FORMATION ( AFFIRMATIVE,
MODAL VERBS
CAN
COULD
BE ABLE TO
USE
INTERROGATIVE, NEGATIVE)
Ability
I can speak many languages.
Request
Can I go to the party?
Possibility/ Impossibility
She can’t be at home, I saw her 10 minutes ago.
Past ability
He could swim when he was only four.
Polite request
Could you help me, please?
Polite suggestion
You could take a taxi to the station.
Possibiliy
It could be useful to learn about other cultures
ability and opportunity in the past, present
I am able to get all the work done.
or future
Were you able to stop the car in time?
They won’t be able to stop it.
MAY
Permission (formal)
You may telephone from here.
Polite request
May I take a photo?
Possibility
He may not go to the party. He’s sick.
Possibility
I might be working late tomorrow.
He might not be at home.
MIGHT
What might happen?
obligation, necessity, deduction; in the
You must take your medication regularly.
MUST
negative form - prohibition
My glasses must be here somewhere.
MUSTN’T
Prohibition
He mustn’t tell anyone what I said.
Obligation
I have to work on Sundays.
necessity
Do you have to get your passport?
HAVE TO
You need to study harder
NEED TO
NEEDN’T/
Lack of obligation
You don’t have to make your bed
don’t have to
WILL
You needn’t go to school at weekends
facts in the future, predictions, invitations,
I’ll wait for you if you like.
characteristic behaviour
Will you have a cup of tea?
She’s on diet. She won’t eat at all.
WOULD
SHALL
SHOULD
OUGHT TO
Formal request
Would you open the window, please?
Offer
Would you like something to drink?
Offers
Shall I close the window?
suggestions
Shall we dance?
Advice
You should accept the job.
Opinion
Should we tell him the news?
Advice
She ought to be working.
saying what is the right thing to do
You oughtn’t to forget your obligations.
MODAL PERFECTS ( Past of modal verbs)
MEANING
Modal verb + Have + Past participle

Could have
“pudo haber …”
You could have hurt
yourself
Ability to have done
something but in fact did not

Couldn’t have
“no pudo haber …”

May/ Might have
“puede haber …”
He couldn’t have done it.
He is out.
Certainty that something
didn’t happen
A guess about a past action

Must have
”Debe haber…”
She may have taken the
wrong bus.

Should/ ought to
have

Shouldn’t have

Would have
“Debería haber…”
The party must have been
interesting
“No debería haber..
You should have warned
me earlier.
“habría…”
You shouldn’t have eaten
so much
I would have gone to the
party, but I was too busy.
Certainty or logical
conclusion about an event in
the past.
Criticism or regret after an
event
Willingness to have done
something but in fact did
not.
A) Complete the sentences with appropriate modal verbs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
____________ you ____________ to get up early?
They’re having a baby. They ____________ have to buy a bigger house.
I’m sorry I ____________ help you with your homework.
____________ we go out tonight?
Why don’t you apply for that job? You ____________ get it.
I think we ____________ do something to stop pollution.
____________ I borrow this book?
My wife is waiting for me. I ____________ not be late.
B) Write a second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the words in brackets.
1.
Perhaps Mary is doing overtime. (may)
________________________________________________________________________
2.
I managed to go to university. (able)
3.
They should think very well before acting. (ought)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4.
It’s forbidden to smoke here. (mustn’t)
5.
It’s impossible for you to see it at this distance. (can’t)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6.
It is possible that Anne did not see the message. (might)
________________________________________________________________________
7.
I advise you to study more in order to pass the exam. ( should)
8.
She was able to play the piano when she was only four. (could)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9.
Perhaps she went home (could)
____________________________________________________________
10. I’m sure the bus has left (must)
C) Complete the conversation between Sarah and her mother.
Sarah: Mom, (1) ____________ I go to the cinema with Susan?
Mother: No, you (2) ____________. You (3) ____________ study for tomorrow’s test. You
(4) ____________ be more responsible.
Sarah: But, mom, you (5) ____________ at least let me rent a movie to see later on
with Susan?
Mother: OK, you (6) ____________ do that. But you (7) ____________ start studying
right now. You (8) ____________ improve your marks.
Susan: I (9) ____________ like to, but I don’t know if I (10) ____________.
Answer key
A)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Do… have;
will;
can’t;
Shall;
might;
should;
Can;
must
B)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Mary may be doing overtime.
I was able to go to university.
They ought to think very well before acting.
You mustn’t smoke here.
You can’t see it at this distance.
Anne might not have seen the message.
You should study more to pass the exam.
She could play the piano when she was only four.
She could have gone home.
The bus must have left.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
can / may
can’t / may not
have to
should
could
can / may
have to
have to
would
can
C)