Modal verbs - Funda KOCAOGLU

Modal Verbs

Funda KOCAOĞLU01021309

English Language and Literature

In English language, a Modal “auxiliary” verbs

are helping verbs. Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility, intention, obligation and necessity.

Can Could May Might Must Shall Should Will Would

What are modal verbs?

Modal verbs do not take “-s”, “-ing” or “-ed” in the third person.

Examples: He can speak Chinese. NOT He cans speak Chinese. She should be here by 9:00.

You use “not” to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

Example: He sould not write horrible things about

others.

Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses:

Example: He will can go by the car. NOT CORRECT

Modal verbs come before the subject in questions:

Example: May I come to your house to visit your mother?

Negative forms: Modal verbs have “n’t” or “not” after them in the negative.

Example: “mustn’t” – “needn’t”, there is no don’t/doesn’t.

ABILITY: I can sing and play the guitar.

POSSIBILITY/IMPOSSIBILITY: Any child can grow up to be president.

PERMISSION: She cannot stay out after 10PM.

OPORTUNITY: We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris.

REQUEST: Can you hand me the stapler?

WİLLİNGNESS: I can teach you?

CAN

PAST ABILITY: Nancy could ski like a pro

by the age of 11.

POSSIBILITY: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city.

CONDITIONAL: We could go on the trip if I didn’t have to work this weekend.

SUGGESTION: You could see a movie or go out to dinner.

REQUEST: Could I use your computer to email my boss?

COULD

POSSIBILITY: Cheryl may be at home, or

perhaps at work.

GIVE PERMISSION: Jessica, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner.

REQUEST PERMISSION: May I use your bathroom.

MAY

POSSIBILITY: Your purse might be in the

living room.

CONDITIONAL: If I didn’t have to work, I might go with you.

SUGGESTION: You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit.

REQUEST: Might I borrow your pen?

MIGHT

CERTAINTY: This must be the right

address!

NECESSITY: Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school.

STRONG RECOMMENDATION: You must take some medicine for that cough.

PROHIBITION: Jenny, you must not play in the street!

MUST

British English

FUTURE ACTION: I shall be replaced by someone from the New York office.

SUGGESTION: Shall we begin dinner?

PROMISE: I shall take care of everything for you.

SHALL

RECOMMENDATION / ADVİCE: You really

should start eating better.

OBLİGATION: I should be at work before 9.00 AM.

EXPECTATION: Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday.

SHOULD

FUTURE ACTION: The marketing director

will be replaced by someone from the New York office.

PREDICTION: He thinks it will rain tomorrow.

VOLUNTARY ACTION: I will make dinner tonight.

PROMİSE: I will give you a call on Monday.

WILL

PAST OF “WILL” : I knew that she would

be very successful in her career.

CONDITIONAL: If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies.

REPETITION IN PAST: When I was a child, I would always play volleyball.

WOULD

ADVICE: You ought to go to the dentist

before you leave. NOTİCE Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in

the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not."

You ought not stop smoke so much. She ought not take such risks while skiing.

OUGHT TO

EXERCISES:

There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You ___buy any. It's a hospital. You___ smoke. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He ___ be tired after

such hard work. He ___prefer to get some rest. I ___ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in

Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I ____ just say a few things in the language.

The teacher said we ___read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we  ___read it if we don't want to.

 ____ you stand on your head for more than a minute? No,I ____. If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you___ to work hard. Take an umbrella. It___rain later. You ___leave small objects lying around . Such objects_____be

swallowed by children. People ____ walk on grass. Drivers ___stop when the traffic lights are red.  ____ I ask a question? Yes, of course. You ____take your umbrella. It is not raining. ______ you speak Italian? No, I  ____  .

ANSWERS:

There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. You needn’t buy any.

It's a hospital. You mustn’t smoke. He had been working for more than 11 hours. He must be tired

after such hard work. He may prefer to get some rest. I could speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in

Morocco. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I can just say a few things in the language.

The teacher said we can read this book for our own pleasure as it is optional. But we  can read it if we don't want to.

 Can you stand on your head for more than a minute? No,I can’t.

If you want to learn to speak English fluently, you need to work hard.

