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Modal Verbs: Must, Have To, May, Might

1) Must and have to both express necessity, with must sometimes conveying more urgency. The expression "have got to" is similar in meaning but is reserved for spoken English. 2) May and might are used interchangeably to express probability or possibility, with the past forms being "may/might have". Must can also express probability. 3) The progressive forms of may and might are formed by adding "have/has been" or "be" plus the -ing form of the main verb for past and present progressive respectively.

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14 views1 page

Modal Verbs: Must, Have To, May, Might

1) Must and have to both express necessity, with must sometimes conveying more urgency. The expression "have got to" is similar in meaning but is reserved for spoken English. 2) May and might are used interchangeably to express probability or possibility, with the past forms being "may/might have". Must can also express probability. 3) The progressive forms of may and might are formed by adding "have/has been" or "be" plus the -ing form of the main verb for past and present progressive respectively.

Uploaded by

Lalithe
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
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Must/Have To/Have Got To

Must and have to both express necessity:


--You must fill out this form.
--You have to pick up Mr. Roberts.
In some situations, must is more urgent or stronger than have to:
--You must be here for your appointment on time. I have a busy schedule today.
--You have to take another course next year.
The expression have got to is similar in meaning to must and have to but is reserved for
spoken English:
--I have got to study more. (i.e., I must study more.)

Using May and Might


Two other important modal verbs are may and might. The two are used interchangeably in
standard American English to express probability or possibility:
--You may be wrong.
--You might be wrong.
--The attorney might be late.
--The attorney may be late.
The past form is expressed as follows:
modal (may/might) + have + past participle
--I may/might have left my glasses in the restaurant.
NOTE: Must can also be used to express probability:
--The plane must be leaving now.

Progressive Forms of May and Might


THE PAST PROGRESSIVE FORMS OF MAY AND MIGHT ARE FORMED BY ADDING
HAVE BEEN + THE -ING FORM OF THE MAIN VERB.
--I didn't see them at the hotel. They may have been having dinner.
--The mail didn't arrive on time. The mailman might have been having trouble with his car.
THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE FORMS OF MAY AND MIGHT ARE FORMED BY
ADDING BE + THE -ING FORM OF THE MAIN VERB.
--We may be calling you in the morning.
--They might be visiting the U.S. this time next year.
NOTE: When must means necessity, the past form is had to. When it means probability, the
past is must have + past participle.

The Past Form of Should


To form the past of should simply add have + past participle:
--I missed my plane this morning. I should have left earlier.
--I can't find a hotel room. I should have made a reservation.
The past form of should conveys the notion of a failure or omission. Note that the customary
pronunciation of should have is should've or shouda. The negative form is should not have,
pronounced in colloquial English as shouldn't've or shouldn't'a.

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