Modal verbs

The presentation is divided into three levels:

= Lower-intermediate/Intermediate
= Upper-intermediate
= Advanced
Modals

modal verbs: introduction

Common modal verbs:

can
could
may
shall might
shoul mus
d will t
would
ought
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level to
Modals

modal verbs: introduction

Basic rules:

• Modals do NOT end in -s in the 3rd person singular

He musts be wrong. → He must be wrong.

• Modals do NOT need an additional auxiliary in negatives or questions.

Do we can contact them? → Can we contact them?

• Most modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future
tenses.

She musted study very hard. → She had to study very hard.
:
• Modals are usually followed by an infinitive without "to ". P T ION o it.
E d
EXC ght to
o u o u
o s t udy.
You must to call them. → You must call them. Y ou need t o come.
Y t
u h a ve
Yo

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

ability, possibility
1. My colleague can/is able to speak five languages.

2. I couldn’t/wasn’t able to lift the box.

3. We can have the meeting in my office.

4. She couldn’t invite them because she didn’t have their phone
numbers.
FORM USE

can / could / be able ability (examples 1, 2)

to

possibility (examples 3, 4)
can/ could

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

ability, possibility
PRESENT POSSIBILITY → We can order office supplies from them.
PAST POSSIBILITY: → They could leave the office at 1 p.m.
FUTURE POSSIBILITY: → She can ask him next week.

PRESENT ABILITY → He can/is able to use the application.

PAST ABILITY: → Mark could/was able to understand the text.
FUTURE ABILITY: → Mark can/will be able to order the parts on Monday.

PAST form PRESENT form FUTURE form

POSITIVE • could • can • can

STATEMENT • was/were able to • am/is/are able to • will be able to

NEGATIVE • couldn’t • cannot/ can’t

• cannot/ can’t
STATEMENT • wasn’t/weren’t able • am not/isn’t/aren’t
• won’t be able to
to able to

It is possible to use CAN to express future: He can come tomorrow.

It usually comes with a future time expression.
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

practice
Complete the sentences with either positive or negative forms of CAN/COULD/ BE
ABLE TO in the correct verb tense:

can’t/ won’t be able

1. They _____________________ sign the contract tomorrow. There is very
to
little time to read it through.
couldn’t /wasn’t able to
2. Steve ___________________leave early yesterday because he was very
busy.

3. Our assistant is looking for the files everywhere, but she

can’t /isn’t able to
_____________________ find them.
could/was able to
4. Their former CEO _________________speak 5 languages.
can’t/ won´t be able/ aren´t
able to
5. We __________________________ help them with the report this morning
because we are leaving for a business trip.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

permission
1. Can I speak to you for a moment? → informal

2. Could I call you tomorrow? → formal

3. May I go out? → formal

POSSIBLE ANSWERS
GIVING PERMISSION REFUSING PERMISSION
Sure. I'm afraid not.
No problem. I prefer you don’t/ didn’t.
Please feel free to….. I’m afraid that’s not possible.

We can also ask for permission with:

• Do you mind if I open the window?
• Would you mind if I asked you something?
• Would it be all right if I borrowed your telephone?

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

requests: present, future

1. Can you recommend a good hotel around here?

2. Could you translate the document for me, please?

3. Will you go over the contract with me, please?

4. Would you give me a hand with these suitcases?

To make a request (to ask someone to do something) we

can use can, could, will, would. We can add the word
possibly to make the request more polite.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

prohibition
1. Students must not leave bicycles here.

2. Passengers mustn’t talk to the driver.

We can use must not to talk about the present or the future:
• Visitors must not smoke. (present)
• I mustn’t forget Tara's birthday. (future)

We cannot use must not to talk about the past. We use “be allowed
to“ to talk about the past.
• We were not allowed to enter.
• He wasn’t allowed to use the company car for personal purposes.

