I – MODALS
II - PAST MODALS
MODALS - I
Must
Mustn't
Obligation? Necessity?
prohibition?
Have to
Don't have to
Ought to
Lack of obligation? Lack of
necessity
Should
Shoudn't
Need to
Needn't
Advice? recommendation?
Must: obligation
Mustn't: prohibition
Have to: obligation
Don't have to: lack of necessity
Ought to: advice/recommendation
Should: advice/recommendation
Shoudn't: advice/recommendation
Need to: necessity
Needn't: lack of necessity
How strong is the obligation?
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You must
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You have to
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You need to
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You ought to
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You should
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You can/could
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You may
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Which one means a good idea/advice? A possibility?an
obligation?
NEED – Is it necessary?
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You need to check all the information on your CV.
You needn't translate it into English. The Italian version is
enough.
Need: to express necessity
Needn't: No necessity – lack of obligation (you don’t need
to)
Modals of likelihood
Probability?
Certainty?
Possibility?
Match the level of likelihood to modal verb.
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Certain
Might, May, Could
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Possibility
Should, Ought to, Would
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Probable
To be going to, Will (using
the future)
Match the level of likelihood to modal verb.
Key
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Certain
To be going to, Will (using
the future)
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Possibility
Might, May, Could
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Probable
Should, Ought to, Would
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Certain: To be going to, Will (using the future)
The company will pay for the extra costs. It has enough
financial resourses.
Possibility: Might, May, Could
The parcel may arrive late I only sent it yesterday by
ordinary post.
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Probable: Should, Ought to, Would
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eg: It ought to/should work, I repaired it this morning.
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eg: Tighter laws would protect the rainforest.
Can – May
Both 'can' and 'may' are used in question form to ask
permission.
Asking Permission:
Eg: Can I come with you?
Eg: May I come with you?
(May is more polite than can)
Can - To Be Allowed To
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'can' is used to express permission.
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we use 'can' as a polite form to request something.
When 'can' expresses permission to do something
specific. In this case, 'to be allowed to do something'
can also be used.
'To be allowed to' is more formal and is commonly used
for rules and regulations.
Examples of request:
Can I come with you? Can I make a telephone call?
Examples of Asking Permission
Eg:Can I go to the party? => Am I allowed to go to the
Can - To Be Able To
'Can' is also used to express ability. Another form that
can be used to express ability is 'to be able to'.
Usually, either of these two forms can be used.
Examples:
I can play the piano. => I'm able to play the piano.
She can speak Spanish. => She's able to speak Spanish.
There is no future or perfect form of 'can'. Use 'to be able to'
in both future and perfect tenses.
Examples:
Jack's been able to golf for three years.
I'll be able to speak Spanish when I finish the course.
Can - To Be Able To
Special Case of the Past Positive Form
When speaking about a specific (non-general) event in the
past only 'to be able to' is used in the positive form.
However, both 'can' and 'to be able to' are used in the
past negative.
Examples:
Positive: I was able to get tickets for the concert. NOT I could
get tickets for the concert.
Negative I couldn't come last night. OR I wasn't able to come
last night.
Must
Must and Have to
'Must' is used for strong personal obligation. When something
is very important to us at a particular moment we use
'must'.
Examples:
Oh, I really must go. My tooth is killing me. I must see a
dentist.
Have to
Use 'have to' for daily routines, laws and responsibilities.
Examples:
He has to get up early every day.
You have to pay higher transport costs.
Do they have to travel a lot for their jobs?
Mustn't vs Don't have to
Remember that . 'Don't have to' expresses something that is
not required/necessary You can do it if you want, but there
is no rule. (the person may choose to do so if he or she
pleases).
Eg:You don't have to put a stamp on that letter. Postage is
free.
Eg:Children mustn't play with medicine.
Eg:I don't have to go to work on Fridays.
However Mustn't is different! Mustn't is used about something
which is wrong to do.
Eg: You mustn't smoke in the workshop.
Should – ought to – had better
'Should' is used to ask for or give advice.
Eg: Should I see a doctor? He should leave soon if he wants to catch
the train.
Should, Ought to, Had Better
Both express the same idea as 'should'. They can usually be used in
place of 'should'.
Examples:
Eg: You should see a dentist. => You'd better see a dentist.
They should join a team. => They ought to join a team.
NOTE: 'had better' is a more urgent form.
Which modal verb is used when...?
Choose the correct number
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An action is necessary (an
obligation)
1) You have to pay higher
labour costs in this country.
An action is a good idea
(advice)
2) You may get a better
discount.
An action is not a good idea
(advice not to do something)
3) You don't have to wait a
long time for delivery.
A situation is possible.
4)You should always use the
same supplier. That way, you
build up a good relationship
with them.
An action is not necessary
(there is no obligation)
An action is not possible for
you to do (because it is
against the rules or for
another person)
5) No, you shouldn't depend
on one supplier. You should
use several so that if one
can't supply your needs you
can use another.
KEY -Which modal verb is used when...?
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An action is necessary (an
obligation)
1) You have to pay higher
labour costs in this country.
