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Understanding Modal Verbs in English

The document provides information on English modal verbs and their uses. It lists modal verbs for probability/possibility, permission, obligation/advice, and their perfect forms. The modal verbs are organized in tables with examples to illustrate their meanings and uses.

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Sonia Garcia Diaz
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10 views2 pages

Understanding Modal Verbs in English

The document provides information on English modal verbs and their uses. It lists modal verbs for probability/possibility, permission, obligation/advice, and their perfect forms. The modal verbs are organized in tables with examples to illustrate their meanings and uses.

Uploaded by

Sonia Garcia Diaz
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PROBABILITY/ ABILITY PERMISSION OBLIGATION/ OFFERS

POSSIBILITY ADVICE
CAN I can play the Can I go out
piano tonight?
CANT She cant be his mum. I cant speak Can I borrow the
She s too young German car? No, I cant.

MIGHT It might rain tomorrow

COULD It could rain tomorrow I could already Could I see your


read when I was passport please,
two sir?
MAY It may rain tomoroww May I leave the
table?
MUST She must be his sister You must leave
because they look before the clock
alike. strikes twelve.
HAVE TO I have to study
tonight.
SHALL You shall pay on Shall I help you?
Tuesday
SHOULD / You should see it.
OUGHT TO Its excellent.

HAD BETTER You had better


sleep more.
WOULD Would you like a
drink?
MODAL PERFECT USES EXAMPLES
MUST HAVE + P.P. Logical conclusion on a past event Peter has arrived late. He must
have been in a traffic jam

MAY / MIGHT HAVE + P.P. Deduction on a past event Joe may / might have taken the
wrong train.

COULD HAVE + P.P. Possibility to do something, gone You could have played better
unfulfilled

COULDNT HAVE + P.P. Certainty that something couldnt have He couldnt have passed
happened because you hadnt studied
enough
WOULD HAVE + P.P. Desire to do something, but I would have visited you, but I
impossibility to do it for external forgot your address
causes
SHOULD / Lament on something that should have You should / ought to have
OUGHT TO HAVE + P.P. been done warned me earlier

SHOULDNT HAVE + P.P. Critique on something that shouldnt He shouldnt have told them
have happened

NEEDNT HAVE + P.P. Somthing that wasnt necessary doing You neednt have bought it .

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