IEP
MODALS
SPRING
2025
IEP
Generalities SPRING
2025
o MODALS ARE SPECIAL VERBS WHICH BEHAVE
IRREGULARLY IN ENGLISH. THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM
NORMAL VERBS LIKE ”TO WORK, TO PLAY, TO SING,
ETC.”
o NEVER PRECEDED NOR FOLLOWED BY “TO”
o NEVER TAKE “–S” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE THIRD
PERSON SINGULAR NOR “–ING” FORM.
o THEY DON’T NEED “DO, DOES, OR DID” FOR THEIR
NEGATIVE OR INTERROGATIVE FORMS
o CONTRACTED FORMS ARE COMMONLY USED.
IEP
COMMONLY USED MODALS SPRING
2025
MUST
CAN – COULD
MAY – MIGHT
SHALL – SHOULD
WILL – WOULD
OUGHT TO *
NEED *
DARE *
IEP
MODALS NOTIONS/FUNCTIONS SPRING
2025
PERMISSION CERTAINTY
ABILITY ADVICE
CAPACITY POSSIBILITY
OBLIGATION PROBABILITY
LACK OF NECESSITY OPINION
PROHIBITION SPECULATION
ETC.
IEP
CAN SPRING
2025
ABILITY / CAPACITY (BE ABLE TO FOR OTHER TENSES)
EXAMPLES: WRESTLERS CAN LIFT 200 KILOS.
CAN HE SPEAK WOLOF FLUENTLY? - NO, HE CAN'T.
POSSIBILITY
EXAMPLES : HERE THE HOLIDAYS! WE CAN GO TO THE SEASIDE AT LAST.
PROBABILITY
EXAMPLES : IT CAN BE HER. SHE IS LIGHT SKINNED AND VERY TALL.
PERMISSION
EXAMPLES : WHY NOT? YOU CAN USE MY CAR SINCE YOURS BROKE
DOWN.
IEP
COULD SPRING
2025
ABILITY / CAPACITY IN THE PAST (BE ABLE TO)
EXAMPLES: WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I COULD STAY UP ALL NIGHT/COULD
SPEAK GERMAN.
POSSIBILITY (UNCERTAIN)
EXAMPLES : LET’S WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. – IT COULD RAIN TOMORROW.
POLITE PERMISSION / SUGGESTION
EXAMPLES : EXCUSE ME, SIR. COULD I HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU?
UNREALISTIC SITUATION (IT’S SO NICE I COULD SPEND THE
WHOLE DAY HERE)
NB: IF “COULD” MEANS “SUCCEEDED IN OR MANAGED TO,” USE THE
EQUIVALENCE.
IEP
MAY SPRING
2025
PERMISSION (BE ALLOWED TO)
EXAMPLES: MAY I SMOKE HERE? - NO, YOU CAN'T, I'M SORRY.
PREDICTION / PROBABILITY
EXAMPLES : THEY MAY CALL TOMORROW. I HOPE SO.
NB: THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAY AND CAN IS IN STYLE. MAY IS
MORE FORMAL THAN CAN. CAN IS TYPICAL OF SPOKEN ENGLISH.
THE OPPOSITE OF MAY IS MUST NOT OR MAY NOT
EXAMPLES : MAY I SMOKE HERE?
- YOU MUSTN'T SMOKE HERE. (STRONG PROHIBITION)
- YOU MAY NOT SMOKE HERE. (MORE POLITE, VERY FORMAL)
- YOU CAN'T SMOKE HERE. (INFORMAL SPOKEN ENGLISH)
IEP
MIGHT SPRING
2025
MORE POLITE PERMISSION (RARE FORM)
EXAMPLES: MAIGHT I USE YOUR PHONE PLEASE?
WEAK POSSIBILTY
EXAMPLES : I MIGHT COME AND VISIT YOU IN AMERICA NEXT YEAR
IF I CAN SAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
IEP
MUST SPRING
2025
PERSONAL OBLIGATION (HAVE TO EXTERNAL OBLIGATION FOR OTHER
TENSES)
EXAMPLES: I MUST ABIDE BY MY COUNTRY’S LAWS.
RECOMMENDATION (STRONG)
EXAMPLES : YOU MUST SEE IT. IT'S THE BEST FILM I'VE EVER SEEN SO FAR.
CERTAINTY
EXAMPLES : THEY MUST BE AT SCHOOL BY NOW. IT'S ALREADY 9 O'CLOCK.
THE OPPOSITE OF MUST IS NEED NOT
EXAMPLES : MUM, MUST I WASH UP? - NO, YOU NEEDN'T. I’VE ALREADY DONE IT.
NB: ‘MUST NOT’ HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING. IT IS USUALLY USED TO EXPRESS
PROHIBITION THAT INVOLVES THE SPEAKER'S WILL.
IEP
CAREFUL! SPRING
2025
CAN, COULD, MAY (PERMISSION)
MAY, MIGHT, COULD (POSSIBILITY)
MUST VS CAN’T (CERTAINTY)
SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER (ADVICE)
SHALL (OFFERS)
EXERCISE / CFU IEP
SPRING
2025
EXERCISE / CFU
MUSTN’T/NEEDN’T/DON’T HAVE TO IEP
SPRING
2025
IEP
THANK YOU
SPRING
2025