All MODAL VERBS are auxiliary verbs, which means they can only be used with a main verb. Modal verbs have the following characteristics:
1) They do not have participle or infinitive forms.
2) They do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular.
3) They do not have a past form: He can/he caned. She must/she musted.
4) The negative is formed by the addition of not/n’t: He cannot/ He can’t. NOT He don’t can.
5) Questions are formed by inversion with the subject: Can you? NOT Do you can?
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Past |
Present |
Future (will+…) |
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could was/were able to |
can am/is/are able to |
be able to |
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might was/were allowed to was/were permitted to |
may am/is/are allowed to am/is/are permitted to |
be allowed to be permitted to |
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had to |
must I/we have to He/she/it has to |
have to |
They are used to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity.
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Modal |
Example |
Uses |
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Can |
They can control their own budgets. |
Ability / Possibility |
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It can rain sometimes. |
General possibility |
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I can drive a motorbike. I can do several things at the same time. |
Ability |
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We can’t fix it. |
Inability/Impossibility |
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You can go now. |
Informal permission |
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Can you help me? |
Formal request |
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Can you come for a minute? |
Informal requests |
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Can I smoke here? Please can we have an ice cream? |
Asking for permission |
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Could |
She said she could pay for us as well. |
Past form of "can" |
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Could I borrow your dictionary? Could we go to the post box on the way? |
Asking for permission. |
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Could you say it again more slowly? Could you move your bag, please? |
Polite request |
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We could try to fix it ourselves. We could go to the park. |
Suggestion |
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He gave up his old job so he could work for us. My grandfather could draw very well. |
Ability in the past |
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It could be that he missed the train. |
Possibility in the past |
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I think we could have another Gulf War. It could rain, but it is not very common in this part of the country. |
Future possibility possibility (weaker than "may" and "might") |
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May |
China may become a major economic power. It may rain tomorrow. It starts getting cloudy – it may rain soon. |
Future possibility (stronger than might) |
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May I have another cup of coffee? May I leave a few minutes early? |
Asking for permission, request (formal) |
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You may come if you want. |
Give permission (formal) |
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Might |
He said he might change his mind. |
Past form of "may" |
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We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now. |
Present possibility |
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They might give us a 10% discount. Mum might take us swimming. This might fail. It's not very cloudy yet, but it might rain. |
Future possibility (weaker than "may") |
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Must |
We must say good-bye now. |
Necessity / Obligation |
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Pupils must wear a uniform. You must obey the law. You must tell the police the truth. |
Obligation (full) |
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They left so early, they must be home by now. He left an hour ago, so he must be there already. |
Suggestion, it's very logical or very likely to happen (logical conclusion) (stronger than "should") |
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Must not |
You mustn't smoke in here. They mustn’t disrupt the work more than necessary. |
Prohibition You are not allowed to do it |
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Ought to |
You ought to apologize. We ought to employ a professional writer. |
Say what’s right or correct thing to do |
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You ought to do this work for tomorrow. You ought to tell your friends the truth. |
Partial obligation (less common) |
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Shall (More common in the UK than the US) |
I shall see him tomorrow. |
Future for "I" and "we" |
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Let's continue, shall we? |
Questions and suggestions for "I" and "we" |
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Shall I help you with your luggage? |
Offer |
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Shall we say 2.30 then? |
Suggestion |
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Shall I do that or will you? |
Polite suggestion |
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Shall we go for a walk? |
Asking what to do |
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We shall always enjoy a walk in the park. |
Habits |
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Should |
We should sort out this problem at once. She should call the police. You should tell your friends the truth. |
Partial obligation / say what’s right or correct thing to do |
