Grammar : ‘‘ Modals ’’
1- Definition of modals :
→ Modals are also called modal verbs or modal auxiliaries. They are special verbs which
behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs as they give additional
information about the function of the main verb that follows it. Modals never change their
form, you can’t add ‘s’, ‘ed’, or ‘ing’ to them. They are always followed by a bare infinitive
(an infinitive without ‘To’). They have a great variety of communicative functions :
Modals Uses
- May / Might : → Possibility/ Probability/ Permission.
- Can / Could : → Ability/ Possibility/ Permission/ Request.
- Can’t : → Impossibility.
- Shall : → Offer/ Suggestion.
- Should / Ought to / Had better : → Advice.
- Needn’t / Don’t and doesn’t have to : → No obligation.
- Used to : → Past habits.
- Will : → Prediction/ Promise/ Request.
- Would : → Wished or imagined results.
- Must = Have to / Has to / Had to : → Obligation.
- Must / Be going to : → Certainty.
- Mustn’t : → Prohibition.
1st Task : Fill in the blanks with the right modal verbs :
- There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You ………………………………… buy any.
( mustn’t – needn’t – may not )
- It’s a hospital. You ……………………………. Smoke.
( don’t have to – may not – mustn’t )
- He had been working for more than 11 hours. He ………………………… be too tired after such
hard work. ( must – may – can’t )
- ……………….. you speak Italian ? No, I …………………….. . ( should - can’t - can )
- Take an umbrella with you. It …………………………. rain later. ( will - must - might )
- Drivers …………………… stop when the traffic lights are red. ( can - have to - may )
2- Reminder : Modals in the present and in the past :
Modals in the present Modals in the past
Can / Could + Can / Could +
Shall / Should + Shall / Should +
May / Might + May / Might +
Will / Would + Will / Would +
Ought to + Ought to +
Must ( certainty ) + Must ( certainty ) +
Must = Have to/ Has to ( obligation ) + Had to ( obligation ) +
Am/ Is/ Are going to + Was/ Were going to +
2nd Task : Put the modals appropriately in the present or in the past :
- Employees ( must / respect ) ……………………………………………….….. the company’s rules.
- The bank ( can’t / approve ) ………………………………………….…………. his project a year ago
because it wasn’t well-prepared.
- We ( must / stop ) ………………………………………….. when the traffic lights had turned red.
- She ( must / be ) ………………………………………….. tired yesterday. Her eyes were too red.
- Lisa ( ought to / take ) …………………………………………….. more care of her children so that she
won’t face the same problems again.
- I think you ( should / see ) …………………………………………… the doctor a bit earlier because
now it’s too late.