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Modal Verbs

This document provides an overview of modal verbs in English. It discusses their structure and common meanings when used with an infinitive or as marginal modal verbs. Examples are given to illustrate modal verbs expressing obligation, lack of necessity, prohibition, advice, certainty, and polite requests. Degrees of certainty are explained for present, past, and future contexts. The uses of modal verbs with continuous and perfect verb forms and with "would rather" are also covered briefly.

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9 views

Modal Verbs

This document provides an overview of modal verbs in English. It discusses their structure and common meanings when used with an infinitive or as marginal modal verbs. Examples are given to illustrate modal verbs expressing obligation, lack of necessity, prohibition, advice, certainty, and polite requests. Degrees of certainty are explained for present, past, and future contexts. The uses of modal verbs with continuous and perfect verb forms and with "would rather" are also covered briefly.

Uploaded by

molinal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODAL VERBS

Structure:
● Modal verbs + infinitive ● Marginal modal verb+to+info
○ I must work ○ I have to work
○ We mustn’t speak in class ○ She needs to work harder
○ Must students wear a ○ Does he need to come earlier?
uniform?

Modal + modal?¿?
● Be able → is/are/am able to → Was/were able to → BEEN ABLE TO
→ CAN → COULD → BEEN ABLE TO

Meanings Polite request (“you”)


● They complete the meanings ● WOULD YOU pass me the salt please
○ I drink ● WILL YOU shut up, please?
○ I oughtn’t to drink ● COULD YOU answer the phone,
please?
● CAN YOU wait here, please?

Would you mine…


● Would you mind if I smoke? Obligation
○ No, go ahead ● Have to
○ Yes, sorry ○ You have to work harder if
● Do you mind if I open the window? you want to pass the exams
● Shall I open the window? ● Must
○ Sure ○ A good teacher must be strict
○ No, please and intimidating
● Would you mind closing the window?

Lack of necessity/prohibition ● There is no need for me to do any


● I know all this grammar! I don’t need homework
to pay attention Give advice
● I needn’t worry about my grades ● You should stop smoking
● m incredibly talented and I don’t have ● You ought to stop smoking
to study ● You’d better stop smoking

And pass actions?


● Modal + present perfect Certainty
○ You should have quitted ● How sure are you?
smoking when I told you to ○ She is 55
○ She must be 35
○ She may be60
○ She might be 25 ○ She could be younger
Certainty in the past
● Why didn’t Mary come to school?
○ Because…
■ She was sick
■ She must have been sick
■ She may have been sick
■ She might have been sick

Degrees of certainty: Future time ● Less than 50% sure → Kay


● 100% sure → Kay will do well on the may/might/Could do well on the
test test
● 90% sure → Kay should/ought to do
well on the test ● The speaker is sure
● The speaker is almost sure
● The speaker is guessing

Modal and continuous


● He may be sleeping
● He might have been
partying

Would rather…
● Would you like to
come to the cinema
with me?
● I’d rather stay at
home. I’m so tired!

Would
● When I was a child,
my mother would
read me a story at
night before
bedtime
● Would you like
something to drink?

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