Simple Modal Verbs

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Simple Modal Verbs

• Form and Uses

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General aspects as regards FORM
        All modal verbs are followed by another
verb in its base form.         They have no s
/-es in 3rd Person singular, except for HAVE TO
He has to do an exam and NEED He needs to buy
some petrol.         The modal verb is also
auxiliary verb Can I go to the toilets? Should I
speak to him? Except for HAVE TO Does he have to
do an exam? and NEED TO Does he need to buy any
food?
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Main USES of modal verbs

• We will deal with modal verbs grouped according
  to the concept they mean ability, possibility,
  obligation, probability and deduction,
  permission, requests, offers, suggestions.
• Remeber that one modal verb can express different
  concepts
• can I can dance (Ability)
• You can come with us (Permission /
  Possibility)
• Likewise, one concept can be expressed by
  different modal verbs
• You should / ought to apologise (Advice)

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ABILITY can / could / be able to
CAN present events She can speak several languages   COULD past events   When she was living in Paris, she could speak French better than now BE ABLE TO all tenses She is able to speak several languages. She was able to speak French better before. She will be able to speak English better after several classes. She has been able to speak French since she was a child. - Specific ability in a specific past situation. Although she was very nervous, she was able to come out and speak in front of the audience.
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OBLIGATION must / have to
MUST the order comes from the speaker itself. Only present or future events. You must be back soon this evening. Weve got guesses for dinner.  - Moral obligation. The duty comes from the speaker. I must study more for the next term. I dont want to fail this year. HAVE TO the order comes from an external authority. All tenses and times. I cant stay longer. I have to come back home. Weve got some guesses today. - Imposed obligation. We are obliged to do it. I have to study more or my parents wont let me go to a journey next summer. I have to pay my road taxes today.
HAVE TO can be used in the rest of tenses. HAD TO is the past form of MUST. They will have to stay here longer if they dont finish their work in time. We have had to delay the appointment for the next day. I had to study harder to pass my exams in the last term. HAVE TO can be used in the rest of tenses. HAD TO is the past form of MUST. They will have to stay here longer if they dont finish their work in time. We have had to delay the appointment for the next day. I had to study harder to pass my exams in the last term.
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Other uses related to Obligation
NECESSITY have to / need to There is no moral
obligation implied. I have to buy some more bread
for tonights dinner. I need to pass all my exams
to study at university.   PROHIBITION mustnt,
cant You mustnt/cant speak to each other in an
exam.   LACK OF OBLIGATION dont have to You
dont have to do the exam if you dont feel well.
You can do it another day. I dont have to get up
early tomorrow. Its a holiday.

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POSSIBILITY

• FACTUAL POSSIBILITY may / might / could (only in
  affirmative/interrogative)
• We give one possibility of something to happen.
  It is one option among several. They only express
  Present or Future
• He may/might/could come to the party this
  evening.
• (Perhaps, he will come to the party)
• He may/might not come to the party this evening.
• (Perhaps, he will not come)
• They may/might/could be playing in the garden.
• (Maybe, they are playing in the garden now)
•  
• Spanish translation (Puede que... / Podría ser
  que)

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POSSIBILITY

• THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY can (present) / could
  (past)
• We say that something is possible to happen
  because there are the means or appropriate
  characteristics to do it.
• Turtles can live for many years.
• We can use that computer again. It already works.
• He seems to be unpleasant but he can be very
  funny at times.
• You can be here on time if you wish. Youve got a
  fast car.
•  
• Spanish translation ( El verbo poder conjugado
  puede, puedo, pueden...)
• THEORETICAL IMPOSSIBILITY cant / couldnt
• He couldnt come to the party yesterday. He was
  too busy.
• That door cant be locked. It is broken.

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Factual and Theoretical PossibilityCompare

• It may be rainy in Praha. (Possibly, it is rainy
  in Praha now )
• It can be rainy in Praha. ( It is usual to rain
  in Praha )
•  
• He may come to the party. (Perhaps, he will come
  to the part)
• He can come to the party. (It is possible for him
  to come to the party. There is no trouble)

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PROBABILITY / DEDUCTION should / ought to /
must

• We say that something is probable to happen
  because there is a logical reason.
• My father should be in his office right now. He
  leaves work later. (I suppose my father is in the
  office now because of the time)
• They ought to win the match tomorrow. The other
  team is much worse. They shouldnt fail. (I
  expect they will win)
•  
• To express the highest level of probability, we
  use MUST.
• He must play the piano quite well. He has been
  playing it since he was six.
• (I am sure he plays the piano quite well)
•  
• With SHOULD / OUGHT TO, we can also express
  surprise because some facts are different from
  expected.
• He shouldnt be home at this time. Why is he
  there?
• He should be here now? Where is he?

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NEGATIVE DEDUCTION cant (IMPOSSIBILITY)

• It is the only negative form for MUST when
  expressing deduction
• My father cant be working in the office now. He
  leaves work earlier today.
• He cant know anything about playing the piano.
  He has never done it.
• Compare
• They may be studying. (Maybe, they are stduying
  but we are not sure) (A lo mejor están
  estudiando)
• They should be studying. They went to the
  library. (It is what we suppose or expect)
• (Según lo razono, deberían estar estudiando)
• They must be studying. Ive just seen them in
  the library. (I am sure they are studying)
• (Deben estar estudiando con toda seguridad)

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ADVICE should / ought to / must / can / could

• SHOULD / OUGHT TO they may imply some moral
  obligation or necessity from the listener. We
  think of it as the only good piece of advice.
• In my opinion, you should visit the doctor. You
  dont look well.
• You shouldnt talk so loud. Your throat will
  hurt.
•  
• To express strong advice, we use MUST. (More
  colloquial).
• The concert is brilliant! You must go.
•  
• CAN / COULD they dont imply any moral issue but
  a suggestion that you give among other possible
  ones.
• If you need some money, you can ask for a loan in
  a bank or you even could borrow some from your
  parents or a close friend.

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OTHER USES

• PERMISSION
•         Asking for permission may / can / might
  / could
• May/Can/Might/Could I use your telephone, please?
  Yes, sure!
•         Giving permission may / can
• Yes, you may/can go to the toilets.
•  
• REQUESTS can / could / will / would you mind
• can / could / will you borrow this book for me?
• would you mind borrowing this book for me?
•  
• OFFERS can / could / may / shall / will
• can / could /may /shall I help you?
• I can / will help you with your homework.
•  
• SUGGESTIONS shall we? / can / could
• shall we go to a different place for a cup?
• We can go to the theatre. There is a good play
  on.