Modal verbs

Modal verbscan could may must should

Negative

Interrogative

Meaning

can can not= can’t

can I / he sing?

poder/ ser capaz

could couldn’t could you..?

poder/ ser capaz

may may not may I …? poder

must don’t have to

must I …? ter de/quedever (suposições)

mustn’t ser proibido

should

shouldn’t

should I…? dever

Modal verbs: CAN – Permission/Ability/Offer help/ Possibility

He can skate quite well.

Anyone can get a cold in winter.

Can I read the letter you have just received?

Can I help you?

Ability

Possibili

ty

Permissi

on

Offer

help

Could – Request / Possibility / Permission / Past ability

I could dance for hours when I was younger.

We could go to the cinema tomorrow if we had a babysitter.

Could I leave a little earlier today?Could you tell me the way to the post

office?

Ability

Possibilit

y

Permissio

n

Requests

MAY - Possibility / Permission

We may go to Greece for our holidays. We haven’t decided yet.

May I come in?

possibility

permission

MUST – Obligation or necessity DON’T HAVE TO – absence of obligation MUSTN’T – Prohibition

 You __________ arrive on time from now on. You _________ park your car here. I think you _____________ worry about your

baby.He is okay!

mustmustn’

t don’t have to

SHOULD / SHOULDN’T - moral obligation / advice

You __________ be rude to your granddad.

It’s so late! I _________be home by now.You __________ eat so much.

shouldn’t

should shouldn

’t

What would you say?Could you

please close the window?

Could I use the phone

please?

Could you speak

slower?Can I eat a sandwich?

Can I borrow your

book?Can I drink

water?

Use CAN - CAN’T – MUST - MUSTN’T

You must be careful! Railways ahead !

You mustn’t go this way! You can find a restaurant here.Only pedestrians can use this way.You can find a motorway ahead.

You ________ stop and give way.

You ________ be careful. Crossroads ahead.

You _______ find a camping site here.

You _______ turn on your lights.

Vehicles wider than 2m ________ go on.You ___________ stop or park here.

Use CAN - CAN’T – MUST - MUSTN’Tmust

must

can

mustcan’t

mustn’t

1.If you have permission, you may / must download music files.

2.The lawyer said that I shouldn’t / mustn’t copy music without legal permission.

3. At school, we may / should use cell phones in the hallways. 4. At school, we must / mustn’t use cell phones in

class.5. At the airport, there is a special area where we can /should rest.

6.When I was in high school, we can / could leave the campus if we wished.

7. But, we can’t / couldn’t miss classes. 8. Can / Should you turn off that light?9. I can /must talk to you right away. It’s

urgent!10. You can /should write to your family.

They would like to know about you.