“Be allowed to“ can be used in other verb tenses as well. Example: I won’t
be allowed to use the dictionary. It’s not allowed to smoke here.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

practice
Choose the correct modal verb:

1. Could/May you explain it to me again, please?

2. Look at the sign! You couldn’t/mustn’t park here.

3. Would/May you help me with the chart?

4. Mr. President, can/may I ask you a question?

5. They mustn’t/weren’t allowed to leave without his permission

yesterday.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

opinions and advice: present

• We should /shouldn’t subcontract the work to a cheaper company.
ACTIVE
should/shouldn’t infinitive without to

• This document should/shouldn’t be used for immigration purposes.

PASSIVE
should/shouldn’t be past participle

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

practice
Complete the sentences with SHOULD/ SHOULDN’T

1. You _______
shouldoffer your clients a better service.
2. This competitive threatshould
_______ be taken seriously if we
want to succeed in this project.
3. You _________
shouldn’t forget about booking the meeting room.
4. We ________
shouldbe more cautious when investing in stocks.
5. No company _________
should hire new employees during a
financial crisis.
6. They shouldn’t
_________ cut costs because it would affect quality.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

obligation: present

1. I must say I don’t think our marketing strategy is efficient.

2. I have to work very long hours at the moment.

3. I need to deal with the new partners as soon as possible.

FORM USE
personal obligation (example 1)
must (I want to do something)
have to + external obligation (somebody else
have got to (informal) infinitive wants me to do something) (example 2)
without to
something very important and
need to necessary for someone to do (example 3)

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

no obligation/no necessity: present

• We don’t have to wear safety shoes at this workplace.
• The manager doesn’t need to cut the advertising budget.
• I needn’t call him back.
FORM USE
don’t have to/doesn’t have NO obligation
+
to
don’t need to/doesn’t need infinitive NO necessity
to without to
needn’t NO necessity

These modal verbs mean the same.

Do NOT confuse them with MUSTN’T which shows prohibition
(something that is not allowed).

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

practice
Choose the appropriate form of a modal verb:

1. We mustn’t / need / must cut our prices to remain competitive.

2. You don’t have to/ have to / needn’t let the staff know in advance or
there will be a problem.

3. He mustn’t / need to / needn’t pay tax because he is a nonresident.

4. The company doesn’t have to / has to / mustn’t spend much on the

business trip because travel expenses are very low.

5. There are often traffic jams, so we don’t need to /need to /needn’t

leave earlier to get to the airport, or we won’t catch our plane.

Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
Modals

prohibition
• We must not disclose the information regarding the acquisition.
• Employees may not wear dirty shoes in the office.
• You cannot/can not/can’t sell alcohol in this public place.
• You are not allowed to sign the document on behalf of your boss.

VERB OF PROHIBITION DEGREE OF FORMALITY

must not (mustn’t) more formal

+
may not infinitive
formal
can not / cannot / can’t without to informal (especially in the contracted
form)
not be allowed to both formal an informal

NOTE: Not be allowed to can be used in various tenses. Can’t is used in the
present and couldn’t in the past. Must not and may not do not have a past
or future form.
Upper-intermediate level
Modals

practice
Choose the sentence expressing prohibition.

1. I wasn’t able to get hold of Mr. Roddy; he was out of his office
✗
all day. ✓
2. I’m sure he wouldn’t be allowed to authorize the transaction.
3. The travel agent said he couldn’t
✓ provide us with the
information without his ✗
boss’s agreement.
4. May I use your cell phone? ✓
5. We mustn’t exceed the budget of the project. ✓
6. Receptionists may not wear casual clothes ✓ in our company.
7. We can’t use office paper for private
✗ purposes.
8. Contributions must be paid monthly. ✗
9. You can’t be serious! Is the company really ✓going bankrupt?
10. I’m not allowed to share the content of these files.

Upper-intermediate level
Modals

permission
Look at the sample sentences:
• We may smoke in the designated smoking area at work.
• Students can apply for the exchange program online.
• I could use a company car for private trips in the previous job.
• You are allowed to stay at the hotel longer if you let your supervisor know in
advance.
• May I borrow your laptop?
• Can I give the presentation in German?
• Could we change the venue of the conference?
verb of permission degree of formality function tense forms

may + bare infinitive formal talking about present

permission
can + bare infinitive informal talking about present
could + infinitive semi-formal permission past

be allowed to + bare infinitive both formal and informal talking about present, past,
permission future
may + sb. + infinitive formal asking permission present

can + sb. + infinitive informal asking permission present

could + sb. + infinitive semi-formal past

Upper-intermediate level
Modals

practice
Read the sentences below and complete them with the appropriate
form of a modal verb based on the indicated degree of formality:

