MODAL
VERBS
L A I A F O Z , G U I L L E R M O G I L , I VA N H I DA L G O I E VA M O R E N O
2N
BATXILLERAT
A
MIGHT, COULD, MAY AND CAN
• Might, could and may can be used to express: present, future and past possibility. The addition of well
after the modal verb expresses more probability.
– e.g. “Take an umbrella-it may /could /might well rain.”
• Might and could can be used to express:
- Past possibility which did not happen
- Annoyance
• Might and may can be used to:
- Express concession
- Suggest what one should do when there is no better alternative
• Can and may (more formal) can be used to:
- Give or refuse permission
- Make offers
• Can and could can be used to:
- Make requests.
- Ask for permission.
The more formal may can also be used.
– e.g.“May I ask a personal question?”
• Can and could, in the negative form, can be used to:
- Express certainty.
• Can can be used to express:
- Theoretical possibility.
- Ability or inability.
- Criticism
• Could can be used to express:
- Ability or inability in the past.
WILL, SHALL AND WOULD
• Will and would can be used to express:
- Present and past habits. This use is not possible with
stative verbs (e.g. be, know, like).
-Typical annoying behaviour. In speech, will and would are stressed.
-Willingness to do something. This includes requests.
- Refusal to do something in the present and the past.
• Will can also be used to express assumptions about the present.
• Shall can be used:
- To make a request for advice or instructions
- To make an offer or a suggestion
MUST, SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
MUST
• must and have to
must + infinitive is used to give orders or strong advice, or to tell oneself what is necessary. The
authority comes from the speaker.
Despite not being a modal verb, have to + infinitive is also used to talk about obligation. The
authority comes from someone other than the speaker.
• mustn't and don't have to
mustn't expresses prohibition
don't have to expresses lack of obligation or necessity.
SHOULD/OUGHT TO
• should and ought to + infinitive are used to give advice or express opinions about what is
right and wrong
– e.g. “We should /ought to have asked Jill if she wanted to come.”
• should and ought to can also be used to talk about probability.
– e.g. “If you leave now, you should be/ought to be there by midday.”