Q1. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ..... eat anything. Q16. Whose is this bag?

e is this bag? - I don’t know, but it ..... belong to Yuta.

cannot could
couldn’t may
mustn’t should
would
Q2. You ..... look at me when I am talking to you. Q17. ..... I go to the bathroom, please?
could May
should Must
would Would

Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ..... be here somewhere! Q18. His excuse ..... be true, but I don’t believe.
can can
could may
must
would Q19. It’s very important to ..... speak more than one language.
can
Q4. You really ..... be late again. be able to
must not
don’t have to be Q20. I don’t like ..... get up early on a Sunday.
being able to
Q5. If you don’t start working harder, you ..... repeat the course next being allowed to
year. having to
have to
must Q21. ..... you speak French? - Only a few words, but my Russian is pretty
will have to good.
Can
Q6. His parents spoil him. He’s always ..... to do whatever he wants. Could
been able
been allowed Q22. ..... you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible.
Choose the more polite request.)
Q7. Phone her now. She ..... home by now. Can
has to be Could
must be
would be Q23. I ..... talk already before I was two years old.
could
Q8. You ..... forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot! should
don’t have to would
mustn’t
needn’t Q24. I ..... help you, but I don’t want to.
can
Q9. I ..... be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet. could
might would
would
Q25. ..... you open the window, please.
Q10. Entrance to the museum was free. We ..... pay to get in. Can
needn’t May
didn’t need to
Q26. I ..... move the table. It was too heavy.
Q11. Already as a child Mozart ..... play the piano beautifully. couldn’t
could mustn’t
should shouldn’t
would wouldn’t

Q12. Which sign are you more likely to see at an airport: Bags ..... not Q27. You ..... not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
be left unattended. must not
can do not have to
must
may Q28. If you continue to practise so hard, you ..... beat me before too
long!
Q13. I really ..... try to get fit. can
may could
must will be able to
would
Q14. ..... take a photograph of you? Q29. ..... you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)
Am I allowed to Are you able to
May I Can
Q15. Students ..... borrow up to 6 books at any time.
are allowed to Q30. You ..... eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for you.
could don’t have to
mustn’t
shouldn’t
Q31. I’m afraid I ..... play tennis tomorrow. I’ve got a dentist Q36. Why didn’t you tell me? I ..... you!
appointment. could help
can’t could have helped
couldn’t was able to help
would not be able to would help

Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you ...... Q37. How did you do in the test? - Ok. It ..... worse!
have to could be
don’t have to could have been
mustn’t might be
would have been
Q33. What do you want to do? - Well, we ..... have a picnic, but it
looks like rain. Q38. He ..... broken the classroom window. He wasn’t even in
can school today.
could couldn’t have
should mustn’t
would shouldn’t have

Q34. I’m so hungry I ..... eat a horse! Q39. You ..... tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!
can don’t have to be
could can’t be
must mustn’t be
should
Q40. She ..... be very pleased with herself. She got the best
Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You ..... be late. grades.
don’t have to has to
mustn’t must
cannot

1 - __________ you speak French? - Only a few words, but my 6 - I __________ move the table. It was too heavy.
Russian is pretty good. A - couldn't B - mustn't
A – Can B – Could C - shouldn't D - wouldn't

2 - You __________ eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for you. 7 - You__________ not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
A - don’t have to B – must C - shouldn’t A - must not B - do not have to

3 - I__________ talk already before I was two years old. 8 - If you continue to practice so hard, you __________ beat me
A - could B – should C – would before too long!
A – can B – could C - will be able to
4 - I__________ help you, but I don’t want to.
A – can B – could C – would 9 - __________ you swim?
A – Should B – Can C – Must
5 - __________ you open the window, please.
A – Can B – May C - Might 10 - __________ you help me move this table?
A – Can B – May C – Shall

1. _________ I have more cheese on my sandwich? 6. The passengers _________wear their seatbelts at all times.
a) Must b) Could a) could b) must
c) Would d) Have to c) can d) may

