Modal verbs

MODALS BY CIDA OLIVEIRA

Should / Ought toMust

Have toCan / CouldBe able to

MayMight

Used toDare

Need to

SHOULD / OUGHT TOUsed to give an advice or oppinion

You look tired. You should/ought to go to bed.

Students shouldn’t mess the classroom.

Should/ Ought to + have + Past Participle

You should (ought to) have paid your bills last month

Must and Have to Used to say that it is necessary to do

someting .

Must is personal.

We use MUST when we give our personal feelings. When you think it is necessary to do something.

It’s Ann birthday. I must call her tonight.

Have to is impersonal.We use HAVE TO for facts. It’s an

obligation.

I have to get up early tomorrow. I’m going to work at seven am.

Can (Present)Used to say that something is possible or that someone has the ability to do something.

They can sing very well

Could (Past)Used to talk about what was possible or ability someone had in the past.

Pelé could play ball very well.

Be able to (Present)

This expression has the same idea as can.

He is able to do magic tricks.

Be able to (Future)

She will be able to drive soon.

MayIndicates probability or permission.

May I come in?

May + have + Past Participle

Peter isn’t at home. He may have gone to church because it’s Sunday.

MightIndicates things that will probably happen.

It might rain.

Used to Indicates past habits

I used to play golf when I was Young. Now I don’t play anymore.

Dare/ daren’tTo be brave enough to do something

Dare you climb that mountain?

Need toIndicates necessity or obligation

He needs to study hard.

Negative

Must not or mustn’t (all pronouns) You mustn’t go out now.

Should not or shouldn’t (all pronouns) It shouldn’t be difficult to find someone to

stay here.

Ought not to (all pronouns) Jack ought not to go to bed so late.

Negative

Do not have to or don’t have to (I, you, we, they)

You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want.

Does not have to or doesn’t have to (he, she, it)

He is not working tomorrow, so he doesn’t have to get up early.

Negative

Cannot or can’t (all pronouns) Sarah can’t speak Italian very well

Could not or couldn’t (all pronouns) I was tired last night but I couldn’t sleep.

Negative Be able to (Present) am not , isn’t, aren’t. I’m not able to play the violin.

Be able to (Past) wasn’t , weren’t. George wasn’t able to run fast when he

was a kid.

Be able to (Future) won’t You won’t be able to get the train.

Negative

Might not (all pronouns)/ May not (all pronouns)

I’m not feeling well today. I might not go to work tomorrow.

Negative Did not or didn’t use to (all pronouns)

He din’t use to brush his teeth after lunch.

Negative

needn’t, don’t need to, doesn’t need to (Present)

We needn’t go out. / We don’t need to go out.

Did not or didn’t need to (Past) We didn’t need to get passport.

Questions

Must + (all pronouns)+ verb + complement

Must I help in the garden?

Should + (all pronouns) + verb + complement

Should we invite Susan to the party?

Questions Do (I, you, we, they) have to + verb +

complement

Do we have to get a driving licence?

Does (he, she, it) have to + verb + complement

Does he have to go to the hospital?

Questions Can (all pronouns) Can you speak English and Spanish?

Could (all pronouns) Could I walk by myself when I was one

year old?

Questions

Am , is, are able to (present) They are ten years old, are they able to

cook?

Was, were able to (past) Were you able to drive with a flat tire?

Will be able to (future) Will you be able to speak English by

December?

Questions

Might (all pronouns)/ May (all pronouns) Might I ask you a question?

Questions Did ( all pronouns) use to ....

Did he use to swim in the river?

Questions

Need you to do that course? / Do you need to do that course? (Present)

Did you need to see me? (Past)

 She is ill , so she _______ see the doctor.

Use MUST or MUSTN’T to complete the sentences

It is raining. You_______  take your umbrella.

You _______ throw litter on the streets.

This is a secret. You _____ tell to anyone.

Use SHOULD or SHOULDN’T to complete the sentences.

We ____ invent them to our party. They are nice people.

Teens _____ stay out very late. It’s dangerous.

You ______ tell lies!

People _____ cross the street when the lights are green for pedestrians.

Use HAVE TO or HAS TO to complete the sentences.

They _____ write a test.

She ______ clean her desk.

George _____ help his brother.

We _____ do our homework.