MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY : CAN AND MAY

Modal verbs of ability are used to express two different types of ability:

 Open possibility, generally expressed by forms of the modal verb Can,

 Authority or potential ability, usually expressed by forms of the modal verb May.

These two verbs are followed by the infinitive without to.

CAN
The verb can only exists in the simple present, simple past and present perfect forms.

Present Past Present perfect

Affirmative can could can have + past participle
Negative cannot, can't could not, couldn't cannot have

BE ABLE TO
If other tenses are required, the speaker or writer must use forms of the synonymous modal verb
"be able to" .
This modal auxiliary has all necessary tenses, as it is in reality just the verb to be followed by the
adjective able.
Be careful! Be able to does not have any progressive or continuous forms.
Present Present perfect Imperfect Future
am able to,
has been able to was able to
Affirmative: are able to will be able to
have been able to were able to
is able to
Negative;
am not able to , has not been able to was not able to will not be able to
sample
am unable to has been unable to was unable to will be unable to
forms

Can and able to are used to express :

 Physical or potential ability (essere in grado di fare qualcosa, essere capace)
 Authority to do something (posso fare qualcosa, ho il permesso/l’autorità di fare)
 Can only: in the present perfect, a past possibility. This is particularly common with negative
clauses.
EXAMPLES
 I can speak three different languages, English, French and Spanish.
 He can't open the door, it's stuck.
 I'm able to speak three languages, German, English and Russian.
 He's unable to get into his car, he's lost the key.
 When I lived in York, I could walk to work in five minutes.
 If you lose the key, you won't be able to get into your apartment.
 I haven't been able to finish the job, it's too difficult.
 In spite long discussions, they were unable to reach an agreement.

[Link]
  The policeman says we can go in now.

 Can we please sit down?

 They cannot have seen the warning sign.....

Be careful! Take care to distinguish correctly between "could not" and "cannot
have":
They could not see the warning sign = They were unable to see it, for example, because it was hidden
They cannot have seen the warning sign = They must have failed to see it, even though it was there and visible.

[Link]
 POTENTIAL POSSIBILITY OR AUTHORITY - MAY AND MIGHT
The verb may only exists in the simple present, and past forms.
The simple past form of may is might.
Might is also used in its own right as a present tense modal.
MAY
Forms of may
Present Past Present perfect
Affirmative may might may have
Negatve may not might not may not have
The modal may is used to imply potentiality (limited possibility) or authority to do something.
Using the modal may is frequently the same as qualifying a statement with the word perhaps.

Its past form might is most commonly found in dependent clauses, notably in reported speech.

We may (perhaps) go to England next year, if we have enough money.

But of course, we may not be able to afford it.
The policeman said "You may go now".
The policeman told me I might go.
"I may not be able to get home on time."
She said she might not be able to get home on time.

Note that a synonym of perhaps is maybe which is of course composed of the

words may and be.
Used in the present perfect form (may + have + past participle), may is also used to express
possibility that happened (something that perhaps happened) in a relative past , i.e. in past time
with relation to the present or to some other moment.

I may have left my mobile phone on the train.

It's five o'clock; they may have finished by now.
I may have seen something very important.
MIGHT
Forms of might
Present Past Present perfect
Affirmative might might might have
Negative might not might not might not have
Might is also used to imply remote possibility, i.e. something that could just be possible.
In this sense, it is often combined with be able to.

I might be able to get tickets for the show tonight, it's just possible!
I might find a job if I'm lucky.
I think they'll get the contract, but they might not.

Used in the present perfect (might + have + past participle), might is also used to express a

[Link]
hypothetical possibility (affirmative or negative) in the past.
This is particularly common in type 3 conditional clauses.

You're very lucky to be alive; you might have died!

I'm afraid that someone might have heard us.
I might have won if I'd run just a little bit faster.
You might not have broken it if you'd been a bit more careful.
Might and may can both be used to imply politeness or sarcasm.

(Please) may I say how happy I am to be here!

Might I ask what you are doing ?

[Link]
 MODAL OF OBLIGATION:
MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
There are two types of modal verbs of obligation:
 those that primarily express a firm obligation or necessity - must and have to
 those that express a recommendation or moral obligation - should and ought to
MUST AND HAVE TO
The verb must only exists in the simple present and present perfect forms.
While the present form can express obligation, necessity, certainty or strong probability, the
present perfect forms only express a strongly felt opinion or supposition.
Forms of must
Present Present perfect
Affirmative must must have + past participle
Negative Must not, mustn’t Must not have, mustn’t have
If other tenses are required, the speaker or writer must use forms of the synonymous modal verb
"have to".
This modal auxiliary has all normal tenses, including progressive or continuous forms; these are
not common, but need to be used in some cases.
Forms of have to

Present Present perfect Past Future

has to, has had to
Affirmative had to will have to
have to have had to
does not have to,
do not have to , has not had to did not have to will not have to
Negative
doesn't have to have not had to didn't have to won't have to
don't have to
am having to
Progressive or has been having to was having to
is having to, will be having to
continuous have been having to were having to
are having to
EXAMPLES
Firm obligation or necessity:
You must see a doctor at once!
I have to be at school tomorrow at 8 a.m. I have an exam!
You mustn't touch that plate, it's too hot.
I had to see a doctor, because I felt very sick.
I had to break the window ! I lost my key!
The manager isn't here, he's had to go to Paris on urgent business.
Tomorrow the President will have to open Parliament.
She's having to move because she can't stand the noise.
I'm having to take out this detonator very slowly, to avoid an explosion.
Oh you're so kind! You didn't have to do it as well as that!

Certainty or strong probability.

He must be over eighty, he was born in 1930.

[Link]
If my brother's not in London, he has to be in New York.
I've got all the right answers, I must be one of the winners!
If I remember correctly, it has to be here.

Must have only : supposition

I can't find my laptop, I must have left it in the train.
If they're out, they mustn't have heard the news.
Be careful! Take care to distinguish correctly between "had to" and "must have"
They had to go to London = They were obliged to go to London
They must have gone to London. = In my opinion, they have certainly gone to London.
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
The verb should only exists in the simple present, and present perfect forms
Forms of should
Present Present perfect
Affirmative should should have + past participle
Negative Should not, shouldn’t Should not have, shouldn’t have
Forms of ought to
Present Present perfect
Affirmative Ought to Ought to have + past participle
Negative Ought not to Ought not have + past participle
Should and ought to are more or less synonymous
You should stop smoking ( = You ought to stop smoking.)

[Link]