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I think we should check everything again. |
Recommending action |
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Profits should increase next year. We should be back by midnight. |
Uncertain prediction, what is likely or expected to happen |
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He left half an hour ago, I believe he should be there already. |
logical conclusion (weaker than "must") |
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- What should I do? - You should stop thinking about it. You should not smoke. |
Advice |
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Will |
I can’t see any taxi so I’ll walk. |
Instant decisions |
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Prices will go up next summer. Profits will increase next year. We will have pizza for free. Look at the sky! It will rain soon. |
Certain prediction, future action or states (not plans) |
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It's alright, I'll pick it up. I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday. |
Promises and intentions |
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I'll do that for you if you like. |
Offer |
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I will often have cereals for my breakfast. John will always be late! |
Habits, things we usually do |
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Would |
He told me he would come. |
Past form of "will" |
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When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in the restaurant next to my flat. |
Habits in the past |
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What would you do if you were him? |
Imagined situations |
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- Would you please sit down? - Would you like some tea? - We are meeting with Sarah next Saturday, would you like to come along? |
For polite requests, offers and invitations |
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I would like a piece of cake. |
To say what you want to do or have |
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Need to |
I need to drop by his room to pick up a book. I needed to drink a few cups of coffee in order to stay awake. |
Necessity or Requirement Note: have to and need to are often used in the same context, but many times, need to is used to express something that is less urgent, something in which you have a choice. |
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Need not (Needn’t) |
I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. I needn’t do it now. I’ll do it later. |
Lack of necessity/absence of obligation |
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Don’t need to |
I don’t need to do it now. I’ll do it later. |
Приклади вправ на граматику:
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can |
can |
can't |
could |
may |
Might |
must |
mustn't |
needn't |
needn't |
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can |
can |
can't |
may |
may |
must |
mustn't |
need |
needn't |
shouldn't |
1. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You … buy any.
2. It's a hospital. You … smoke.
3. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He … be tired after such hard work. He … prefer to get some rest.
4. I … speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I … just say a few things in the language.
5. The teacher said we … read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we … read it if we don't want to.
6. … you stand on your head for more than a minute? No, I … .
7. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you … to work hard.
8. Take an umbrella. It … rain later.
9. You … leave small objects lying around . Such objects … be swallowed by children.
10. People … walk on grass.
11. Drivers … stop when the traffic lights are red.
12. … I ask a question? Yes, of course.
13. You … take your umbrella. It is not raining.
14. … you speak Italian? No, I … .
1. Nancy ... go to bed early; tomorrow is her day off.
2. You ... smoke on buses. It's forbidden.
3. You ... do it now; you can finish it later.
4. Students ... use their mobile phones during the lessons.
5. You ... buy any meat. There is plenty of it in the fridge.
6. 7. You ... bring a swim suit. I can lend you one.
7. It's a secret. You ... tell anybody.
8. You ... do the washing up; we have a dishwasher.
9. You really ... be late again.
10.You ... drink at all if you plan to drive.
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must be |
should take |
must be |
can't have gone |
might have been |
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should have told |
could run |
had to stop |
can’t be |
couldn't have liked |
1. He … French. French. His French is terrible.
2. The kids are calm today. They … tired.
3. Although Leila was very hungry, she didn't eat very much. She … the food.
4. The phone is ringing. It … Mary. She promised she would call.
5. John had a terrible accident. He … when the traffic lights were red.
6. I don't know why she got so many bad grades. She … lazy studying.
7. I didn't know you needed help. You … me.
8. I am so tired. I need some rest. I think I … a week off.
9. He … so fast when he was young.
10. Nancy … on holiday. I have just met her in the street.
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Asking for advice Asking for permission Expressing ability Expressing lack of necessity |
Expressing obligation Expressing possibility Expressing prohibition
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Giving advice Making an offer Making a request |
1. May I use your mobile phone?
2. May I help you?
3. You mustn't walk on grass.
4. What do you think I should do?
5. Can you help me with this exercise?
6. I can speak Arabic.
7. I think you should see a doctor.
8. You must stop when the traffic lights are red.
9. You needn't take your umbrella. It isn't raining.
10. You may pass the exam. It is not very difficult. You only have to work harder.