Just as would can be used as the past of will; could can be used as the past of can; might can

be used as the past of may; and should can be used as the past of shall. The auxiliary must
can only refer to the present (it is substituted by ‘have to’ in the past). These relationships
among the modal auxiliaries can be summarized as follows:

USED IN PRESENT TENSE USED IN PAST TENSE

CAN COULD
MAY MIGHT
SHALL SHOULD
WILL WOULD
MUST (HAD TO)
USED TO
OUGHT TO
NEED
DARE

The following examples illustrate a few of these relationships:

Tense in Main Clause Complete Sentence

Simple Present I think I can do it.

Simple Past I thought I could do it.

Simple Present He predicts it may rain.

Simple Past He predicted it might rain.

Simple Present She knows she must be there.

Simple Past She knew she had to be there.

Simple Present I wonder what we shall do tomorrow.

Simple Past I wondered what we should do the next day.

Modals are verbs which ' help'other verbs to express a meaning: "modal verbs" have no
meaning by themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying functions; it can be
used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and the future.
"would is not just the past of will": it is many other things…

A few basic grammatical rules applying to modal verbs

• Modal verbs are NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs. The negative is formed
simply by adding "not" after the verb
• Modal verbs NEVER change form: you can never add an "-s" or "-ed"
• Modal verbs are NEVER followed by to, with the exception of ought to

Modals can have several meanings which are usually connected with ideas of CERTAINTY
& POSSIBILITY – OBLIGATION – PROHIBITION - PERMISSION - ABILITY, or lack of
these.
A CERTAINTY & POSSIBILITY

100% WILL / MUST CERTAINTY

75% SHOULD
PROBABILITY
50% MAY

25% MIGHT / COULD

POSSIBILITY
20% SHOULDN’T

0% CAN’T / COULDN’T / WON’T IMPOSSIBILITY

e.g.
Do you think it might rain tomorrow night?
You can come over tonight if you would like to.
Profits will increase next year. (= a certain prediction)
I may be late tonight.
He might have been killed. (a possibility in the past)
We must all die
That man must be drunk! Look at him driving.

B OBLIGATION

MUST OBLIGATION ORIGINATING FROM THE SPEAKER

HAVE (GOT) TO EXTERNAL OBLIGATION

SHOULD / OUGHT TO MORAL OBLIGATION

e.g.
I think we should check everything again.
We should / ought to study a little harder.
You must look at me when I’m talking.
Children have (got) to wear life jackets at all times

The real negative of ‘must’ is

‘needn’t’ (‘mustn’t’ expresses a
prohibition see C)
C PROHIBITION

MUSTN’T PROHIBITION ORIGINATING FROM THE SPEAKER

CAN’T PROHIBITION FROM AN OUTSIDE AUTHORITY

MAY NOT (MAYN’T) FORMAL PROHIBITION

e.g.
You mustn’t drink and drive
You can’t park here

D PERMISSION

CAN - COULD - MAY - MIGHT –WILL - WOULD

(TO BE ALLOWED TO)

All modal verbs above can be used to give permission or deny permission to do something or
to someone. The difference lies in the more colloquial or formal way of putting things. Can
expresses permission in colloquial (informal) speech, may is far more formal. Where
necessary, the modals can be replaced by ‘to be allowed to’.

e.g.
Would you mind if I brought a colleague with me?
Can I smoke here?
May I go to the toilet?
Could I borrow your dictionary?
You may not watch T. V. after dinner.
He can come tomorrow
He will be allowed to stay at his friend’s.
May I have another cup of coffee?
You cannot use that device!

E ABILITY

CAN – COULD
(TO BE ABLE TO)

Can expresses ability (capacity), it has no infinitive and no past participle. Where necessary, it
has to be replaced by ‘to be able to’.

e.g.
She can play the piano
We can’t fix the problem
My father hopes that we will be able to go to the moves.
Can they lift that stone?
I can not go to Europe with you.
I could swim well when I was fifteen (past ability)
I managed to reach the top (past ability)
I could reach the top of that mountain (no past!!!)
F SOME OTHER CASES

1) REQUESTS - OFFERS – SUGGESTIONS:

CAN - COULD - MAY - SHALL – WILL -WOULD

some requests:
Would you pass the salt please?
Can you help me?
Could you say it again more slowly?

some offers
Can I give you a lift?
Shall I help you with your luggage?
I will do that for you if you like.

some suggestions
We could try to fix it ourselves.
Shall we say 2.30 then?

2) GIVING ADVICE :
SHOULD – OUGHT TO

You should see a doctor! (Je zou echt beter naar de dokter gaan)
You should stop smoking.

3) NEED

Mind!
To need (nodig hebben) is a regular verb: to need - needed - needed
Here we have the modal ‘need’ (hoeven)
Need is only used in negative and interrogative sentences
You needn’t come back.
Need I say more?
It is replaced by ‘to have to’
You won’t have to come. (Je zult niet hoeven te komen)

4) DARE

a) conjugated like a special finite: You daren’t say that again.

b) conjugated like a normal verb: You don’t dare to say that again.

5) USED TO

expresses a habit of the past. Therefore it can only be used in the past tense.
It is often expressed in Dutch with ‘vroeger’
He used to drink a lot. (Vroeger dronk hij)

Mind!
To be used to = gewoon, gewend zijn
To get used to = gewoon, gewend worden
It’s hard work but I’m used to it. (=ik ben het gewoon)
It’s no longer a problem. I got used to is. (= ik werd het gewend)