Grammar Reference

14 Modals (1) (© Units 2 – 6 – 9)

Form
- modals are strong verbs, so they do not take an auxiliary in the negative form and in questions
They can play the guitar. They can’t play the guitar. Can they play the guitar?
You should go home now. You shouldn’t go home now. Should you go home now?
- they are invariable, they don’t have -s in the third person singular in the Present Simple
He can swim. She must study harder. It may rain.
- they are followed by an infinitive without to
She can cook very well. You mustn’t say that again! Will you open the window, please?
- they do not have all the tenses. Other verbs or expressions are used in the tenses they do not have
I had to study yesterday. I’m sure they won’t be able to do it!

Use
Modal verbs express many communicative functions, often related to the personal point of view of the speaker. For some
communicative functions we can also use other verbs and expressions.

can can’t could may might must mustn’t shall should ought to will would need
obligation 

prohibition  

necessity 

suggestion    

advice  

permission     

ability   

request      

deduction  

possibility    

probability  

Obligation – Prohibition – Necessity

a) must / mustn’t
- internal obligation to do something in the present or future (the speaker feels the necessity to do it)
I must stop going to bed so late!
- commands or prohibition to do something in the present or immediate future
You must get out of my room! You mustn’t* smoke in this area!
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* It is also quite common to use can’t to express prohibition: You can’t smoke in this area!

b) have to / don’t have to

- external obligation to do something in the present (somebody else or a law / rule imposes it)
We have to wear a uniform in our school.
- lack of necessity in the present (it is not necessary to do something, you have a choice to do it or not)
You don’t have to bring your dictionary. We can use mine.
- past and future obligation (had to / will have to) and obligation in the tenses must doesn’t have
They had to leave early yesterday. They will have to get up early if they want to be on time.
Have you ever had to apologise for a mistake?
c) need / don’t need to / needn’t
- necessity to do something in a particular situation in the present
I’m sorry, but I need to go now. It’s really late.
- lack of necessity in the present (it is not necessary to do something, you have a choice to do it or not)
You don’t need to come if you’re tired. You needn’t eat it if you don’t like it.

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Suggestions – Advice
a) should / shouldn’t
- advice to do or not do something in the present or future (because it is right / wrong to do it according to
the speaker – more common in informal English)
You should come back home earlier on Saturday night. You shouldn’t watch this film. It’s too violent.
b) ought to
- advice to do or not do something in the present or future (because it is right / wrong to do it according to
a code of behaviour – more common in formal English)
When you see an elderly person on the bus, you ought to give him or her your seat.
c) could
- informal suggestion referring to the present or future (without any idea of duty)
You could wear the red dress. It really suits you!
d) shall
- proposal to do something in the present or future (in questions and in first person plural)
Shall we go to the disco tomorrow?

Permission
a) can / can’t
- neutral permission in the present or future (ask, give and refuse permission)
Can I go out, please? Sam can go on holiday with his friends. You can’t leave tomorrow.
b) could / couldn’t
- polite request for permission in the present or future
Could I make a phone call, please?
- general permission in the past (permission that was normally granted)
When we were at school, we could swim in the school pool whenever we wanted.
c) was / were allowed to
- particular permission in the past (permission that was granted only on a particular occasion)
Sandy was only allowed to go to the party last Saturday because her elder sister went, too.
d) may / might
- formal request for permission in the present or future (in very polite and formal situations). May not can be
used to refuse permission.
Excuse me, Mr Jade, may / might I have a day off? You may not leave your luggage here.

Ability
a) can / can’t
- ability or lack of ability in the present
My sister can play tennis very well. John can’t ride a motorbike.
b) could / couldn’t
- general ability or lack of ability in the past (both general and particular)
She could run very fast when she was young. I couldn’t sleep well when I was away / yesterday.
- general or particular ability in the past with a verb connected to the senses
The old lady could still hear even the slightest noise. It was a silent night. That’s why I could hear that noise.
c) was / were able to
- particular ability in the past (specific ability on a particular past occasion)
Yesterday I was feeling really energetic and I was able to get a lot of work done!

Requests
a) can / will
- informal requests
Can you close the door, please? Will you turn the lights on, please?
b) could
- polite requests
Could I have another piece of cake, please?
d) would / may / might
- very polite and formal requests
Would / May / Might you help me lift this heavy box, please?

Deduction (logical assumptions)

a) must
- positive logical assumption in the present (the speaker is sure about what he / she is saying)
You didn’t get much sleep last night, so you must be tired out now!
b) can’t
- negative logical assumption in the present (the speaker is sure about what he / she is saying and thinks that
something is impossible)
This can’t be Mike’s Chinese dictionary. He doesn’t study Chinese!

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