AGREE OR DISAGREE?

• Change is the only thing

constant in the world.
• The world is not black and
white
• We are all in constant
motion.
DESCRIBE THE GIVEN IMAGE
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
WHAT IS HAPPENING
• Shades of intensity and
certainty are sometimes
necessary
• We need means to convey
varying degrees of certainty,
ability or intent
MODALS
 What are modal verbs?
• They are:
• Can
They are Auxiliary verbs that
• Could
provide additional and specific
• May meaning to the main verb of the
• Might sentence
• Must
• Shall
• Should Modal verbs are sometimes
• Will referred to as
• Would Modal Auxiliary verbs because
• they help other verbs
Ought to
How do we use modals?

S M V
Subject Verb

Example:
Mary could play the piano

They do not accept conjugation

They do not need other auxiliary verbs
 Form
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative
• He can ski He cans ski or He can skis
• Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
• They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious
Form
Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

She must study
We should have gone the other way
He could play football in his youth (general ability)
Form

MODAL VERBS DO NOT HAVE ALL THE TENSES

MODAL VERBS USE OTHER VERBS TO COMPLETE

THE TENSES
CAN IS COMPLETED WITH BE ABLE TO
MUST IS COMPLETED WITH HAVE TO

They can play the piano

They will be able to play the piano in the future

You must come early

You had to come early yesterday
What do they express?

• They can have different meanings

depending on the situations they are used
• To understand it better we are going to
divide them into 3 categories
1. Single Concept Modal: they have one
meaning
2. Double Concept Modal: they have two
meanings
3. Modals in past: They are used to express a
situation in the past
Categories

Single concept Double Concept Modals in Past

Modals Modals
Will May Would have
Might Must Could have
Should Would Might have
Ought to Shall Should have
Had better Could May have
Can Must have
Single Concept Modal

Modal Concept Examples

Will Future Joe will travel to NY next week

Might Small probability I might move to Canada some

day
Should Recommendation You should go to the doctor

Ought to Formal We ought to know about first

recommendation aids
Had better Warning I had better study or I will fail
the test
 Double Concept Modal

Modal Concept Examples

May (1) Permission May I come in?

May (2) Good probability We may visit Mexico this

summer
Must (1) Responsibility Everyone must pay taxes

Must (2) Assumption She didn’t arrive. She must be

sick
Would (1) Past (used to) When I was young, I would
play soccer
Would (2) Present unreal I would buy the car but I can’t
afford it
Double Concept Modal
Modal Concept Examples
Shall (1) Educated Excuse me, I shall go now
expression Shall I clean it?
Offer
Shall (2) Contractual The company shall pay on January
obligation 1st
Could (1) Unreal Ability I could go if I had time

Could (2) Past Ability She could play the piano, not
anymore

Can (1) Present Ability We can speak English

Can (2) Permission Can I have a sweet?

 PROBABILITY/ ABILITY PERMISSION OBLIGATION/ OFFERS
POSSIBILITY ADVICE

CAN I can play the Can I go out

piano tonight?

CAN’T She can’t be his I can’t speak Can I borrow the

mum. She ‘s too German car? No, I can’t.
young

MIGHT It might rain

tomorrow

COULD It could rain tomorrow I could already Could I see your

read when I was passport please,
two sir?

MAY It may rain tomoroww May I leave the

table?

MUST She must be his You must leave

sister because they before the clock
look alike. strikes twelve.

HAVE TO I have to study

tonight.

SHALL You shall pay on Shall I help you?

Tuesday

SHOULD / You should see

OUGHT TO it. It’s excellent.

HAD You had better

BETTER sleep more.

WOULD Would you like a

drink?
Modals in the Past
• They are modals referred to actions that happened
in the past

It must have
MODAL been
+ HAVE + averb
difficult decision
in past participle
They should have invited her to their wedding
 MODAL PERFECT USES EXAMPLES
MUST HAVE + P.P. Conclusión lógica sobre un hecho del Peter has arrived late. He must
pasado have been in a traffic jam

MAY / MIGHT HAVE + P.P. Una suposición sobre algo pasado Joe may / might have taken the
wrong train.

COULD HAVE + P.P. Habilidad de haber hecho algo pero You could have played better
finalmente no lo hizo

COULDN’T HAVE + P.P. Certeza de que algo no pudo haber He couldn’t have passsed because
sucedido you hadn’t studied enough

WOULD HAVE + P.P. Quiso haber hecho algo, pero no pudo I would have visited you, but I
hacerlo por causas externas forgot your address

SHOULD / Queja de que algo haya ocurrido en el You should / ought to have warned
OUGHT TO HAVE + P.P. pasado o lamento de que no se haya me earlier
cumplido lo que esperábamos

SHOULDN’T HAVE + P.P. Crítica sobre un acontecimiento pasado He shouldn’t have told them
que no debería haber ocurrido

NEEDN’T HAVE + P.P. No había necesidad de hacer lo que se You needn’t have bought it .
hizo en el pasado
 Modals in Past : Modal + have + past
participle
Modal Concept Example
Would have Past unreal action I would have bought the car, but I didn’t have
money

Could have Past unreal Ability She could have taken the flight

May have Past unreal We may have passed the test, but it was in
Possibility French

Might have Past Unreal Small You might have sold the house, if you really
Probability needed the money

Should have Past unreal You should have listened to the doctor
Recommendation

Must have Past unreal We must have been crazy!

Assumption
A last tip

There are few verbs which often serve as

MODALS too.
These are modal-like verbs

They need to be conjugated

 Modals-like verbs

Modal Concept Example

Like to Enjoy I like to watch TV

Want to Desire John wants to buy a car

Need to Necessity We really needed to talk to you

Have to Obligation Susan had to pay the rent

Have got to Have to I’ve got to go now

Look forward Future plan I look forward to seeing you again

to
 Practice
1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could
2. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can
3. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new
diet.
a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to
4. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to
5. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.
a. Has tob. must c. needn’t d. can’t
 Practice

6. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.

a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
7. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to
8. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. wouldc. must d. have to
9. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
10. You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t
 Practice

11. __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?

a. could b. may c. should d. would
12. You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a
surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
13. __________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
a. Must b. May c. Wouldd. Need
14. He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must
More practice
• Re-write the following sentences using modals so that thay
have the same meaning.
1. I suggest that you get a good lawyer!
should get a lawyer
You ___________________________________________
2. A university degree isn’t necessary for that job.
needn’t have a university degree for that job
You ___________________________________________
don’t have to have a university…
3. Perhaps my father will pick you up.
My father _______________________________________
may / might pick you up
4. 4. Eating is forbidden in class!
You ___________________________________________
mustn’t eat in class
More practie
• Re-write the following sentences using modals so that thay
have the same meaning.
5. Look at his dirty clothes! I’m sure he is a poor person.
must be a poor person
He ____________________________________________
6. I don’t believe that the legend of Hercules is true because
there’re many contradictions.
The legend of Hercules ____________________________
can’t be true
Use your imagination
• Think about these situations and create a sentence using
modals.
1. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions
about things to do)
2. We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)
3. Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)
4. You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)
5. Peter has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him
some advice)
6. You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for
permission politely)
 Possible answers

1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

2. We have to buy a new notebook

3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin

4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York

5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea

6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?