2. You _________ eat more vegetables. 7. We _________ go to the concert if the rain stops. We don't know
a) should for sure.
b) might a) mustn't b) might
c) may c) have to c) wouldn't
d) could3. I _________ like to buy the same television for my house.
a) could b) must 8. I _________ ice skate very well.
c) would d) have to a) can b) may
c) must d) should
4. _________ I have a coffee please?
a) Must b) Have to 9. The boys _________wake up earlier than 7:30 am. They have class
c) May d) Would at 8:00 am.
a) would b) can't
5. You _________ smoke near children. c) could d) have to
a) have to b) may
c) shouldn't d) couldn't 10. The rock band _________play very well last year. Now they are
much beter.
a) must b) couldn't
c) can c) should
 Must have - Might have - Should have - Can't have

1. John _______________ gone on holiday. I saw him this morning downtown.

2. Nobody answered the phone at the clinic. It _____________ closed early.
3. I ________________ revised more for my exams. I think I'll fail!
4. Sarah looks really pleased with herself. She _____________________ passed her driving test this morning.
5. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You ______________________ told me!
6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He ____________________caught the wrong train.
7. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He _________________________caught the correct train.
8. Don't lie to me that you were ill yesterday. You _______________________ been ill - Don said you were at the ice hockey match last night.
9. I don't know where they went on holiday but they bought Euros before they left so they_________________ gone to France or Germany.
10. His number was busy all night – he ____________________________ been on the phone continuously for hours.
11. It __________________ been Mickey I saw at the party. He didn't recognise me at all.

Exercise 1

Martha was looking out of the window when she noticed the clouds in the sky. "Wow," she called, "it seems like it ________________ rain."
Martha: Philip! I think you ___________________ take the umbrella with you.
Philip: Oh no… The umbrella is too big! I ________________ not carry it by myself. I _______________ rather leave it at home.
Martha: What are you talking about? You _________________ get wet for sure!
Philip: You know, Martha, people _____________________ get wet. It's not the end of the world. _____________ I just go without it?
Martha: No, you ________________ not. Janet told her husband that he ________ leave without his umbrella and look what happen to him.
Philip: What happened to him?
Martha: ___________________ you please stop talking and take your umbrella with you?
Philip: There aren't that many clouds in the sky. It ______________________ not rain after all.
Martha: You __________________ be joking.
Philip: Well, a man ___________________ do what a man do. I ___________ take the umbrella. ______________ I take anything else?
Martha: If I were you I _______________ be happy to take an umbrella.
Philip: I _______________ like to be happy, but it's too heavy!

Exercise 2

Martha and Philip were walking down the street when Martha stopped.
Martha: Philip, Look! _________you see that lady on the other side of the street?
Philip: Yes, I … There _____________ be something special about her if you ask…
Martha: Yes, there is! She looks just like my boss. It _______________ be her. ____________ I go and talk with her?
Philip: _____________ you like to go and talk with her?
Martha: I _____________ say that the answer is "no."
Philip: Well, then…
Martha: No, Philip, wait! It _____________ be her, and she notice me and think bad things about me.
Philip: Why ______________ she think bad things about you?
Martha: She ______________ think I'm impolite.
Philip: If you are so worried about it, then just go and talk with her. You ____________ introduce us.
Martha: I __________ not talk with her. I don't like her.
Philip: Ok, so can we just go? It ____________ be eight o'clock by now. We _________________ miss the movie if we don't go now.
Martha and Philip continue walking, but Martha is troubled, "Is it really her? Who ________________ she be?"
Quiz on Modal Verbs

Fill in the each blank with the most appropriate modal auxiliary.

1. Mary's trip took much longer than we had expected, so she (be) very tired.
2. You (pay) for the drinks. They are served free of charge in honor of the grand opening.
3. I bought a cassette player for my presentation tomorrow, but Celine phoned and reminded me that she wouldn't use hers on my
presentation date. As a result I spent my money in vain. Indeed, I (buy) it.
4. Nobody applied for the vacant position and we urgently need a secretary. It's just my fault, I (fire) Helen yesterday.
5. Our television set isn't working. It (damage) before delivery.
6. Selim decided not to join us for the party. He (stay) at the dorm to finish his graduation thesis.
7. This car is in terrible condition - you (have) an accident any time.
8. Karen (live) in our neighbourhood. I regularly see her every day.
9. I (take) some cash with me, the restaurant may not accept credit cards.
10. The exam yesterday was very hard, despite this I (get) a passing grade.
11. I am asking if you hold your breath for 5 minutes.
12. You (see) my bother this morning as he has been in England for a year.
13. I rather not go by car if you don't mind.
14. You (worry) about paying your credit card debt. I have already done it.
15. I (phone) you even if I had wanted to do so, because there were no phones at around.
 Obligation and Necessity — weak to strong

