Catholic University of Mozambique

Faculty of Law

Course: Public administration

Modal verbs

Nampula, August

2023
 Catholic University of Mozambique

Faculty of Law

Course: Public administration

Name of the student: Lisilora Lucas Jeremias

Modal verbs

Evaluative work for the English discipline,

submitted to the UCM Faculty of Law.

Teacher: M.A Hermenegildo Loureco Manuel

Nampula, August

2023
Índice
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................4
Modal verbs..............................................................................................................................................5
Form..........................................................................................................................................................5
Logical Possibility....................................................................................................................................6
Ability.......................................................................................................................................................7
Permission................................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................11
References..............................................................................................................................................12
Introduction

The present work talks about the Modal verbs, they are Auxiliary verbs that provide
additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the Must sentence.
The general objective of this work is to
 Demonstrate how to form sentences using modal verbs,
 Know the types of modal verbs.
The specific objectives of this work are

 Clearly explain how to use modal verb in logical possibility,

 Chow how to use modal verbs of permission,
 Demonstrate how to form modal verbs.

The present work is structured in the following way, it has the cover, back cover, has the
index, the present introduction, the development, the conclusion and the bibliographical
references.
Modal verbs
They are Auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the
Must sentence.

Form
Modal verbs only have one form. They do not take -s in the simple present and they do not
have a past simple or past participle form. However, some modal verbs have alternative forms
that allow us to express the same ideas in different tenses.

Modal verbs (modals) are verbs that add the meaning of logical possibility, ability, necessity,
and permission to verbs, which have a degree of strength from stronger to weaker.

Modals come before infinitive verbs and the “to” is removed.

Modals do not need to match their subject in plural agreement, so there is no need to add an “-
s” or “-es” ending to a modal. Modals will often be seen in sentences that are predicting a
future possibility, describing an ability, giving advice, making requests, or asking for
permission. The nine most common modals are can, could, shall, should, will, would, may,
might, and must.

*Will/Shall *Will/Shall

We use will to make requests/ask somebody to do something. When we want to make a

suggestion using the interrogative form in the 1st person (I, we), we use shall.

Example:

 Max, will you change that tire?

 Change the tire, will you?
 Shall I change that tire?

Alternative Forms

If we want to indicate a situation in the past, we have to use the alternative forms instead of
the regular modal verbs. The list below provides an overview of modal verbs and their
alternative forms.
Use Modals Examples
logical possibility Must (Most Certain) The dark clouds must mean rain today.
Will Due to the news, the stock will go down. The
Would chemical would help the experiment.
Should The case should prevent cracking.
May This change may improve the results.
Can Being careless can have bad consequences. The
Could charm could protect you.
Might (Least Certain) I might be tired tomorrow.
Ability Can (Stronger Ability) He can type 34 words per minute. I could assist by
Could (Weaker interpreting the results.
Ability) Shall we dance?
Shall (Suggestion)
Necessity Must (Obligation) They must go to work today.
Should (Advice) You should floss every day.

Permission May (Most Formal) May I turn my paper in tomorrow?

Might Might he have some more soup? Could I buy the
Could new model?
Can (Least Formal) Can I go to my friend’s house?
Obligation Must His father says, “You must do what you are told.”
Have to
Suggestion Shall Shall we dance?

Logical Possibility

Logical possibility modals add a degree of possibility to an action. “Must” is the strongest
modal that implies a possibility will occur while “could” and “might” imply that the speaker
is unsure of the action happening.
Examples:

 The weather report showed a 99% chance of rain, so it must rain. You might find an
open store after 12:00 AM.
In the first example, the modal is “must.” It is placed before the verb “rain” and indicates that
the writer believes there is a strong possibility of rain. In the second example, the modal is
“might.” It is placed before the verb “find” and indicates that the writer believes there is a low
chance the reader will “find an open store after 12:00 AM.”

Ability
Ability modals add a degree to a subject's ability to do an action.

Examples:

 Pigeons have a special ability; they can recognize themselves in mirrors. The editor
could edit 70 pages in two days.

In the first example, the modal is “can.” It is placed before the verb “recognize” and indicates
that the writer knows that pigeons recognize themselves in mirrors. In the second example,
the modal is “could.” It is placed before the verb “edit” and indicates that the writer knows to
a weaker degree that the editor has the ability to edit “70 pages in two days.”

Necessity

Necessity modals add a degree of recommendation to an action.

Examples:

 The kids must drink water every day.

 My students should do their homework every night.

