MODAL VERBS

DONT FORGET:

MODAL VERBS MUST ALWAYS BE

FOLLOWED BY AN INFINITIVE
WITHOUT TO.

YOU CAN NEVER WRITE TWO MODAL

VERBS TOGETHER OR A MODAL VERB
AND AN AUXILIARY FORM.

MODAL VERBS CAN TALK

ABOUT:

ABILITY
PROBABILITY OR POSSIBILITY
PERMISSION
PROHIBITION
OBLIGATION
LACK OF OBLIGATION
ADVICE
REQUEST
DEDUCTION

ABILITY

CAN (PRESENT TENSE

never in the future)

EXAMPLE: He can swim very
well.

COULD (SIMPLE PAST)

EXAMPLE: My father could

drive at the age of 12.

BE ABLE TO (FOR THE REST OF THE

TENSES)
EXAMPLE: Ill be able to speak Chinese in
two years time. (Future tense)
(When it was hard for somebody to get
something but finally he/she managed to
get it, we use be able to.
Example: The fire spread through the
building very quickly but everyone was
able to escape (=managed))

PROBABILITY OR POSSIBILITY

CAN
We use CAN to express possibility or
probability.
When we use it we are saying that
something is very possible.
Example: I can take pictures with this
mobile.

MAY (50%)
When we use may, it means:
Perhaps
Example: I may have enough money
for this headset.
Example: It may rain tomorrow.

COULD
When we use could, it means:
There are not many possibilities for
something to happen
Example: You could win the lottery
next Friday.
Example: The phones ringing. It could
be Peter.

MIGHT
We use it to show possibility in the
future.

Example: Mary might arrive before the

plane leaves.
Example: I might be late for my maths
test.

PERMISSION
MAY (VERY FORMAL)
CAN
COULD
They are all used to ask for permission:
Example: May I open the window?
Can I open the window?
Could I open the window?

PROHIBITION
CANT
When we use cant, it means:
You are not allowed to

Example: You cant come back home

late at night.

MUSTNT
When we use mustnt it means:
Its forbidden to

Example: You mustnt smoke in

hospitals.
Example: You mustnt use your mobile
phone on aeroplanes.

OBLIGATION
MUST (only used in the present tense)
It means: Its compulsory

Example: I must help my little brother

with his homework.
Example: You must use a headset while
driving.

HAVE TO (used for the rest of verb

tenses where must cannot be used)
It means: Its the rule to
Example: In Spain, you have to be 18
to drive a car.
Example: I have to call my mum.

LACK OF OBLIGATION
DONT HAVE TO
Example: You dont have to take this exam. Youve
already passed it last week.

NEEDNT = DONT HAVE TO (NO TIENES POR QU)

It means:
Its not necessary/Its unnecessary
There is no need for you to
You are not obliged to
Example: You neednt take this exam. Youve already
passed it last week.= You dont have to take this
exam

ADVICE

SHOULD
OUGHT TO

Example: You should/ought to do more

physical exercise.

REQUEST
You are asking for something:
COULD YOU TELL ME THE TIME, PLEASE?
WOULD YOU TELL ME THE TIME, PLEASE?
CAN YOU TELL ME THE TIME, PLEASE?
WILL YOU TELL ME THE TIME, PLEASE?
ALL THESE SENTENCES MEAN THE SAME
AS:
WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME THE TIME?

DEDUCTION
MUST
Example: They must be happy because
theyve won the lottery.
It means:
Im quite sure that
Its obvious that
Theres no doubt that
Its quite certain that