May I see your latest catalogue? (formal)

1. ________
can contact us daily from 8 am to 5 pm. (informal)
2. You ______

3. The executivescould
________ see the factory with a guide. (semi-
formal)
were allowed to
4. Could
We ______________ access the restricted area. (formal/informal)

5. ________
mayI arrange an appointment with you? (semi-formal)

6. You ________ park your car here. (formal)

Upper-intermediate level
Modals

speculating about the present /

future
Look at the sample sentences:
• The figures must be correct; I calculated all of it thoroughly.
• This plan can’t succeed. It will certainly increase our costs.
• John may/could/might be off sick today as he was unwell yesterday.
• They may/might not discuss the issue with you, I think it is rather confidential.

modals meaning
must + bare infinitive someone’s certainty that something is true

can’t + bare infinitive someone’s certainty that something is not true

may, could, might + bare infinitive someone’s belief that perhaps something is true
may not, might not + bare infinitive someone’s belief that perhaps something is not true

A speculation or belief may not necessarily be a statement of a fact (reality).

NOTE: We do not combine these modals with the modal verb WILL to indicate
the future.
Upper-intermediate level
Modals

practice
Replace the words in italics with the correct form of appropriate modal
verbs.

1. They are certainly in favor of starting a new project.

must
They ________ be in favor of starting a new project.

2. Maybe, the
mayCEO will not resign.
not/might not
The CEO ________________resign.

3. I’m sure can’t

they won’t enter the cosmetics market.

They __________ enter the cosmetics market.

4. We don’t know their post code, but perhaps may/might/could

the secretary knows it.

We don’t know their post code, but the secretary_______________ know it.

Upper-intermediate level
Modals

speculating about the past

Look at the sample sentences:
• I’m sure you dialed the wrong number. = You must have dialed the wrong
number.
• I’m sure they didn’t falsify the accounts. = They can’t/couldn’t have falsified
the accounts.
• Maybe he made a mistake on the invoice. = He may/might/could have made a
mistake on the invoice.
• Maybe they haven’t finished yet. = We are only 10 minutes late, so the talk may
not/might not have finished yet.
modals meaning
must + have + past participle certainty – positive belief
can’t/couldn’t + have + past participle impossibility – negative belief
may/might /could + have + past participle uncertainty – positive belief
may not/might not + have + past participle uncertainty – negative belief

A speculation (someone’s belief) may not necessarily be a statement of a fact.

NOTE: We do not combine these modals with a simple past tense.

Advanced level
Modals

practice
Replace the words in italics with the correct form of appropriate modal verbs.

1. It’s possible that the meeting was shortened.

may/might/could
The meeting have been
_________________________ shortened.

2. I’m sure they didn’t leak the information.

Theycan’t/couldn’t have leaked
______________________ the information.

3. It’s almost obvious that the CFO revealed the financial wrongdoing in
the company.
must have revealed
The CFO _________________ the financial wrongdoing in the company.

4. Despite arriving late, it’s

maypossible that they
not/might notdidn’t
have miss their flight.
missed
Despite arriving late, they __________________________ their flight.

Advanced level
Modals

regrets/criticism: the past

Look at the sample sentences:

• We didn’t buy the shares. Their value has risen significantly. Now we regret our
decision.
→ We should have bought the shares.
• He didn’t apply for the position of IT specialist. Now he is unemployed.
→ He ought to have applied for the position of IT specialist.
• You said something mean
→ You to your
could colleague.
have I think
apologized (toithim).
wasn’t nice of you.
However, you didn’t apologize to him.
used with these modals:
should
ought to
shouldn’t have past participle
might
could