In the first example, the modal is “must.” It is placed before the verb “drink” and indicates a
strong recommendation that kids drink water every day. In the second example, the modal is
“should.” It is placed before the verb “do” and indicates a weaker recommendation that
students do their homework every night.

Permission
Permission modals tend to be used in requests. The strength of the modal will determine how
formal a request is by adding a degree of formality to a question.

Examples:

 May I go to the restroom?

  Can you throw me the ball?

In the first example, the modal is “may.” It is placed before the subject “I” because it is
written in the question format (not as a statement as we’ve seen in previous examples). “May”
indicates a strong formality and makes a request to use the restroom. In the second example,
the modal is “can.” It is placed before the subject “you” and indicates a more casual request
for you to throw the ball.

Rules for the Modal Verbs Must and Have To

The modal verb must is used to express obligation and necessity.

The phrase have to doesn’t look like a modal verb, but it performs the same function. Have
to can play the role of must in the past (had to) present, and future tenses.

These words can often be used interchangeably in English; the main difference
between must and have to can be the emotional context.

Must means that the obligation to do something comes from the speaker. In other words, it’s
not a rule. Have to implies that the obligation comes from someone else; it’s something the
speaker can’t change. Additionally, must expresses the speaker’s feelings, whereas have
to expresses, above all, an impersonal idea.

For example:

 I have to pay the bills because my wife is ill.

 I must stop smoking. It’s really bad for my health.

Rules for the Modal Verbs May and Might

First of all, the modal verbs may and might are used to express that something is possible,
and they are used both in the present and future tenses.

For example:

 It may be true. = It might be true.

 He may know. = He might know.
 Take an umbrella with you. It might be raining later.
 We haven’t decided yet where to go for our holidays. We may go to Ireland.
In essence, may implies that there is a better likelihood or possibility of something happening
than might does (maybe 70% vs. 30%).

In some instances, there is no difference. Either modal verb can be used.

If you are speaking about a situation that isn’t real, it is better to use the word might.

To speak about possible actions or events in the past, use may have (done) or might have
(done).

For example:

 I wonder why Kate didn’t answer the phone. She might have been asleep.
 I can’t find my purse anywhere. Oh, I may have left it in the shop.

Secondly, in order to ask or give permission or express a desire, use may.

For example:

 Happy birthday! May all your dreams come true!

 May I stay with you tonight?
 You may have another cookie if you like.

Be able to for ability

We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning: having the power, skill
or means to do something. If we say "I am able to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We
sometimes use be able to instead of "can" or "could" for ability. Be able to is possible in all
tenses - but "can" is possible only in the present and "could" is possible only in the past for
ability. In addition, "can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use be able to when we
want to use other tenses or the infinitive. Look at these examples:

 I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect)

 You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple)
 I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)

Be allowed to

We use the semi-modal verb be allowed to to express permission to do something. It is much

more flexible than real modal verbs such as can, could and may (used for giving permission,
as well), so we can use it in all verb forms.

 We are allowed to swim in the hotel swimming pool at night. Isn’t that amazing?
  The children are not allowed to stay outside after 10.
 That criminal shouldn’t be allowed to get away with that.
 Excuse me, am I allowed to take pictures here?
 After we showed the tickets, we were allowed to enter the stadium.
 The factory will no longer be allowed to pollute the city with black smoke.

Be supposed to

We use be supposed to to say that someone is expected to be or do something.

 We are supposed to be at work by 8 every morning. We are not supposed to be late.

 You are not supposed to flash your car lights at other vehicles.
 The shops are not supposed to sell alcohol and cigarettes to children.
 The police officers are supposed to exercise in the gym three times a week.
 Where are we supposed to hand in the tests?
 The film is supposed to be good because it’s been awarded.
Conclusion
Coming to this point of work concludes that, Modal verbs only have one form. They do not
take -s in the simple present and they do not have a past simple or past participle form.
However, some modal verbs have alternative forms that allow us to express the same ideas in
different tenses.

Modal verbs (modals) are verbs that add the meaning of logical possibility, ability, necessity,
and permission to verbs, which have a degree of strength from stronger to weaker.

Modals come before infinitive verbs and the “to” is removed.

Modals do not need to match their subject in plural agreement, so there is no need to add an “-
s” or “-es” ending to a modal. Modals will often be seen in sentences that are predicting a
future possibility, describing an ability, giving advice, making requests, or asking for
permission. The nine most common modals are can, could, shall, should, will, would, may,
might, and must.
 References
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