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Modal Verbs

What are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb, like DO, BE and HAVE. However, they differ in that regular auxiliaries only
express the idea of time and not meaning; or in the case of DO, cannot be translated into Spanish.
The main Modal Verbs are CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD, SHALL, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHOULD and OUGHT TO.
There are also some rules to follow when using Modal Verbs.

Rules of Modal Verbs:

MEANINGS/USES/OBSERVATIONS EXAMPLES
1. The conjugation is the same for all persons - I can - you can - he can, etc.
NO! he cans
2. They are not used with the auxiliary Do - Can you run?
NO! Do you can run?
3. They are followed by the infinitive without TO - I must take my medicine.
Exception: Ought TO
4. They can be made negative by adding not or the
contraction nt
- I cant play the piano.
Exception: may not cannot be contracted - mayn't
Note: HAVE TO and NEED TO are semi-modals and dont follow the same rules as full modals, but they do have
meaning.
Rules of semi-modals

MEANINGS/USES EXAMPLES
1. In the third person singular they add S - I have to, he has to
- You need to, he needs to
2. The emphatic DO may be used - I DO need to go, cant you understand that?
3. HAVE TO means OBLIGATION (often routine)
DON'T HAVE TO - DON'T NEED TO - NEEDN'T
all mean ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION

They are followed by TO and the infinitive (except the
negative of need to - needN'T)
- I have to work on Saturdays
- I have to wear a uniform
- I don't have to wear a uniform
- I don't need to wear a uniform
- She neednt wear a uniform today
NO! I needn't to go
4. The negative NEED NOT + INF without to can be
contracted
The negative HAVE TO can not be contracted
- They neednt go.
NO! They havent to go.
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List of meanings and uses of Modals

As mentioned above, modal and semi-modals verbs express meaning. Here is a list of modals and semi-modals with
their meanings and uses.
MEANINGS/USES EXAMPLES
CAN
1. Ability
2. Permission
3. Request
4. Possibility
1. I can speak English.
2. Can I borrow your pen.
3. Can you open the window?
4. I can come next Monday.
COULD
1. Ability
2. Polite request
3. Permission in Reported Speech
4. Possibility
5. Second Conditional
1. I could run fast when I was a child.
2. Could you open the window, please?
3. Mary said she could go out tonight.
4. Wheres Mary? I dont know, she could be in her
office.
5. If it didnt rain, we could go to the park.
WILL
1. Certainty
2. For the future:
- spontaneous decisions
- predictions
3. Promises
4. Commands
5. First Conditional
1. He will definitely come to the party
2a. I will call Mary before she leaves.
2b. I think the economy will get better soon.
3. I will return your money tomorrow.
4. You will do as I tell you.
5. If it stops raining we will play football.
WOULD
1. Polite offers
2. Conditionals
3. Habits in the past
1. Would you like some cheese?
2. If I had a car I would change my job.
3. On Sundays we would go to the park to play
football.
SHALL
1. Future
2. Promise
3. To ask for advice
4. Polite offers
5. To ask for instructions
6. Order
1. I shall visit Mary next week.
2. I shall help you with your homework.
3. Shall I invite Jim to the party?
4. Shall I open the window for you?
5. Where shall I put this box?
6. You shall go there immediately
MAY
1. Possibility
2. Permission
3. Polite request
4. Polite offers
1. I may be able to take a day off.
2. May I use your phone?
3. May I have some more cake, please?
4. May I help you?
MIGHT
1. Possibility
1. We might be able to join you in London next week.
SHOULD
1. Recommendation
2. Suggestion
3. Probability/Supposition
4. Advice
1. You should read this book, its great.
2. Perhaps we should consider a different option.
3. They should be at home by now.
4. You should see a doctor at once
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OUGHT TO
1. Moral obligation
2. Recommendation
3. Probability
1. You ought to do as you are told.
2. You ought to see the Picasso museum.
3. They ought to be home by now.
MUST
1. Obligation
2. Necessity
3. Deduction/supposition
4. Invitation
1. You must wear protective glasses in the lab.
2. I must take my medicine.
3. They left at 8 oclock, so they must be at home by
now.
4. You must stay at my house when you come to the
city.
HAVE TO
1. Obligation
1. I have to wear safety goggles in the lab.
NEED TO
1. Necessity
1. I need to take my medicine with my breakfast.

Negative modals

MEANINGS/USES EXAMPLES
CANT
Certainty
- Mr. Simpson cant be dead, I saw him only 5
minutes ago.
MUSTNT
Prohibition
- You mustnt smoke in a hospital.
DONT HAVE TO
Not necessary
- You dont have to go to the party if you dont want to.
OUGHT NOT (TO) Direct advice
or
OUGHTN'T (TO) Indirect advice
- You ought not (to) walk, your leg's bad,
- John ought not (to) walk, his legs bad

Note: The negative form of OUGHT TO is not considered correct with TO, but it's commonly used.
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