You must not to be a unkind. (forbidden) I forbid you to be unkind. (forbidden)

a good ideaYou could try to be a little nicer. (an idea, an a good ideaConsider being a little nicer. (an idea, an
option) option)
mildly recommendedYou ought to try to be a little nicer. mildly recommendedWhy don't you try to be a little nicer.
(mildly recommended) (mildly recommended)
recommendedYou should try to be a little nicer. It would be a good idea if you were a little nicer
(recommendation) recommendedI suggest you try to be a little nicer.
strongly recommendedYou had better try to be a little (recommendation)
nicer. (strongly recommended) strongly recommendedI advise that you try to be a little
obligationYou must try to be a little nicer. (obligation) nicer. (strongly recommended)
imperativeBe a little nicer. (imperative) obligationYou need to be a little nicer. (obligation)
You have to be a little nicer. (obligation)
imperativeBe a little nicer, or else… (imperative)
Modal Verbs - by Viv Quarry ([Link])

In order to understand English modal verbs, it is important to recognise how they can be used. Modal verbs in English can be used in TWO
WAYS:

1. To show LEVELS OF PROBABILITY (deduction).

2. To perform SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS (additional meaning) like obligation, permission etc.

MODAL VERBS USED TO SHOW LEVELS OF PROBABILITY

LEVEL OF MODAL TIME = TIME =

PROBABILITY VERB PRESENT & FUTURE PAST
CERTAINTY WILL (Be) He'll be here by Friday. That will / would have been Susan who
called.
It won't / wouldn't have been John, I
CERTAINTY WON'T (Be) She won't be here. think he's in São Paulo.
IMPOSSIBILITY CAN'T Be It can't be Fred, he's in the USA. He can't / couldn't have written this,
COULDN'T Be It couldn't be right. he doesn't speak Arabic.
PROBABILITY MUST (Be) He must be right, he's an expert He must have finished by now, he's a
(LOGICAL) in this area. fast worker.
PROBABILITY SHOULD (Be) He should be finishing now, He should have finished by now, the
(LOGICAL + he's a fast worker. exam's nearly over.
PREFERENCE)
POSSIBILITY MIGHT (Be) They might win, but I doubt it. If they had played better, they might
have won.
POSSIBILITY MIGHT NOT (Be) It's very cloudy, but I might not If I hadn't read that book I might not
rain. have passed the exam.
POSSIBILITY MAY (Be) We may go to Greece for our She may have got lost.
holidays.
POSSIBILITY MAY NOT (Be) I may not arrive on time. He may not have done it.
POSSIBILITY COULD (Be) You could be right, but I doubt He could have had an accident even
it. though he's a very good driver.
 MODAL VERBS USED TO PERFORM SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS
MODAL TIME = TIME =
FUNCTION VERB PRESENT& FUTURE PAST
COMPULSION MAKE SB (Do) She makes them tidy their The teacher made them write it out six
room. times.
PROHIBITION CAN'T/NOT ALLOWED TO My dad says that I can't see you She wasn't allowed to see him
anymore. anymore.
PERMISSION MAY (Be) May I go now? I was allowed to go.
STRONG MUST (Do) I must remember to pay the I had to apologize.
OBLIGATION phone bill.
STRONG MUSTN'T (Do) Mother: "you mustn't play with The children weren't allowed to play
OBLIGATION matches." outside.
NO OBLIGATION DON'T HAVE TO (Do) I don't have to wake up early I was happy that I didn't have to see
on Saturdays. him again.
NO OBLIGATION NEEDN'T (Do) You needn't pay it now if you You needn't have done it, but I'm glad
don't want to. you did.
NO OBLIGATION DON'T NEED TO (Do) I don't need to study French He didn't need to revise for the exam.
anymore.
DUTY SUPPOSED TO Your supposed to arrive at You were supposed to have done this
work at 8am. by now.
DUTY NOT SUPPOSED TO You not supposed to be here! I wasn't supposed to have been at the
meeting.
FORMAL WOULD (Do) I'd arrive on time if I were you. I would have arrived on time if I'd been
ADVICE him.
FORMAL WOULDN'T (Do) I wouldn't do that if I were you. I wouldn't have done that if I'd been
ADVICE him.
INFORMAL SHOULD (Do) You should always dress well at You should have dressed well at the
ADVICE interviews. interview.
INFORMAL SHOULDN'T (Do) You shouldn't speak to him like You shouldn't have spoken to him like
ADVICE that. that.
INFORMAL OUGHT TO (Do) You ought to be here earlier. You ought to have been there earlier.
ADVICE
INFORMAL NOT OUGHT TO (Do) You didn't ought to touch that. You didn't ought to have done that.
ADVICE
REQUESTS CAN (I/you) Can/Could you help me, I asked him to help me.
please?
ABILITY CAN (Do) I can speak English. I could speak English when I was five.
ABILITY BE ABLE TO (Do) Will you be able to come? She was able to answer all the
questions.
ABILITY MANAGE TO (Do) Does he manage to get here on He managed to rescue her.
time?
NORMAL WILL She'll always do her homework. She would always do her homework.
BEHAVIOUR
OFFERS WILL I'll help you with that. I'd have helped you.
OFFERS SHALL Shall I give you a hand. I should have helped you.
SUGGESTIONS SHALL (LET'S) Shall we meet at 9pm? I suggested meeting at 9.
WILLINGNESS WON'T (Do) I won't do it! She wouldn't do it.
Before using a modal verb, you must decide whether you are using it to show probability or possibility.

