Modal Auxiliaries Prof. Rinkerman
Modal Auxiliaries Modals don’t have an  –s , - ed , or  ing  ending. He can drive ( NOT: He cans drive ) Don’t use an infinitive with modals He can go.  (NOT: He can to go) To form the negative, put NOT after the modal He should not go.
Some Examples We  can   play  football. We  could   play  football. We  may   play  football. We  might   play  football. We  must   play  football. We  mustn't   play  football. We  ought to   play  football. We  shall   play  football. We  should   play  football. We  will   play  football. We  would   play  football.
Negatives Positive negative long form short form long form   short form Can -- cannot   can't Could -- could not   couldn't May -- may not   -- Might -- might not   mightn't ought to -- ought not to  oughtn't to should ‘d should not    shouldn't Will 'll will not   won't Would 'd would not   wouldn't
CAN   Use Examples ability to do something  In the present (to be able to)   I can speak English. permission to do something  In the present (to be allowed to)  Can I go to the cinema?   Request   Can you wait a moment, please? offer   I   can lend   you my car till   tomorrow. Suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the   weekend? Possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.
COULD   Use Examples ability to do something  In the PAST (to be able to)   I could walk when I was two. Permission to do something  In the Past (to be allowed to)  I could go to the movies when I    I was a teenager.   polite question   Could I go to the cinema, please? polite request  Could you wait a moment, please? polite offer  I could lend you my car till tomorrow. polite suggestion  Could we visit Grandma at the   weekend? possibility  It could get very hot in Montana.
MAY Use Examples Possibility It  may rain  today. Permission to do sth.  in the present  (substitute form: to be allowed to) May  I  go  to the cinema? polite suggestion May  I  help  you?
MIGHT Possibility It might rain tomorrow (*less possible than MAY) Polite question:  (not very common) Might I borrow your pen?
SHOULD Advice (it’s good – it’s a good idea / not good to do or bad idea) You should exercise. You shouldn’t smoke.
Ought to = should Advice You ought to drive carefully. I ought to study tonight.
MUST (HAVE TO) Necessity:  must = need to, have to I must go to the supermarket today. I have to go to the supermarket today. Legal terms – You have no choice You must have a valid driver’s license. You have to have a valid driver’s license. Strong Possibility (95% sure) You’ve been driving for 10 hours. You must be tired.  (You have to be tired)
Must + Not / Mustn’t  Prohibition You mustn’t drive without a valid license. You mustn’t drink and drive.
Must / Have to Must = have to We must talk about it. We have to talk about it. Mustn’t  =   don’t have to ( strong obligation   (don’t have the need) not to do something) We mustn’t talk about it.  (We have a strong obligation NOT to talk about it) We don’t have to talk about it.  (There is no need)
MUSTN’T versus DON’T HAVE TO We use 'mustn't' to express strong obligations NOT to do something. (You have NO CHOICE) We mustn't talk about it. It's confidential.  I mustn't eat chocolate. It's bad for me.  You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed personal calls.  They mustn't see us talking or they'll suspect something.  We use 'don't have to' to state that there is NO obligation or necessity. (You can if you want, but you don’t have to) We don't have to get there on time. The boss is away today.  I don't have to listen to this. I'm leaving.  You don't have to come if you don't want to.  He doesn't have to sign anything if he doesn't want to at this stage.  I don’t have to go. Only if I want to.
Will Request / Demand / Order (less polite than would) Will you please close the door? Prediction / Assumption I think it will rain on Saturday. Promise I will stop smoking. Spontaneous Decision Can someone give me a ride? I will.
Would Wish / Request (more polite than will) Would you close the door, please?

English lab

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Modal Auxiliaries Modalsdon’t have an –s , - ed , or ing ending. He can drive ( NOT: He cans drive ) Don’t use an infinitive with modals He can go. (NOT: He can to go) To form the negative, put NOT after the modal He should not go.
  • 3.
    Some Examples We can play football. We could play football. We may play football. We might play football. We must play football. We mustn't play football. We ought to play football. We shall play football. We should play football. We will play football. We would play football.
  • 4.
    Negatives Positive negativelong form short form long form short form Can -- cannot can't Could -- could not couldn't May -- may not -- Might -- might not mightn't ought to -- ought not to oughtn't to should ‘d should not shouldn't Will 'll will not won't Would 'd would not wouldn't
  • 5.
    CAN   UseExamples ability to do something In the present (to be able to) I can speak English. permission to do something In the present (to be allowed to) Can I go to the cinema? Request Can you wait a moment, please? offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow. Suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? Possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.
  • 6.
    COULD   UseExamples ability to do something In the PAST (to be able to) I could walk when I was two. Permission to do something In the Past (to be allowed to) I could go to the movies when I I was a teenager. polite question Could I go to the cinema, please? polite request Could you wait a moment, please? polite offer I could lend you my car till tomorrow. polite suggestion Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? possibility It could get very hot in Montana.
  • 7.
    MAY Use ExamplesPossibility It may rain today. Permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) May I go to the cinema? polite suggestion May I help you?
  • 8.
    MIGHT Possibility Itmight rain tomorrow (*less possible than MAY) Polite question: (not very common) Might I borrow your pen?
  • 9.
    SHOULD Advice (it’sgood – it’s a good idea / not good to do or bad idea) You should exercise. You shouldn’t smoke.
  • 10.
    Ought to =should Advice You ought to drive carefully. I ought to study tonight.
  • 11.
    MUST (HAVE TO)Necessity: must = need to, have to I must go to the supermarket today. I have to go to the supermarket today. Legal terms – You have no choice You must have a valid driver’s license. You have to have a valid driver’s license. Strong Possibility (95% sure) You’ve been driving for 10 hours. You must be tired. (You have to be tired)
  • 12.
    Must + Not/ Mustn’t Prohibition You mustn’t drive without a valid license. You mustn’t drink and drive.
  • 13.
    Must / Haveto Must = have to We must talk about it. We have to talk about it. Mustn’t = don’t have to ( strong obligation (don’t have the need) not to do something) We mustn’t talk about it. (We have a strong obligation NOT to talk about it) We don’t have to talk about it. (There is no need)
  • 14.
    MUSTN’T versus DON’THAVE TO We use 'mustn't' to express strong obligations NOT to do something. (You have NO CHOICE) We mustn't talk about it. It's confidential. I mustn't eat chocolate. It's bad for me. You mustn't phone me at work. We aren't allowed personal calls. They mustn't see us talking or they'll suspect something. We use 'don't have to' to state that there is NO obligation or necessity. (You can if you want, but you don’t have to) We don't have to get there on time. The boss is away today. I don't have to listen to this. I'm leaving. You don't have to come if you don't want to. He doesn't have to sign anything if he doesn't want to at this stage. I don’t have to go. Only if I want to.
  • 15.
    Will Request /Demand / Order (less polite than would) Will you please close the door? Prediction / Assumption I think it will rain on Saturday. Promise I will stop smoking. Spontaneous Decision Can someone give me a ride? I will.
  • 16.
    Would Wish /Request (more polite than will) Would you close the door, please?