GRAMMAR

GCM1 IES CARO

MODAL VERBS
General characteristics:

(* = wrong constructions)

They are auxiliary verbs, you can see them in some grammars called modal auxiliaries too. This means that we have to use them together with another verb (the main/principal verb), so we dont use them alone: Eg. I should go home now................................................. (should (modal auxiliary), go (main/principal verb) not.........I should home now* So, because they are auxiliary verbs, we dont use DO in questions or negatives: Eg. I shouldnt go home.......................not..........I dont should go home* Should I go home?.........................not..........Do I should go home?* (EXCEPTION: HAVE TO................................. I have to wash the car we need DO in interrog. and negatives: I dont have to wash the car Do I have to wash the car?

They DONT HAVE

S IN 3RD person singular....................................... She must go to the school.

She musts go to the school*

They are always followed by infinitives WITHOUT TO..........................I must go to the school. I must to go to the school (EXCEPT:HAVE TO BE ABLE TO NEED TO OUGHT TO .................all these are considered SEMI-MODALS, and to is part of the verb so always goes together with
it. Are called semi-modals because they havent got all the modals characteristics.)

Normally, modals are used to refer to..........PRESENT & FUTURE situations (EXCEPT:COULD...................used in past tense) Each modal can have different uses: Could you lend me your dictionary? (request, petition) You could be right ! (possibility)

Modals help us to express concepts such as: ability, possibility, obligation, prohibition, advice, necessity, etc... And we also use them to make: requests, offers and suggestions. The most difficult thing with Modals is : they are verbs that have more than 1 meaning or function, so it is usually only the context which makes clear which one to choose.

Lets see some examples, grouped like this for a better understanding .................

Pilar Vzquez

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GRAMMAR

GCM1 IES CARO

TO EXPRESS ABILITY:
In Present: CAN In Past: COULD BE ABLE TO WAS/WERE BE ABLE TO

can
Use ability to do sth. in the present (it can be substituted by: to be able to) permission to do sth. in the present request offer suggestion possibility

be able to
Ex

I can/m able to speak English. Can I go to the cinema? Can you wait a moment, please? I can lend you my car till tomorrow. Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? It can get very hot in Arizona.

could
* no past or future forms

was/were able to

Use ability to do sth. in the past (it can be substituted by: to be able to) permission to do something in the past polite question * polite request * polite offer * polite suggestion * possibility *(more remote than with can)

Ex I could/was able to speak English. I could go to the cinema. Could I go to the cinema, please? Could you wait a moment, please? I could lend you my car till tomorrow. Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? She could become a great star. (podra convertirse en una gran estrella)

TO EXPRESS ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS:

Should/ Ought to
Use advice obligation Examples You should/ought to drive carefully in bad weather. You should/ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

Should is more frequent. Ought to is less frequent and only in interrogatives and negatives.
There is no future form for both of them. Should is not as strong as must or mustnt

Pilar Vzquez

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GRAMMAR

GCM1 IES CARO

TO EXPRESS OBLIGATION & NECESSITY:

Must
Use force, necessity possibility advice, recommendation

(0nly in Present)
Ex I must go to the supermarket today. (the fridge is empty !!) You must be tired. (you had been working 12 h) You must see the new film with Brad Pitt. (its fantastic, great, dont miss it !!!)

Have to
Use force, necessity possibility advice, recommendation

(in Present and with other verbal tenses)

Ex I have to go to the supermarket today (I have a dinner with friends and I want to buy something special) You have to be tired. ( after a long walk) You have to see the new film with Brad Pitt. (its good, entertaining enough)

MUST & HAVE TO are similar and most of the times it doesnt matter which one we use, but sometimes there is a difference: MUST: Is stronger and can be impolite if we use it for orders and instructions. Is used for strong recommendations. Also expresses certainty about something (That car must be a new one, eh??) Often used in written rules and instructions (you must write your exercise in capital letters) The speaker is giving his own feelings, saying what he thinks (I must write Ann. I havent written her for ages) Expresses internal obligation (the authority is imposed by the speaker) (I must arrive earlier to class) HAVE TO: The speaker is NOT giving his own feelings, (I cant meet you on Friday. I have to work) Expresses external obligation (the authority is imposed by regulations or conventions) (You have to declare valuable things at the airport)

must not (musnt)= prohibition

Use prohibition Exa You mustn't smoke in hospitals. You mustn't use your mobile when youre driving.

Dont have to= its not necessary

Use ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION Exa You dont have to go if you dont want to. You dont have to phone if you dont have time.

Pilar Vzquez

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GRAMMAR

GCM1 IES CARO

TO EXPRESS POSSIBILITY:
Both, MAY & MIGHT express possibility in Present & Future, but not 100% sure. With MIGHT the possibility is more remote to occur. CAN also expresses possibility but it is a real one, it can occur.

may
Use possibility permission to do something in a polite way polite suggestion (more than CAN) Ex It may rain today. There are some dark clouds in the sky. May I go to the cinema? May I come in?

might
Use possibility (remote, less possible than may) Insecure offer Ex You might tell him to call me. (youre almost sure that he is not going to call you) Might I help you?

Spontaneous offerings in a polite way:

shall
Use suggestion

(instead of will with I and we pronouns)

Examples Shall I carry your bag? Shall we help you with your project?

TO MAKE PREDICTIONS:
WILL
Use wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) prediction, assumption promise spontaneous decision habits Examples Will you please shut the door? I think it will rain on Friday. I will stop smoking. Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will. She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.

WOULD
Use wish, request (more polite than will) habits in the past Offers and invitations Examples Would you shut the door, please? Sometimes he would bring me some flowers. Would you like something to drink?

Pilar Vzquez

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