If the answer to this question is YES, then the present and future form will be:

+ VERB + OBJECT
MODAL VERB + BE + NOUN / ADJECTIVE
+ BE + GERUND

E.g. They may arrive on time. or

He might be the right person for the job. or

She should be arriving in a few minutes.

and the past form will be:

MODAL VERB + PRESENT PERFECT

E.g. It must have been a very difficult exam, everyone's looking worried.

If the answer to the question above is NO then things are much more complicated and you will have to learn the modal verb used, and its past
tense form, depending on the function.

Modal verbs - Difficult cases

Probability and possibility.

CAN

'Could be' or 'could have been' mean that something is possible but you are NOT CERTAIN.

E.g. "Where's John?"

"I don't know. He could still be at home" or
"I don't know. He could have gone home" (I've got no idea, it's just a guess)

BUT 'Can't be' or 'can't have been' are used to say that something is not possible: you are CERTAIN.

E.g. "Where's John?"

"I don't know. He can't still be at home because I've just come from there." or
"I don't know. He can't have gone home because his car's still here." or
"I don't know. He couldn't have gone home, I've just seen his car."
('Couldn't be' has the same meaning but is slightly weaker)

Specific functions

MUST AND HAVE TO

'Must' is used when the speaker has AUTHORITY to oblige someone to do something.

E.g. (Doctor to patient) "You must stop smoking immediately."

(Mother to child) "John. You mustn't speak like that to your grandmother."
(To yourself) "I must remember to buy my mother a present."
THE PAST OF 'MUST' IS 'HAD TO'.

E.g. I had to remember to take my car keys with me when I went to the airport.

When the obligation comes from another person or organization, HAVE TO is used.

E.g. "I have to get up early tomorrow." (My job or a trip is obliging me to get up early)
"How many years do you have to work before you can retire?" (Obligation from rules)

Note! the pronunciation of 'have to' is /HAFTA/

Only 'Have to' is possible in the will future or the present perfect.

'MUSTN'T' means that there is an obligation NOT TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT 'DON'T HAVE TO' means that there is NO OBLIGATION.

E.g. (Teacher to student) "You mustn't forget to revise your modal verbs before the exam,
but you probably won't have to answer any difficult questions"

The past of mustn't is 'not be allowed to'.

E.g. "My mother told me that I wasn't allowed to talk to strange men."

