Modal Meaning/Usage Example

can
ability (physical or intellectual) = Can you play the piano?
theoretical possibility = Anyone can make a mistake.
permission = Cant !e "ust #o home?
re$uest = % & Can you carry it to the car?
o''er = Can ( help you out?
can = )*% +, -here can be a couple o' books by this !riter in the library.
cant/
cannot
possibility = (./*)) Cant you come any earlier?
prohibition = 0*1 2ou cant lea3e until ( say so.
4e4uction = +, -his bill cant be ri#ht.
cant have 4e4uction = +, 5he6s #one to the !ron# 4oor 7 she cant have seen the si#n.
could have annoyance = 8 +, 2our actions could have ha4 serious conse$uences.
may
possibility = )* 9e may #o to :rance ne;t year.
e;pressin# hopes% !ishes = +* <.)=/ May you both be 3ery happy.
permission = % & 2ou may #o !hen you63e 'inishe4.
o''er = May ( be o' any assistance?
concession = )* >% > -hey may li3e ne;t 4oor but !e har4ly e3er see them.
may not prohibition = 0*1 2ou may not #o until you63e 'inishe4.
might
possibility (less probable than !ith ?may6) =
)*
-his e;pe4ition might be $uite 4an#erous.
su##estions = 8 +, 2ou might try phonin# 4irectory en$uires.
re$uests = Might ( borro! some money?
annoyance = 8 +, 2ou might at least say you6re sorry@
concession = )* >% > Ae might seem ru4e% but he6s not really.
must
4e4uction = =0 +, 9hat6s that noise? (t must be rainin#.
sub"ecti3e obli#ation = =0 2ou must take your shoes o'' in here.
necessity = =0 -he !ires must touch or it !on6t !ork.
mustnt prohibition = =0 2ou mustnt !orry 7 you6ll be 'ine.
shall
pre4iction = 80. +B=. ).> ( think !e shall #et back early ne;t !eek.
intention = 80. +B=. ).> 9e shall #i3e our 'inal 4ecision tomorro!.
o''ers = >C>>>) Shall ( #i3e you a han4?
o''icial or4ers = =0 All the can4i4ates shall remain in their seats until the en4 o' the
e;amination.
askin# 'or a43ice = >C>>>) 9hat shall !e 4o no!?
should/
ought to
#i3in# your opinion = /). -he tra''ic should/ ought to be li#hter to4ay.
e;pressin# 4oubt = +,% D)/ED ( should think it !ill rain to4ay.
a43ice = D0=B% /= 2ou should/ ought to #o out more o'ten.
obli#ation (4uty) = =0 Feople should/ ought to treat each other better.
instructions = =0% +G=> All 3isitors should report to reception.
in purpose clauses e;pressin# 4oubt = +* <.)=/ -hey spoke $uietly so that nobo4y should hear !hat they !ere
sayin#.
will
pre4iction = +B= -hey will be here soon.
truths an4 'acts = 80. /D. ).. -he car will only run on unlea4e4 petrol.
obli#ationH or4ers = +G=>% =0 All passen#ers will procee4 to Iate J imme4iately.
habits = +* <.)=/% >0> +,% K/K <./)>0 5he will al!ays try to help you !hene3er she can.
annoyin# habits = )% / KL )DM =0/ >
=0/
Ae will smoke !hen (6m tryin# to eat.
!illin#ness = G ( will #i3e you a han4 i' you like.
intention = D+>./D1 ( will put the letter in the post this e3enin#.
wont
re'usal = G% >K/K Ae wont "oin in unless he6s 'irst.
-he car wont start.
would
pre4iction = +B= -hey sai4 they would be here soon.
4escribin# ima#inary situations = +, 2ou would look better !ith your hair shorter.
re$uests = ( 80>) +,% </0BND/ Would you open the 4oor 'or me?
typical (annoyin#) beha3iour = +,)/0% K/K /*0 (t would start rainin# "ust as !e !ent out.
a43ice = +, ( would talk to him about it i' ( !ere you.
irritation (emotional) = D K/KN D/>% D 8 +, 9hy would ( #o there?
be to
or4er (resultin# 'rom arran#ement) = =0 2ou are to talk to Orian he6s the one in char#e here.
arran#ement% a#reement = =0 -he talks are to be#in tomorro!.
