers We often use was/were Use was/were supposed to supposed to when to express a past something we expectation. expected to happen, did not happen.  ◦ I am supposed to be at the concert in one hour. (future) ◦ They were supposed to get married earlier this month, but it is now postponed Examples: due to MCO. (past expectation) ◦ You are not supposed to wear shoes inside a house. It’s our hygienic practices here in Malaysia. (present) ◦ Is she supposed to finish her PhD this year? (future-interrogative) ◦ Answers: Yes, she is. / No, she’s not.  FUTURE POSSIBILITY (MAY, MIGHT, COULD) Pointers Use the modals may, might and could to express the possibility that something will happen in the future. Remember: When we are certain that something will or will not happen, we use ‘(not) be going to’ or ‘will’ (or ‘won’t’). Use may not and might not to express the possibility that something will not happen in the future. Questions about future possibility do not usually use may, E.g.: “Will your office close early?” “It may.” or “It may not.” might or could, but answers to these questions often use E.g.: “Are you going to drive to work?” “I don’t know. I might take those modal verbs. the bus.” If be is the main verb, it is common to include be in the E.g. “Will our flight be on time?” “It might be.” or “It might not be.” short answer. Examples: The sky is getting darker. It may/might/could rain soon. (Affirmative) The class representative hasn’t confirmed about the replacement class today. The class may not/might not/could not be happening. (Negative) “Does the shop open on public holidays?” “It may/might/could.” or “It may not/might not/could not.” (Answers for questions without a be-verb.) “Is it going to snow soon?” “It may be/might be/could be.” or “It may not be/might not be/could not be.” (Answers for questions with a be-verb.)  PRESENT CONCLUSIONS (MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO, MAY, MIGHT, COULD, CAN’T)  We often make guesses and come to the conclusions about present situations using the facts/evidence that we have. Use affirmative modals to show that you think something is probable or possible. Pointers Use negative modals to show that you think something is impossible because of the facts/evidence that you have. Use can and could in questions. In short answers, use a modal alone.  Modals to use according to our level of certainty: may, might, have (got) must Less could Quite to Very can’t, Certain may not, Certain must not Certain couldn't might not Examples: ◦ The lights are on. The Jeffersons must be at home. (affirmative-very certain) ◦ I just saw Mr Smith half an hour ago. He can’t/couldn’t be overseas now. (negative-very certain) ◦ Her car is parked near the playground. She has (got) to be there with her child. (affirmative-quite certain) ◦ He is wearing a formal attire today. He must not be on work leave. (negative-quite certain) ◦ That couple has a large, thriving garden with so many green vegetables. They may/might/could be vegetarians. (affirmative-less certain) ◦ That woman has so many cats! She may not/might not be married. (negative-less certain) ◦ “There’s the doorbell. Could Mum be here already? “She may not be. She just texted me she was going to buy some groceries on the way home.” (question and answer) THE END