CAN FOR ABILITY

'Can' (do something), 'can't' (do something) and 'couldn't' (do something) are used with stative verbs and when the ability is GENERAL.

E.g. "When the light went off I couldn't see anything." (stative verb)
"I could swim when I was six years old." (I could swim at any time after 6 years old)

When you want to talk about ABILITY ON ONE SPECIFIC OCCASION you must use BE ABLE TO or MANAGED TO.

E.g. I wasn't able to fix the engine because I didn't have the parts I needed.

Managed to is used to stress the successful completion of the activity.

E.g. The girl was drowning, but the lifeguard managed to save her.

In the present 'can' and 'be able to' are sometimes interchangeable, but in the will future or in perfect tenses, 'be able to' or 'managed to'
must be used.

REQUESTS

The modal verb which is used for a request depends on THE LEVEL OF FORMALITY.

In FORMAL SITUATIONS you can use WOULD or DO YOU MIND (DOING STH.).

E.g. "Would/Do you mind if I open the window?" or

"Would you mind turning down the music a bit?" (Talking to someone you don't know well)
In INFORMAL SITUATIONS use CAN (YOU DO STH.).

E.g. "Dad, can we go to the cinema on Saturday?" or

"John, can you pass me that book?" (Talking to a good friend or a member of your family)

In nearly ALL SITUATIONS you can use COULD (YOU DO STH. FOR ME).

E.g. "Could you help me with this exercise, please?" or

"Could I have six pounds of potatoes, please? (At home, in class or in shops)

OFFERS

WILL and SHALL are used when making offers.

WILL means I'M OFFERING TO HELP YOU.

It is usually used when you are talking to someone you know well, and it is obvious that you can help them.

E.g. "Oh dear. There are so many dishes to wash!"

"I'll help you do the washing up."

SHALL means I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU.

It is usually used when you are talking to someone you don't know very well or when it is not clear that you can be of help.

E.g. "Oh dear! These suitcases are very heavy."

"Excuse me. Shall I help you with them?" (Two people who don't know each other) or
"I'd like to go to a party next Friday, but I haven't got anyone to look after my son."
"Shall I baby-sit for you?" (I'm not qualified, but I'll help you if you like)

SHALL can also be used to make a suggestion. E.g. "Shall we go to the cinema tonight?"

WILL FOR CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR

When using this structure it should be contracted when writing and not stressed when speaking.

E.g. "He'll always be there when you need help."

If it is stressed when speaking, it means that the behaviour is annoying.

E.g. "He will keep on interrupting me."

NEEDN'T HAVE DONE v DIDN'T NEED TO DO

Needn't have done sth. means the action was completed, but was unnecessary.
E.g. "You needn't have bought any butter. We've got lots of it."

Using 'didn't need to do sth.', we don't know if the action was completed, just that it wasn't necessary.
E.g. "I didn't need to do any shopping because I was eating out that night."

ntroduction - Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Auxiliary Verbs are a very rich area of the English language. They are used with great frequency and with a wide range of meanings.

can could may might will

would shall should /ought to must need

All of them (except for NEED) can express degress of certainty, probability or possibility of an event. But they can also express ideas such
as willingness and ability, permission and refusal, obiligation and prohibition, suggestion, necessity, promiseand intention.

Modal Verbs expressing certainty, probability or possibility

In order of certainty:
WILL and WON'T are used to predict a future event or action which are seen as certain. The truth or certainty of what is asserted is more or
less taken for granted.

 I will see you later.

 His latest book will be out next month.
WILL and WON'T are also used to express what we believe or guess to be true about the present. They indicate an assumptionbased on our
knowledge of people and things, their routine, character and qualities.

 Don't take the meat out of the oven. It won't be ready yet.
MUST is used to assert what we infer or conclude to be the most logical or rational interpretation of a situation or event. As we do not have all
the facts, it is less certain than will. The negative form is CAN'T.

 He walked across the Sahara desert! You must be joking!.

 She can't have a ten-year old daughter! She's only twenty-five herself!
SHOULD expresses what may reasonably be expected to happen. Expectation means believing that things are or will be as we want them to
[Link] use of SHOULD carries the meaning of "if everything goes according to the plan, then something should happen"; therefore it doesn't
suggest negative or unpleasant ideas.

