17 GRAMMAR Modals 1: present and future Modal verbs: form and meaning © Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs - they are used with other main verbs, Modal verbs are can, could, will, would, may, might, shall, should and must. © Note these important rules: = two modal verbs cannot be put together (NOT He-can-will-meet-you-tomorrow:) ~ modal verbs are followed by the infinitive without fo (NOT Hewiust-te-mectyou- tomorrow.) — modal verbs do not have third person s (NOT He canis meet-you-tomorrow.) ~ modal verbs do not form tenses with ~ing, -ed etc. (NOT Fin-sorsy- Learned not-meet-you-yesterday,) = modal verbs use inversion in questions (like the verb be), not do/does. (NOT Deca you meet metomorrew?) © Questions are made by putting the modal in front of the subject. Negatives are made by putting not immediately after the modal (often shortened to -n't in spoken and informal written English). Can I. I cannot (can't) Could I T could not (couldn't) Will I. Iwill not (won't) Would I. I would not (wouldn't) May 1...? Tmay not Might. I might not Shall ...? I shall not (shan) Should I Ishould not (shouldn't) Must I ‘I must not (mustn't) © Modal verbs show the speaker's attitude or feelings about a situation, eg. how probable or necessary it is, and are also used in offering and requesting, The same modal verb can be used in different ways with different meanings, depending on the situation. Ability © We use can and can't for ability (or cannot in formal writing). Tecan swim, Can you swim? © Pronunciation: can is normally unstressed /kan/, but is stressed for emphasis /keen/. A: Can you speak Chinese? B: No, but Ican speak Japanese.GRAMMAR 17 MODALS 1: PRESENT AND FUTURE © We sometimes use be able to instead of can. Be able to forms tenses. Will you be able to help me move my furniture tomorrow? @ Wealso use can and car't for permission: to describe what is allowed or not allowed. Can Ileave early, please? can't come skating tomorrow. Certainty and uncertainty © Study this table of probability and the notes below: 100% certainty will 95%-100% deduction must, can’t 80% expectation should 30%-70% uncertainty may, might, could 0% certainty won't © We use will and won't when we are certain about something in the future. © We use must and can’t for ‘deduction. This is when we know something is certain because it is logical, or when we make an assumption because of the facts of the situation, He must be stuck in the traffic. (Um sure he is - it’ the only possibility.) She can't be in Italy! I saw her today! (U'm sure she isn't ~ it’s impossible.) © We use should when we expect that something will happen. They should arrive here at about 6.30. © We use may, might and could when we are uncertain, I may not have time to finish tonight. (I don't know) President Jones might win the next election. (its possible) I may/might have some news for you next week. (perhaps I will) He could be stuck in the traffic. (perhaps he is) Obligation © We use must or have to to explain that something is necessary. I must finish my homework before 8.00. Thave to phone Jan at 9.00. © Have to is not a modal verb, and has all the forms of have. ‘Ann has to leave now. Why does she have to go? You don't have to do it. 2BINTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE mn Opi © There are differences between must and have fo in some situations. In formal speech and writing we can use either must or have to. ‘We use have to when the situation makes something necessary, for example because of official rules. At our school, we have to wear a uniform. Every player in a football team has to have a number. When the traffic lights are red, you have to stop. In everyday speech, we can use have got to instead of have to. We use must when the speaker personally feels that something is important. You really must stop working so hard and try to relax. You must be here by 8.00, or the bus will leave without you. Note that we do not use fo after must. In their negative forms mustn't and don't have to have different meanings. ‘We use mustn't when an action is prohibited/forbidden. You mustn't cross the road when the red light is showing, ‘We use don't have to when the action is not necessary ~ you have a choice. You don’t have to turn on the central heating. Its automatic: ns and advice We use should and shouldn't to give an opinion about what is the best thing to do. When we speak to another person our opinion becomes advice. I think the police should arrest hooligans. (opinion) I think you should talk to your teacher about it, (advice) Note the other use of should