!illin#ness = G 2ou must take the !hole pro"ect more seriously i' you are to
succee4.
askin# 'or a43ice = >C>>>) 9hat am ( to 4o !ithout him?
possibility = -hey are to be 'oun4 all o3er the !orl4.
ine3itability = DB= Ae starte4 somethin# that was to chan#e the 'ace o' the country.
need
necessity = /=% +G=>% .+BD1 Ae 4esperately needed money.
-he boy needs spankin#.
dare au4acity = D -hey dare not raise their interest rates a#ain.
have to
ob"ecti3e obli#ationH necessity (resultin# 'rom
circumstances) = <.>G=>D1% =0% /=
2ou have to be care'ul !hat to say on telly.
SHOULD and OUGHT TO
1. should is preferable in this case when an outside authority recommends sth: The manual
says that the computer should be disconnected from the mains before the cover is removed.
2. should (or would) is used when we give advice with I: I should leave early tomorrow, if I
were you.
3. We can use (be) supposed to instead of should/ ought to to talk about a less strong
obligation to do sth in spoken nglish: The work was supposed to start last week.
We use (be) supposed to when we report what many people think is true: Eating sweets is
supposed to be bad for your teeth.
!. "n sub#ective predictions in negative sentences shouldnt is preferable: You shouldnt have
trouble with traffic.
HABITS
1. We use used to but not would when we talk about past states that have changed:
I used to smoke heavily when I was at the university.
2. When we use would we need to mention a specific time or set of occasions:
Whenever we went to my uncles house, we would play in the garden.
3. When we say e$actly how many times something happened% how long something took% or
that something happened at a particular time% or about #ust one occasion we use Past S!ple:
We visited wit!erland four times during the "#$%s.
&ast time I gave him a problem and he solved it for me.
"#$#SSIT%
1. &o e$press the absence of general necessity% a rule dont need is used: You dont need to be
over "' to go to a disco.
2. &he absence of necessity in a particular situation both dont need and neednt are used: You
neednt (dont need to) cut the grass, Ill do it tomorrow.
3. "f an action wasn't necessary and it wasn't done ddnt need ( )imple "nfinitive should be
used: I didnt need to cook anything, because my husband stayed at hi *ums.
!. "f and action wasn't necessary but it was done neednt & Pe'(e)t In(nt*e should be used: I
neednt have cooked so much, only two guests arrived, it was such a waste of products and
time+
ABILIT%
1. )pecific achievement is e$pressed by be able to+ su))eded n & , ng+ !anaged to: I had
some free time yesterday, so I was able to write a few letters. ,e managed to talk me into going
to the pub.
2. *eneral ability is e$pressed by can (could): he can read well, even though shes only three.
-fter only si. months, u!anne could play the violin well.
Tas- ./ Inse't !odals (so!et!es the *e'bs n b'a)-ets should be )hanged nto the )o''e)t (o'! o( In(nt*e) 0
1. + " carry that rather heavy,looking case for you- 2. + you possibly come back a little later- 3. + you be willing to
refund the money we have already paid you- !. &he whole team + as well give up and go back to carpentry. .. "n my
first term of office " + put this country back on its feet after my predecessor's mistakes. /. "n this second term " + bring
in the most e$citing new legislation this country's seen for decades. 0. 1ust recently " + cut down on my spending. 2.
3ou really + introduce me to your wife. 4. We + climb through the window because " had left my key inside. 15. 3ou
+ be at your desk at nine sharp or else " + cut part of your salary. 11. "t's sweet of you% but you really + (buy) me
flowers. 12. "t was strange that we + show our passports. 13. 3ou + (pick) me up: " + (get) a ta$i.1! + " borrow your
Walkman tomorrow afternoon- 1.. " + swim before " was three. 1/. 6 wasp sting + sometimes cause death in those
days. 10. "n the end we + communicate with sign language. 12. &he factory + be in the city centre. 7ut in 144. it was
pulled down. 14. 8y car + start% what a nuisance9 25. &he medicine + be kept in a cool place.21. 3ou + visit your
parents more often. 22. "f you + survive% you + eat9 23. 3ou + (kid) me9 lephants don't live in )iberia. 2!. " + see
the manager. :e has called me to his office. 2.. " + see the manager. " want to discuss something with him. 2/. "n the
1/
th
century% fishermen + smuggle wine into the country without fear of being caught by the authorities. 20. 7ennett +
smuggle the knife on board the plane without being detected by the security system.
Tas- 1/ T'anslate nto #nglsh0
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