 You have worked hard. You should pass the exam.

 If the flight was on time, he should have arrived in Jakarta early this morning.
MAY expresses the possibility that something will happen or is already happening.

 We may go to Spain this year. We haven't decided yet.

 A - "Where's Sandra?" B - "I don't know. She may be having a bath".
MIGHT, like may, expresses possibility, but is more tentative and slightly less certain.

 I might not be back in time for supper, so don't wait for me.
 It might rain. Take your umbrella.
CAN is used to say that something is possible and actually happens.

 It can be expensive to keep a dog (it can be and sometimes is).

We also use CAN to indicate that there is a very real possibility of a future event happening.

 We can stay with Jessica in London (we will be able to stay)

COULD expresses the theoretical possibility of something happening. It is used in a similar way to might.

 It could be expensive to keep a dog (if we had one, it could or it may not be expensive)
It also suggests that something is less likely or that there is some doubt about it.

 We could stay with Jessica in London (it's possible, if she's there)

Could not is not used to express a future possibility. The negative of could is MIGHT NOT.

 It might not be right.

Couldn't has a similar meaning to can't, but only slightly weaker. Compare it to the previous example.

 She couldn't have a ten-year old daughter! She's only twenty-five herself!
OUGHT TO, as well as SHOULD, + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE are used to talk about an expectation that something happened, has happened, or
will happen.

 If the flight was on time, he should/ought to have arrived in Paris early this morning.
 The builders should/ought to have finished by the end of the week.
Other uses of modal auxiliary verbs
Obligation and Advice: MUST / HAVE TO / SHOULD / OUGHT TO / HAD BETTER

MUST and MUST NOT are used in formal rules and regulations and in warnings. They express strong obligation, the opinion of the speaker and
are associated with a more formal, written style. We can also use it to remind ourselves to do something.

 Bookings must be made at least seven days before departure (formal rule)
 You mustn't steal. It's very naughty (strong negative obligation, opinion of the speaker)
 I must phone Steve when I get home. I said I'd call him last night, but I forgot (to remind ourselves to do something)
HAVE TO expresses a general obligation based on a law or rule, or based on the authority of another person.

 Children have to go to school until they're sixteen (It's the law)

DON'T HAVE TO expresses the absence of obligation.

 You don't have to go to England if you want to learn English.

Sometimes we can use either HAVE TO or HAVE GOT TO. But we use HAVE TO with frequency adverbs such
as always, never,normally, rarely, sometimes, etc.

 I often have to work at the weekend to get everything done.

With the past simple HAD TO is used especially in questions and negative sentences.

 When did you have to give it back?

 We didn't have to wait too long for an answer
If HAVE is contracted, then we must include GOT. It is often preferred in informal speech.

 The experiment has failed twice before, so it's got to work this time.
 Don't have a late night. We've got to get up early tomorrow.
Sometimes it is possible to find MUST and HAVE TO together. In this case MUST signifies a logical interpretation and HAVE TO an obligation.
For a present situation:

 Now John's mother is nearly 90 she must have to be looked after.

For a past situation:

 I don't know where Sarah is. I presume she must have had to go out to meet someone.
We can often use either SHOULD or OUGHT TO to talk about obligations and recommendations, although SHOULD is much more common.
They describe a sort of obligation where you have a choice.

 I think you should wear your glasses whenever you feel like watching TV.
 I haven't heard from Evelyn for ages. Do you think I should give her a ring?
 I don't think parents should/ought to give their children sweets
We can use HAD BETTER instead of SHOULD/OUGHT TO, especially in spoken English, to say that we think it is a good idea to do something.
We prefer it if we want to express particular urgency and in demands and threats.

 If you are not well, you'd better ask Ann to go instead (good idea to do something)
 There's someone moving about downstairs. We'd better call the police, quickly. (urgency)
The negative form is HAD BETTER NOT. In question forms the subject comes after HAD.

 He'd better not be late again or he'll be in trouble.

 Hadn't we better get a taxi?
Permission: MAY / MIGHT / CAN / COULD
They are used asking for permission, or saying whether we or other people have it. To talk about permission generally, or permission in the
past, we use CAN or COULD. MAY is used to ask for and give permission but it sounds very formal.