for expectation. We can use ought to and ought not to to mean the same as should and shouldn't. Ought to is not as common as should and is a little more formal, especially in questions and negatives. I think she ought to talk to her teacher about it Ought to has no third person ‘s, and forms questions and negatives without do/does, You ought not to go. Ought we to tell the director? With think in the negative, we use I don't think + should rather than the negative forms of should and ought to. I don't think you should/ought to go. Had better is used for strong opinions. Had is usually a short form. I think youd better talk to your teacher about it, Weld better not forget to turn off the computer!GRAMMAR 17 MODALS 1: PRESENT AND FUTURE 1. Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. Look at those clouds. I think it can/might/must rain. This is impossible! It can't be/mustn't be/may not be the answer. ‘Well done! You may be/must be/might be very pleased! ve no idea where Jane is. She could be/must be anywhere! I suppose it’s possible. I might/can/must come to your party. Tm not sure. I must not/may not be able to get there in time. ‘That can't be/mustn't be/may not be David. He hasnt got a bike. Lisa isn't here yet. She can be/must be on her way. There's someone at the door. It can be/could be the postman. 10 Sorry, I can’t come/may not come out tonight. I have to do my homework. eCeraueone 2. Rewrite each sentence using can, can’t, might or must, and beginning and ending as shown. 1. Sarah is really good at swimming. Sarah . fe RALLY. 2. It’s possible that our team will win. Our team 3. Pm sure this isn’t the right road. This 4 I'm sure you work very hard! You very hard! 5 Caroline isnt allowed to come to our party. Caroline 0 our party. 6 It possible that I'l see you tomorrow, but I'm not sure. I » but I'm not sure. 7. Ymafraid that your teacher is unable to come today. Tm afraid that ... today. 8 I'msure it’s very hot here in summer. It ere in summer. 9 Excuse me, is it all right if I open the window? Excuse me, the window? 10 I suppose you're Mrs Perry. How do you do? You Mrs Perry. How do you do? 78INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 76 3 Decide whether each pair of sentences have a similar meaning, or whether they are different. Write S for same or D for different. 1 Youd better go. You should go. 5. 2. You don’t have to press this button. ‘You mustn't press this button. 3. You should have a rest. ‘You ought to have a rest 4 You must be crazy! You should be crazy! 5. You must be here before 8.30. You have to be here before 8.30. 6 You mustrit do that! You don't have to do that! 7 You shouldn't eat so much. ‘You ought not to eat so much. 8 We have to work harder. ‘We must work harder. 9 Td better write my letters. I must write my letters. 10. Tought to leave now. Thave to leave now. 4 Rewrite each sentence so that it has a similar meaning and contains the word in bold. 1 It would be a good idea for you to see a dentist. ought eon YOM RUBE KO. S66. ARMEESE. 2. It’s not necessary for us to go to school tomorrow. have 3. I'm sure that isn’t John, because he’s in Paris. be 4 Perhaps Ann is at home. be 5 You ought to wear a warm coat today. had 6 It's possible that I'll be late. may 7 Lwouldn’t go skiing if I were you. think 8 Itis forbidden to leave your bike here. can'teel GRAMMAR 17 MODALS 1: PRESENT AND FUTURE 5 Complete each sentence with one suitable modal auxiliary. 1 to obey orders. 2 . take your umbrella. 3 Sorry, 1 go now. I don't want to be late. 4 Tm not sure, but . be able to help you. 5. Francesca isn't at home, so she . be on her way here. 6 We better not leave any windows open. 7 It . bea star, it’s too bright. Perhaps its an alien spaceship! 8 Idon' . to go to work today. It’ a holiday. 9 Sorry, but I wasn . to finish all the work you gave me. 10 I think yo to ask your teacher for some advice. 6 Rewrite each sentence so that it does not contain the phrase in italics. 1 If were you, Id take more exercise. thine. you'd. hetterdigou.shanld.talee.nsare. exercise 2. Texpect the plane will land soon. 3. You are not allowed to use a dictionary. 4. It3 impossible for that to be Sue. She's abroad. 5 It8 possible that Pl come to your party. 6 It against the law to drop litter in the street. 7 [tS not necessary for you to wait. 8 Youid better stay in bed today. 9 Perhaps I'l see you at the end of the week. 10 It very important for you to be here on time tomorrow. 11 Perhaps you should go to the dentist’. 12 I'm sure Jane feels very tired after her long journey. > SEE ALSO Grammar 22: Functions 7