MODALMODAL VERBSVERBS

Can/ Be able to / Can’tCan/ Be able to / Can’t

CANCAN Different uses: Different uses:

Abilities or capacities (to know or to Abilities or capacities (to know or to be able to). be able to).

Mary can swim very fast.Mary can swim very fast. Request, ask or give permissionRequest, ask or give permission

Can you call me tonight.Can you call me tonight. PossibilityPossibility

I can meet you later. I can meet you later. It can also be used for suggestions. It can also be used for suggestions.

You can eat ravioli if you like pasta. You can eat ravioli if you like pasta.

Be able toBe able to It expresses abilities like It expresses abilities like cancan and it is used and it is used

in all the verbal tenses where in all the verbal tenses where cancan is not is not

used.used. I was able to finish my homework on timeI was able to finish my homework on time

Can’tCan’t Different uses: Different uses:

Impossibility in the presentImpossibility in the present Mary can’t swim very fastMary can’t swim very fast

Lack of ability (not to know) or capacity (not to Lack of ability (not to know) or capacity (not to be able to): I can’t eat a whole cake by myselfbe able to): I can’t eat a whole cake by myself

ProhibitionProhibition You can’t drive without a licenceYou can’t drive without a licence

DisbeliefDisbelief That can’t be the price – it’s much too cheap.That can’t be the price – it’s much too cheap.

CouldCould

It is the past of It is the past of cancan and it is used to and it is used to express: express: Ability or capacity in the pastAbility or capacity in the past

She could run fast when she was a childShe could run fast when she was a child

Polite requestPolite request Could you help me with these suitcases?Could you help me with these suitcases?

Polite suggestionPolite suggestion You could exercise and eat healthier foodYou could exercise and eat healthier food

Possibility –less probable than with Possibility –less probable than with can-can- Mark could join us the cinema. Mark could join us the cinema.

May/ mightMay/ might

Both of them express possibility, Both of them express possibility, but but mightmight is more remote. is more remote. It may/ might rain tomorrowIt may/ might rain tomorrow

In questions, may is the polite In questions, may is the polite way of asking for things. way of asking for things. May I have a coffee, please?May I have a coffee, please?

WouldWould

In questions, it is a formal way In questions, it is a formal way of asking for things. of asking for things. Would you open the window, Would you open the window,

please?please? With the verb “like” is used to With the verb “like” is used to

make offers and invitations. make offers and invitations. Would you like something to Would you like something to

drink?drink?

Must / Have toMust / Have to

Both express obligation, but Both express obligation, but mustmust is is only used in the present and only used in the present and have tohave to in the other tenses. Authority people in the other tenses. Authority people use use mustmust, while , while have tohave to is used by is used by everybody. everybody. You must bring your books to classYou must bring your books to class I have to buy the tickets today. I have to buy the tickets today.

Must is also used to express a Must is also used to express a logical deduction about present fact. logical deduction about present fact. She’s got a great job. She must be very She’s got a great job. She must be very

happy. happy.

Need to / Needn’t Need to / Needn’t

Need to is not a modal, but it is used Need to is not a modal, but it is used in affirmative sentences, like in affirmative sentences, like have tohave to, , to express obligation and necessity. to express obligation and necessity. I need to cook dinner tonight. I need to cook dinner tonight.

Needn’t, on the contrary, is a modal Needn’t, on the contrary, is a modal and indicates lack of oblication and and indicates lack of oblication and necessity, like necessity, like don’t have todon’t have to You needn’t bring anything to the party.You needn’t bring anything to the party.

Musn’t / Don’t have toMusn’t / Don’t have to

Musn’tMusn’t shows prohibition. shows prohibition. You musn’t exceed the speed limitYou musn’t exceed the speed limit

Don’t have toDon’t have to means means not have not have toto, i.e., lack of obligation and , i.e., lack of obligation and necessity, like necessity, like needn’tneedn’t I don’t have to get up early I don’t have to get up early

tomorrowtomorrow

Should /Ought toShould /Ought to

Both of them express advise or Both of them express advise or opinion, but opinion, but shouldshould is used more is used more frequently, since frequently, since ought toought to is is quite strange in negative and quite strange in negative and interrogative. interrogative. You should/ought to improve your You should/ought to improve your

pronunciationpronunciation

ShallShall

It is used in the interrogative to It is used in the interrogative to offer oneself to do something offer oneself to do something and to make a suggestion. and to make a suggestion. Shall I help you with your Shall I help you with your

luggage?luggage?

 

ABILITYABILITY REQUESTREQUEST POSSIBILITYPOSSIBILITY INABILITYINABILITY

CAN Mary can swim very fast Can you call me tonight? I can meet you later  

BE ABLE TOI was able to finish my homework on time      

CAN'T      I can't eat a whole cake by myself

COULDShe could run fast when she was a child (past)

Could you help me with the suitcases? (polite)

Mark could join us at the cinema  

MAY/MIGHT    It may/might rain tomorrow  

MAY  May I join this team? (polite)    

WOULD  Would you open the window, please? (formal)    

MUST        

HAVE TO        

NEED TO        

NEEDN'T        

DON'T HAVE TO        

MUSTN'T        

SHOULD /OUGHT TO        

SHALL        

 

CAN

BE ABLE TO

CAN'T

COULD

MAY/MIGHT

MAY

WOULD

MUST

HAVE TO

NEED TO

NEEDN'T

DON'T HAVE TO

MUSTN'T

SHOULD /OUGHT TO

SHALL

PROHIBITIONPROHIBITION DISBELIEFDISBELIEF SUGGESTION/ SUGGESTION/ OFFEROFFER

OBLIGATION/ OBLIGATION/ NECESSITYNECESSITY

       

       

You can't drive without a licence

That can't be the price - it's much too cheap    

   

You could exercise and eat healthier food (plite)  

       

       

   Would you like something to drink?  

     

You must bring your books to class (strong)

     I have to buy the tickets today

     I need to cook dinner tonight.

       

       

You musn't exceed the speed limit      

       

   Shall I help you with your luggage?  

CERTAINTY OF CERTAINTY OF TRUETRUE

LACK OBLIGATION/ LACK OBLIGATION/ NECESSITYNECESSITY

ADVICE/ OPINIONADVICE/ OPINION

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

She's got a great job. She must be very happy.    

     

     

 You needn't bring anything to the party  

 I don't have to get up early tomorrow  

     

   

You should/ ought to improve your pronunciation

     

 

CAN

BE ABLE TO

CAN'T

COULD

MAY/MIGHT

MAY

WOULD

MUST

HAVE TO

NEED TO

NEEDN'T

DON'T HAVE TO

MUSTN'T

SHOULD /OUGHT TO

SHALL