An action is a good idea
(advice)
2) You may get a better
discount.
An action is not a good idea
(advice not to do something)
3) You don't have to wait a
long time for delivery.
A situation is possible.
4)You should always use the
same supplier. That way, you
build up a good relationship
with them.
An action is not necessary
(there is no obligation)
An action is not possible for
you to do (because it is
against the rules)
5) No, you shouldn't depend
on one supplier. You should
use several so that if one
can't supply your needs you
can use another.
Modal + Various Verb Forms
Modal verbs are generally followed by the base form of the verb.
Eg: She should come with us to the party. They must finish their
homework before dinner. I might play tennis after work.
In this case we are referring to a present or future moment.
However, modal verbs can also be used with other forms of verbs. The
most common of these forms is the use of the modal + a perfect
form to refer to a past time.
Eg: She must have bought that house. Jane could have thought he
was late. Tim can't have believed her story.
Other forms used include the modal + the progressive form to refer
to what may / should / could be happening at the present
moment of time.
Eg: He may be studying for his math exam.
Eg: He must be thinking about the future.
Eg: Tom can't be driving that truck, he's sick today.
Answer with a,b or c
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“Delivery is free. There is no charge for postage and packing.”
a) you mustn't pay delivery charges.
b) You don't have to pay delivery charges.
c) you can't pay delivery charges.
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“Please do not disturb! Meeting in progress.”
a) you mustn't interrupt the meeting.
b) you don't have to interrupt the meeting.
c) you should interrupt the meeting.
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“Cheques without a banker's card definitely not accepted”.
a) We can't accept cheques without a banker's card.
b) We don't have to accept cheques without a banker's card.
c) We may accept cheques without a banker's card.
Key - Answer with a,b or c
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“Delivery is free. There is no charge for postage and packing.”
a) you mustn't pay delivery charges.
b) You don't have to pay delivery charges.
c) you can't pay delivery charges.
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“Please do not disturb! Meeting in progress.”
a) you mustn't interrupt the meeting.
b) you don't have to interrupt the meeting.
c) you should interrupt the meeting.
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“Cheques without a banker's card definitely not accepted”.
a) We can't accept cheques without a banker's card.
b) We don't have to accept cheques without a banker's card.
c) We may accept cheques without a banker's card.
II - Past Modals
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We use past modals to make past deductions and
and speculations:
When you think of a decision you made in the past which
may not have been the best one in the circumstances. You
then say what happened and how you should/could have
acted instead.
Past modals are formed with:
Modal verb + have + past participle.
Past modals
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When we talk about the past we often refer to
hypothetical events and situations:
- to talk about alternative possibilities in the past:
eg: With more time and money we could have improved the design.
- to give advice after events have happened:
eg: We should have patented the product immediately.
- to talk about likelihood in the past:
eg: I may have made a mistake in the calculations.
Use may/might/can’t/couldn’t + have + past participle to
make deductions or speculate about past actions:
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Use must have when you are almost sure something
happened or was true.
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The opposite of must have is can’t have! Not mustn’t have.
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Use might/may/could + have when something was possible.
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Use can’t/ couldn’t have when you are almost sure something
didn’t happen or that it was impossible.
Use should have/ought to to say somebody didn’t do the right
thing.
Eg: We should have/ought to have invested more in
research.
“Failed innovation”
complete the statements with appropriate past
modal forms with verbs
Verbs: research – design – waste - stop – know – charge – miscalculate
– spend - conduct
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They …....the technology more thoroughly.
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They …....money developing their own systems.
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They …....the system was going to be too expensive.
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They …....the project before it was too late.
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They …....lighter handsets.
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They …....less for calls.
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They …....a more successful marketing campaign.
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They …....so much time and energy.
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They …....the size of the potential market.
“Failed innovation”
KEY: complete the statements with an appropriate past
modal forms with verbs
Verbs: research – design – waste - stop – know – charge – miscalculate –
spend – conduct
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They could/should have researched the technology more thoroughly.
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They could/should have spent money developing their own systems.
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They could/should have kown the system was going to be too expensive.
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They could/should have stopped the project before it was too late.
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They could/should have designed lighter handsets.(mobile phones)
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They could/should have charged less for calls.
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They could/should have conducted a more successful marketing campaign.
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They shouldn't have wasted so much time and energy.
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They shouldn't have miscalculated the size of the potential market.
Find the mistake
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I think I may had made a mistake in the calculations.
We waited too long. We should have patent our new product
immediately.
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With more time and money, we could won the competition.
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You shouldn't spent have so much time on the particular idea.
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If they' d had more support, it might had been easier for them.
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What could I have did to improve my design?
Key - Find the mistake
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I think I may have made a mistake in the calculations.
We waited too long. We should have patented our new product
immediately.
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With more time and money, we could have won the competition.
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You shouldn't have spent so much time on the particular idea.
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If they had more support, it might have been easier for them.
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What could I have done to improve my design?
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Practice in dispensa
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Modals: See grammar pages: 198 – 199 -200
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Past modals: See grammar Practice page: 223