MODAL VERBS

Form:
These verbs have certain differences from the rest of the verbs:

• They are followed by a bare infinitive; this means an infinitive without ‘TO’.
• They don’t add an –‘S’ in the present for the 3rd singular person.
• They don’t have any auxiliaries for negative and interrogative.

Use:
Simple tenses:

MODAL USES EXAMPLES

CAN • General ability in the present or future I can speak Spanish. I can help you later.

• Request (informal) Can I use your car?

• Impossibility (negative only) You can’t see the dentist now.

(Can’t = cannot)
• Permission (informal) You can take the car tomorrow.

COULD • General ability in the past She could swim well at the age of four.

• Possibility (not certain) The keys could be in the car.

• Polite request Could I have a word with you?

• Impossibility (in the past) I couldn’t open the door.

MAY • Future possibility/hypothesis It may rain tomorrow.

(Puede que llueva mañana)
• Negative possibility He may not arrive tonight.

• Polite request (formal) May I call you later?.

• Permission (formal) You may take the car.

• Prohibition You may not smoke in the library.

MIGHT • Remote Possibility It might rain tomorrow/ It may not rain

tomorrow
• Very polite request Might I use your phone?

WILL • Certainty, prediction based on He will arrive at six o’clock.

oponions, beliefs.

• Willingness, spontaneous decision, I’ll answer the door. I’ll send you a
promises postcard

• Polite request Will you pass the sugar, please?

Adapted from :Thomson & Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use.
WOULD • Polite request Would you move your car, please?

• Repeated past action (= used to) I would walk on the beach every morning.

• Past form of WILL (reported speech) We wondered when he would join us.

• Expressing preference (WOULD I would rather have tea. (I’d rather =

RATHER) preferiría)

SHALL • Suggestion or offer of help Shall I carry this bag?

• Future with I / We as subject (not I shall (will) find a hotel when I get there.
common, legal, formal)

SHOULD / • Giving advice You should (ought to) see a doctor.

OUGHT TO (Deberías)
• Telling somebody that it is right / You shouldn’t lose your temper with
wrong to do something people.
• Polite suggestion when unsure of Should I put the bags here?
answer
• 90% certainty / prediction He should (ought to) do well the exam.

MUST • Obligation, future intention I must write a letter to my aunt.

(HAD TO) • Strong necessity You must observe the speed limit.

• Almost certainty‐deduction The lights are on. She must be at home.

You must go and see that film.
• Persuasion, strong recommendation

• Prohibition, something forbidden You mustn’t smoke in this hospital.

MUSTN’T
HAVE / HAS • Obligation/necessity We have to wear school uniforms.
TO
• Lack of necessity I don’t have to pay this until September.

• Past necessity He had to leave early.

• Future necessity We will have to leave soon.

NEEDN’T • Lack of necessity (= don’t have to) You needn’t come today if you don’t want
to.
BE ABLE TO • General ability (= can) He is able to dress himself.
We will be able to visit you next week.
• Specific past ability, managing to do We were able to find the house although
something despite difficulty we had no map.

Adapted from :Thomson & Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use.
Perfect tenses:

MUST HAVE + participle • When we are certain about Paul didn’t answer my calls. He
past actions or draw logical must have been out all day.
conclusions‐deduction
CAN’T HAVE + past participle • When we are certain He must not have heard about the
something did not happen earthquake. (= Can’t have heard)

MAY / MIGHT / COULD • When we are not sure Paul is late for work. He may have
+ HAVE + past participle because we do not actually missed the bus. He might have
know what happened in the left his house late.
past

COULD HAVE + past participle • When we had the ability to do I could have gone to the party but
something in the past but we I didn’t want to.
didn’t do it

SHOULD HAVE + past participle • When expectations are not He should have arrived by now,
fulfilled but he still isn’t here.
• When sensible advice wasn’t You should have checked the
followed brakes on your car before starting
SHOULD NOT HAVE + past out.
participle • To refer to a foolish past You shouldn’t have taken the car
action without asking.

WOULD HAVE + past participle • When we were willing to do I would have helped you, but I
something, but we didn’t do it was away for the weekend.

WILL HAVE + past participle • When we talk about an action By this time next year I will have
(Future Perfect) that will be completed by passed all my exams.
some point in the future

EXERCISES:

REPHRASING_ MODAL VERBS

1. I think the answer in the book is wrong.

The answer...
2. To hold my breath for more than a minute is impossible for me.
I...
3. The book is optional. We can read it if we want to.
We...
4. I'm sure that he is exhausted after such a long flight.
He...
5. It was impossible to do the job if you didn't speak German fluently.
You...
6. I think you worry too much.
You...
7. The PC isn't working. I think it has been damaged during the move.
It...

Adapted from :Thomson & Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use.
 8. I'm sure it isn't true.
It...
9. Jim didn't hear the speaker. The crowd was shouting so loudly.
Jim...
10. It's not essential to be rich to be a success.
You...
11. I think taking along some cash would be a good idea.
You...
12. Don't forget to bring your essay tomorrow. The professor is very strict about
homework on time.
You..
13. I'm sure it has cost a fortune.
It...
14. Why do you always say the first thing that pops into your head?
Do you...
15. I let you leave the table once you have finished your meal.
You...

Write the correct perfect modal and verb form for the following sentences.
Sometimes negative forms are used.

1. Gloria has won every game she's played today. She (practice) a lot.

2. I don't have anything to wear today. I (do) the laundry.

3. Jack lost his wallet on the way to work. He (lose) it on the bus.

4. You did very well on the exam. You (study) a lot.

5. The Smiths (build) their house anywhere. Why did he choose here?

6. It's hot in here today. I (wear) a heavy sweater today.

7. You (feed) your dog. He has been hungry all day.

8. Lucy shouldn't have stood on the broken chair. She (fall).

9. I (buy) more milk. I am almost out.

10. I didn't do very well on the test. I (spend) more time studying.

Adapted from :Thomson & Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, R. Murphy, English Grammar in Use.