 Can/Could I borrow your car tonight?

 May I help you?
Ability: CAN / COULD

CAN expresses ability or is used to say what someone knows how to do, or what is possible. The past is expressed by COULD.

 I can speak three languages.

 Thanks to his new glasses, he could make out what was written on the notice.
In these sentences we can also use ABLE TO without any important change of meaning. To express a fulfilled ability on one particular occasion
in the past, COULD is not used. Instead, we use WAS ABLE TO or MANAGED TO.

 She was able to survive by clinging onto the wrecked boat.

 The prisoner managed to escape by climbing onto the roof.
There is a useful difference of meaning between COULD and WAS/WERE ABLE TO: the latter form says not only that you could do something (it
was possible for you), but also that you did it.

 a) The door was open and he could go into the room.

 b) The door was open and he was able to go into the room.
In sentence a) (COULD) we only know for sure that it was possible; Sentence b) (WAS ABLE) tells us also that he managed to get in,
he succeeded in getting in.

Modal verbs and their meaning

What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary

verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which
behave irregularly in English. They are different from
normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give
additional information about the function of the main
verb that follows it. They have a great variety
of communicative functions.

Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

 They never change their form. You can't add "s",

"ed", "ing"...
 They are always followed by an infinitive without
"to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
 They are used to indicate modality allow
speakers to express certainty, possibility,
willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

List of modal verbs

Here is a list of modal verbs:

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal
auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to the above list

Use of modal verbs:

Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:

1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
8. probability

Examples of modal verbs

Here is a list of modals with examples:

Modal Verb Expressing Example

Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
must
logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day
long.

must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

ability I can swim.

can permission Can I use your phone please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone please?

may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of

need not
obligation tomatoes in the fridge.

should/ought 50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible

to headache.
 advice You should / ought to revise your lessons

logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been

working all day long.

had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons

Remember

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.

Examples:

 You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

 You should see to the doctor.
 There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.

Modals in the Present and Past

Modals in the present and past

Generally speaking modals in the past have the following form:

 modal + have + past participle

Example:

 Present:
You should see a doctor.
 Past:
You should have seen a doctor

Except for modals that express obligation,ability and lack of necessity:

 Obligation:
Present = I must / have to work hard. -- Past = I had to work hard.
 Ability:
Present = I can run fast. -- Past = I could run fast when I was young.
 Lack of necessity:
Present = You don't have to / needn't take your umbrella. -- Past = You didn't have to /
didn't need to take your umbrella.

Modals in the Present Modals in the Past

Obligation You must / have to stop when the traffic You had to stop.
lights are red.

Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor

Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked there.
Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.

Certainty He has a Rolls Royce. He must be very He must have been rich. He had a
rich. big house and an expensive car.
He can't be American. His English is He can't have written that poem.
terrible. He was illiterate.

Permission Can I go out? She could drive her father's car

when she was only 15.

Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. It's I guess it may / can / could /
cloudy. might have been Lacy on the
phone.

Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy any You didn't have to / didn't
necessity tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge. need to buy tomatoes.

Modals in the Present and Past

Modals in the present and past

Generally speaking modals in the past have the following form:

 modal + have + past participle

Example:

 Present:
You should see a doctor.
 Past:
You should have seen a doctor

Except for modals that express obligation,ability and lack of necessity:

 Obligation:
Present = I must / have to work hard. -- Past = I had to work hard.
 Ability:
Present = I can run fast. -- Past = I could run fast when I was young.
 Lack of necessity:
Present = You don't have to / needn't take your umbrella. -- Past = You didn't have to /
didn't need to take your umbrella.

Modals in the Present Modals in the Past

Obligation You must / have to stop when the traffic You had to stop.
lights are red.

Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor

Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked there.
Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.

Certainty He has a Rolls Royce. He must be very He must have been rich. He had a
rich. big house and an expensive car.
He can't be American. His English is He can't have written that poem.
terrible. He was illiterate.

Permission Can I go out? She could drive her father's car

when she was only 15.

Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. It's I guess it may / can / could /
cloudy. might have been Lacy on the
phone.

Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy any You didn't have to / didn't
necessity tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge. need to buy tomatoes.

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