Take an umbrella. It might rain later. You shouldn’t leave small objects lying around . Such objects

may be swallowed by children. People mustn’t walk on grass. Drivers  must stop when the traffic lights are red.  May  I ask a question? Yes, of course. You needn’t take your umbrella. It is not raining. Can you speak Italian? No, I can’t  .

I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ..... eat anything.

cannot couldn’t mustn’t

You ..... look at me when I am talking to you.

could should would

I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ..... be here somewhere!

can could would must

We can use modal verbs to talk about how sure or unsure we are about something in the past just as we use modals in the present with a slight change in the form.

He must be really happy about his promotion. (present deduction)

He must have been very happy when he was told about his promotion. (past deduction)

When we use a modal verb to talk about a situation where we are not expressing a fact but we are using deduction the form is MODAL + have + past participle (verb 3)

PAST MODALS

We use must + perfect infinitive when we feel sure about something in the past.

Exemples: Peter has arrived late. He must have been in a

treffic jam. The thieves must have come in through the

window. Look – it’s still open. I must have left my keys in the car. I can’t find

them.

Must have + past participle

We use ‘might have/may have/could have +

past participle’ when we are not sure about something but we think it was possible.

EXAMPLES: He may have said he was coming but I can’t

really remember. I wasn’t listening. I might have been here when I was a child but

I can’t really remember. He was supposed to be here an hour ago but

he could have been stuck in a traffic jam.

Might/May/Could + perfect infinitive

We are making a deduction about something

that didn’t happen in the past based on present evidence.

EXAMPLES: You can’t have read the instructions properly.

They’re perfectly clear. You can’t have seen him this morning. He was

with me all the time. She can’t have liked the show. She hates

musicals.

Can’t Have + past participle

Use it to express the idea that something was

desirable or needed but didn’t take place. EXAMPLE: I should have left my house earlier.

Shouldn’t have: Something took place but it wasn’t desirable.

EXAMPLE: I shouldn’t have yelled at you yesterday. I’m

sorry.

Should Have + past participle

It is opposite meaning to should have . It

indicates that something was done but it wasn’t necessary. The person who did it thought it was necessary.

EXAMPLE:

You needn’t have bought it.

Needn’t Have + past participle

Use them to say that something that possible in the past but we know that it didn’t in fact happen.

EXAMPLE: If marry hadn’t been there, my son

might/could have fallen downand hurt himself. He was so lucky.

Mıght / Could Have + past participle

Use would have to imagine a result (if

something had been different in the past).

EXAMPLE: If we had arrived earlier, we would have

caught our flight.

Would Have + past participle

She ___ misunderstood my directions. Why else is she late? must have can't have

He ___ gone to the beach. He hates being in the sun. may have can't have

I ___ written down the number incorrectly. I've just called a hospital not the restaurant. must have might have

They ___ been at the cafe but I didn't see them. could have must have

John ___ been very happy when he found out he was going to be a father. He's wanted this for a long time. may have must have

He ___ gone to the city centre. He did say he wanted to go shopping. can't have could have

Complete the sentences with a verb given in past modal form. Use short forms if possible. Type the verb into the box.

EXAMPLE: Why was she upset? I don't know. She might have had some bad news.

A James was at the party last night. He ___(be)! He's in China.

You ____(be) pleased when you passed your driving test.

Anna wasn't at work today. She __(have) the day off. A Where's Mike? B I'm not sure. He ___(go) home.

There was so much traffic, there __(be) an accident. Janet ___(ring) you last night. Her phone isn't working.

ANSWERS: A James was at the party last night. B He can't have been He's in China.

You must have been pleased when you passed your driving test.

Anna wasn't at work today. She must have had the day off.

A Where's Mike? B I'm not sure. He might have gone home.

There was so much traffic, there must have been an accident.

Janet can't have rung you last night. Her phone isn't working.

http://

www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html http://www.myenglishpage.com http://

www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/modals-deduction-past

https://elt.oup.com/student/naturalenglish/int/a_grammar/unit11/neint_grammar11_exp?cc=us&selLanguage=en

Grammar – a student’s guide / James R. HURFORD