Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

Modals = Modal Auxiliaries Verbs = Helping Verbs = Special Verbs

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 Why do we say
“Helping or Special Verbs”?
• Modals don’t have an –s, -ed, or ing ending.
o He can drive (NOT: He cans drive)

• Don’t use an infinitive with modals

o He can go. (NOT: He can to go)

• To form the negative, put NOT after the modal

o He should not go.

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 Modal Verbs
Modals fall into 3 categories…
[Link] auxiliary verbs:

Be, Have, Do (No meaning)

2. Modal (auxiliary) verbs:

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

3. Semi-modal auxiliary:

Used to, Dare to, ought to and Need to

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 How many Modal(auxiliaries) verbs?
There are only 13 modal auxiliary verbs which include
their past forms…
Present Tense              Past Tense
can                               could
may                            might
must                            --
ought                            --
shall                            should
will                                 would
Need --
Dare --
Used to
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 CAN
 Use Examples
 Ability to do something in the present I can speak English.

 Permission to do sth in the present Can I go to the cinema?

 Request Can you wait a moment, please?

 Offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

 Suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

 Possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

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 COULD
 Use Examples
• Ability to do something in the PAST I could walk when I
was two.
• Permission to do something in the Past I could go to the
movies when I was a teenager.
• Polite question Could I go to the cinema, please?
• Polite request Could you wait a moment, please?
• Polite offer I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
• Polite suggestion Could we visit Grandma at the
weekend?
• Possibility It could get very hot in Montana.

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 Shall
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most
commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often
found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is
also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In
formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events
often expresses predictability or predestination. Examples:
 Shall I help you? SUGGESTION
 I shall never forget where I came from. PROMISE
 He shall become our next king. PREDESTINATION
 I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director.
PREDICTABILITY

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 SHOULD
 To give advice (it’s good – it’s a good idea / not good to do or bad idea)
• You shouldn’t smoke.
• You should exercise.

•  Saying what’s right or correct

• We should sort out this problem at once.

•  Recommending action
• I think we should check everything again.

•  Uncertain prediction
• Profits should increase next year.

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 Will
• Request / Order (less polite than would)
Will you please close the door?
• Prediction / Assumption
I think it will rain on Saturday.
• Promise
I will stop smoking.
• Spontaneous Decision
Can someone give me a ride? I will.

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 Would
•  Asking for permission
• Would you mind if I brought a colleague with me?
•  Request
• Would you mind waiting a moment?
•  Making arrangements
• "Would three o`clock suit you?" - "That’d be fine."
•  Invitation
• Would you like to play golf this Friday?
•  Preferences
• "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "I’d like tea please."
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 May
Use Examples
 Possibility It may rain today.
 Permission to do sth. in the present
May I go to the cinema?

 Polite suggestion May I help you?

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 Might
Possibility It might rain tomorrow
(*less possible than MAY)

Polite question: (not very common)

Might I borrow your pen?

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 Ought to = should
Advice/it’s right to do it
You ought to drive carefully.

I ought to study tonight.

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 Must (Have to)
Necessity: must = need to, have to
I must go to the supermarket today.
I have to go to the supermarket today.

Legal terms – You have no choice

You must have a valid driver’s license.
You have to have a valid driver’s license.

Strong Possibility (95% sure)

You’ve been driving for 10 hours.
You must be tired. (You have to be tired)

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 MUSTN’T versus DON’T HAVE TO
• We use mustn't to express strong obligations NOT to do something. (You
have NO CHOICE)

We mustn't talk about it. It's confidential.

I mustn't eat chocolate. It's bad for me.
You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed personal calls.
They mustn't see us talking or they'll suspect something.

• We use don't have to to state that there is NO obligation or necessity. (You

can if you want, but you don’t have to)

We don't have to get there on time. The boss is away today.

I don't have to listen to this. I'm leaving.
You don't have to come if you don't want to.
He doesn't have to sign anything if he doesn't want to at this stage.
I don’t have to go. Only if I want to.
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Enjoy Your Practice!

2/21/21 16
 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.

1. Fortunately, I .... working alone otherwise I would have got

really bored at the night shift.

A) was supposed to
B) was to
C) was used to
D) would
E) used to

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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
2. I don't think it was a good idea to intervene, instead,
you .... your child to abandon the habit of thumb-
sucking gradually, all by himself.

A) have allowed
B) had allowed
C) must have allowed
D) were able to allow
E) could have allowed 18
 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
3. After the voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm
at sea, unfortunately, only two of the men on board ....
swim to the small island nearby.

A) might
B) were supposed to
C) could
D) were able to
E) had to
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
4. I don't know why she didn't ask me how to do it as I
---- her.

A) must have helped

B) could have helped
C) might help
D) should have helped
E) could help
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
5. Martin ---- my tennis racket without asking my
permission. I got really angry with him.

A) needn't have taken

B) must not have taken
C) shouldn't have taken
D) didn't need to taken
E) might not have taken
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
6. I don't know why Peter is so late; do you think he
---- lost coming here?

A) may get
B) could get
C) must have got
D) might have got
E) was to have got
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
7. What ---- to Phil? He said he ---- here at eight
o'clock.

A) might have happened / will be

B) should have happened / has been
C) may happen / will have been
D) would happen / is
E) can have happened / would be
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
8. One of the US national security advisers ---- there
---- better intelligence sharing before the September 11
attacks.

A) had acknowledged / can be

B) acknowledges / might be
C) has acknowledged / could have been
D) acknowledged / must be
E) would acknowledge / will have been
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
9. We all think that Maria ---- an interesting person to
meet as we ---- a lot of stories about her so far.