Advanced level
Modals

practice
Complete the sentences with a suitable modal verb in the past form based
on the information in italics. Combine the modal verbs with the following
verbs:
GIVE, INFORM, TAKE, MEET

might/could have informed

1. You _______________________ me about your intention to hand in your
notice. (you didn’t talk to me about it, and that was impolite)
should/ought to have met
2. We ______________________ the deadline to avoid these problems.
(we regret not meeting the deadline)
shouldn’t have taken
3. They ___________________ legal action. It turned out to be too
expensive. (they took legal action but it was wrong of them)
shouldn’t have given
4. You ___________________them my phone number. They call me every
day now and it’s really annoying. (you shared my phone number
without asking me first)
Advanced level
Modals

obligation / no obligation: past

• He had to rearrange his schedule due to an unexpected event.
• They didn’t have to go to the office yesterday. The boss called them not to come.
• I didn’t need to deliver the presentation because the session had been
cancelled.
TO it. is
• You needn’t have written the report as your colleague has already
: H D
written
A E f mo
NO T t f o r
as
the p UST.
FORM USE M

had to obligation (something was necessary, so the person did

+ it)
infinitive no obligation (something wasn’t necessary, so the
didn’t have to person didn’t do it)
without to
no obligation (something wasn’t necessary; the person
didn’t need to didn’t do it or did it, depending on their will)
+ past
needn’t have participle no obligation (something wasn’t necessary, but the
person did it)

Advanced level
Modals

practice
Decide if the sentence expresses obligation (O), no obligation –
no
action (NA), or obligation – unnecessary action (UA).

1. He was familiar
(NA) with the technology, so he didn’t have to receive special
directions from me.

2. We sent the parcel by express courier, but we needn’t

(UA)have spent so
much money on the shipping as the recipient was away on a business
(O)
trip.

3. The manager had to take an important decision immediately. (NA)

4. We didn’t need to change our conditions as we realized it would be a
(UA)
waste of time.
(O)
5. She needn’t have paid for the entrance fee because students are allowed
Advanced level
Modals

past ability and possibility

• On my business trips India, I could speak many local dialects.
• They were able to escape the fire at the back office.
• I left my laptop in the conference room, but I wasn’t able/couldn’t get in
as it had been locked.
• We could have lost our market share during the crisis but fortunately we
didn’t.
• They wouldn’t modal
have form meaning
been able to fix the copy machine without your
help. could/couldn’t + infinitive general ability

was/were able to + infinitive ability on one occasion - positive

wasn’t/weren’t able to + bare infinitive
ability on one occasion - negative
couldn’t + bare infinitive

could/couldn’t have + past participle possibility (deduction)

would/wouldn’t have been able to + bare infinitive possibility (deduction)

Advanced level
Modals

practice

Decide if the use of the modal verb is right or wrong.

1. I couldn’t have met their expectations without your expert✓advice.

2. I could have spoken fluent Spanish ten years ago as I used to work in
Spain for a long time. Thanks to that I am able to correspond✗in
Spanish now. ✓
3. ✓
They weren’t able to meet the sales target last month.

4. You could have lost a fortune by selling these shares!

5. We wouldn’t have
✓ been able to provide such a good catering service
if we hadn’t got your help.

Advanced level
Modals

other ways of talking about possibility / probability

• There is bound to be a change of itinerary for the trip.

• They are likely to withdraw the product from sale.
• The situation is unlikely to improve unless we invest in new technology.
• They failed to meet the salary conditions, so they have no chance of
retaining
the new staff.
• In this region, people can see no likelihood of finding employment.
• Now the odds are that our share value could reach an all-time high.

Advanced level
Modals

practice
Complete the sentences with the appropriate word. Use each expression
only once:
BE UNLIKELY, LIKELIHOOD OF, ODDS, CHANCE, BOUND, BE LIKEY

1. What are the __________

odds the company will make a deal with us?
2. There is a ________
chance that they will reverse their decision to fire him.
3. Our candidates are
_________
likelyto be shortlisted.
4. It __________
is that this travel agency will offer you a refund; they almost
unlikely
never do so.

5. If an employee has personal problems; it’s _______ to affect their work.

bound
6. There is a strong __________ succeeding on the Asian market.
likelihood
of

Advanced level
Modals

sources
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
nce
[Link]
Emmerson, Paul: Business Grammar Builder, 2002
Duckworth, Michael: Business Grammar & Practice, 2003