A) is / had heard
B) can be / heard
C) might have been / hear
D) would be / have heard
E) will be / will have heard
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 MODAL VERBS TEST 1

Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the

sentences.
10. As a young woman who had never given birth
before, she ---- what the experience of childbirth ----
like.

A) doesn't know / will be

B) may not know / is
C) must not have known / will be
D) may not know / would be
E) couldn't have known / would be
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 ANSWER: TEST 1

1. C 7. E
2. E 8. C
3. D 9. D
4. B 10. E
5. C
6. D

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
1. Apple Computers ---- the share of the market held by
Microsoft in the late 1990s but unfortunately they
didn't have a clear business plan to more ambitiously
pursue their business goals.

could capture
needn't have captured
should capture
might have captured
might capture 28
 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
2. Many immigrants now agree that they ---- their
traditions when they first settled in America.

shouldn't have given up

don't have to give up
may not have given up
might not give up
needn't give up

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
3. Although working conditions ---- in many
occupations in the past few years, one can never be
safe, particularly in places with higher risk
occupations.

might improve
can't have improved
may have improved
could improve
needn't have improved 30
 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
4. A good supervisor ---- with people who attempt too
much than with those who try too little because hard-
working staff contributes much to all aspects of work.

shouldn't work
would rather work
had better not work
is not able to work
can't work
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
5. If you want to get a good night's sleep, you ---- any
tea or coffee in the evenings.

would rather drink

don't have to drink
mustn't drink
were able to drink
could drink

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
6. Road conditions ---- much in the last fifteen years,
since the government hasn't invested anything to renew
the roads.

must have improved

needn't have improved
didn't need to improve
ought to have improved
can't have improved
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
7. A new report suggests that a vaccine that offers at
least partial protection against HIV ---- available in the
near future.

had to be
could be
used to be
might have been
would rather be
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
8. He ---- technical support when his computer broke
down because he doesn't know much about computers.

must have had

needn't have had
can't have had
didn't have to have
shouldn't have had

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
9. The new steam powered and mechanized farm
equipment .... the work easier but they couldn't get it to
work.

was able to make

can't have made
didn't have to make
might have made
had better make
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 2
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
10. If you plan to take a long trip in the car, you must
get a full tank of gas or you ---- out of gas.

have to run
should have run
had better run
might run
are used to running

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 ANSWER: TEST 2

1. might have captured 7. could be

2. shouldn't have given up 8. must have had
3. may have improved 9. might have made
4. would rather work 10. might run
5. mustn't drink
6. can't have improved

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
1. You ---- the locksmith to open the door for you last
night before you tried to open the door yourself.

must call
ought to have called
have had to call
could call
had better call

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
2. Scientists have found that people who are active at a
moderate level experience a long list of health benefits
and that physical activity ---- vigorous.

has to be
is not used to being
must be
had better be
needn't be
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
3. As well as being a popular tourist site, Trafalgar
Square offers some of the most famous views in the
country, ----?

has it
was it
doesn't it
hasn't it
didn't it
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
4. I ---- an office but I chose to work from home
because everything I need is here.

could have rented

must have rented
may rent
might rent
needn't have rented

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
5. Climbers survive in this so-called death zone above
eight thousand meters because they spend several
months climbing to higher points on the mountain to
---- in those conditions.

used to live
have to live
would rather live
get used to living
had better live 43
 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
6. You ---- down to about 30 kilometers an hour when
you are driving through a school zone between dawn
and dusk.

should have slowed

had to slow
were supposed to live
may have slowed
must slow
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
7. Most advanced aircraft now ---- at supersonic
speeds.

could have fly

shouldn't have fly
are able to fly
had to fly
were supposed to fly

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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
8. When an emergency vehicle is approaching with its
lights and siren on, drivers ---- pull over and stop to get
out of the way.

needn't have moved

must move
can't have moved
didn't need to move
must have moved
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
9. My girlfriend said I ---- her anything for her
birthday, but I think I ---- her some flowers at least or a
nice bottle of wine.

didn't need to buy / should buy

had to buy / can't have bought
should have bought / must buy
don't need to buy / don't have to buy
may not buy / may have bought
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 MODAL VERBS QUIZ - 3
Choose the appropriate modal verbs to complete the
sentences.
10. The prisoner ---- this way; there are no footprints at
all.

may have escaped

needn't have escaped
could have escaped
had to escape
can't have escaped

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 ANSWER: TEST 3

1. ought to have called 6. must slow

2. needn't be 7. are able to fly
3. doesn't it 8. must move
4. could have rented 9. didn't need to buy /
5. get used to living should buy
10. can't have escaped

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 PRACTICE 4

Complete the following exercise with past modal verbs. Use

the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Choose between
affirmative and negative.

1. I got a C on my math test. I (should / do) better

than that.
2-3. Don't be so hard on yourself. It (may / be) your
fault. It just (could / be) a more difficult test
than usual.
4-5. No, it (could / be) that difficult. The rest of the class did
pretty well. I (should / study) harder.
 PRACTICE 4

Complete the following exercise with past modal verbs. Use

the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Choose between
affirmative and negative.

6-7. What you (could / do) differently?

8. Well, for one thing, I (should / miss) that day of
class.
9. You missed a day? Did you get the notes?
10-11. No, I (ought to / copy) them. Some of the problems
which I got wrong (must / come) from that day.
 ANSWER 4

1. should have done

2. may not have been
3. could have been
4. couldn't have been
5. should have studied
6. could
7. have done
8. shouldn't have missed
9. ought to have copied
10. must have come