MODAL VERBS

Different moods and different ways to

express them
ABILITY
REQUESTS
PERMISSION
POSSIBILITY
OBLIGATION
ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION
ADVICE & SUGGESTION

Modal Verbs

Structure of Modal Verbs

I
You
He
She
It
We
They

Modal Verb
(can /should, etc.)

Infinitive
(without TO)

CAN & COULD is used to indicate the

possession of an ABILITY.
e.g. He can speak German fluently.
(= He is able to speak German fluently.)
e.g. She could walk 12 km a day when she was 16.
(= She was able to walk 12 km a day when
she was 16.) general ability in the past
e.g. They were able to keep their heads and not panic.
They could keep their heads and not panic.
was/were able to ability in a particular situation
in the past.

I Rewrite the sentences. Use CAN for

ability.
1.

Hes able to drive a car.

He can drive a car.

2.

My daughter is capable of playing the piano beautifully.

My daughter can play the piano beautifully.

3.

Shes an excellent secretary. She has the ability to type 80

words a minute.
She can type 80 words a minute.

4.

Most adults are unable to use a computer.

Most adults cant use a computer.

5.

A recent investigation shows that 65% of high school

students dont know how to use a calculator.
... 65% of high school students cant use a calculator.

6.

Only 2% of Chileans are able to speak English fluently.

Only 2% of Chileans can speak English fluently.

Different ways to express ability

Can
Be able to
Be capable of (ING)
Have the ability to
Know how to

Make requests &

Offer help & Ask for a favour
Can... I?
Could... I?
May... I?

Make requests
Offer Help

Can/Could/May I come in?

Can/Could/May I help you?

Can/Could you...?
Will/Would you...?

Ask for a favour

Make requests

Can/Could/Will/Would you close the door?

CAN / MAY are also used to give

PERMISSION.

e.g. You can / may speak to the patient just

for a few minutes.
(=Youre allowed to speak to the
patient just for a few minutes)

CAN / COULD / MAY are also used to

ask for PERMISSION.

Can/Could/May I stay at my friends

house tonight?

III Rewrite the sentences. Use MAY or

CAN for permission.
1.

He has permission to sleep after doing his homework.

He can sleep after doing his homework

2.

Students are allowed to talk in my classroom as long as

they speak in French.
Students can talk in my classroom as long as they
speak in French.

3.

Do I have permission to smoke?

May I smoke?

4.

Youre allowed to call me by my nickname.

You may call me by my nickname.

5.

I give students permission to leave the class earlier if

they have a health problem.
Students may leave the class earlier if they have a
health problem.

COULD / MAY / MIGHT are used to indicate

a present or future POSSIBILITY
e.g. A cure may/might/could be found for cancer in
the future.
(=There is a possibility to find a cure)
e.g. They may not / might not find a solution to the
problem. the possibility that sth will not happen in
the future.
Note: could in the negative form (couldnt) doesnt
have the same meaning with may not / might not

CAN is used to indicate a present or

future PROBABILITY
e.g. I can go out with you tonight. I have
nothing to do.
(= Its probable to find the solution at the
back of the book)

II Rewrite the sentences. Use MAY for

possibility.
1.

Due to the repairs, trains are possibly subject to delays.

Due to the repairs, trains may be subject to delays.

2.

Its possible that we face an energy crisis this winter.

We may face an energy crisis this winter.

3.

Maybe well change rooms for the next test since the
room is very small.
We may change rooms for the next test since the room is
very small.

4.

Perhaps agronomists will have to test the soil because

theyve found traces of pollutants.
Agronomists may have to test the soil because theyve
found traces of pollutants.

5.

Lets not wait any longer. Its possible that he wont

come today.
He may not come today.

6.

Its possible that ships wont dock in the harbor

because of the rain.
Ships may not dock in the harbor because of the rain.

MUST / HAVE TO / NEED TO is often used to

indicate OBLIGATION & NECESSITY.
e.g.

You must obtain a visa to travel to the USA.

(=Its compulsory that you obtain a visa to
travel to the USA.)
e.g. In the morning there was so much traffic that
I had to wait for a long time for the bus.
(=obligation in the past)

V Rewrite the sentences. Use MUST &

HAVE TO for obligation.
1.

I have gained lots of weight recently. It is necessary for

me to change my diet.
I have gained lots of weight recently. I must change
my diet. (internal obligation, it is my opinion)

2.

Astronauts are obliged to drink through tubes.

Astronauts have to drink through tubes. (They dont
have another option.)

3.

Its compulsory that students write the test in ink.

(It is a rule, so it is external obligation.)
Students have to write the test in ink.

4.
5.

I feel obliged to visit them again.

I must visit them again.
Its obligatory for him to work at the weekend
because he really needs money.
He must work at the weekend because he needs money.

6.

Answering all the questions before the jury is necessary

for her to prove her innocence.
She must answer all the questions before the jury to
prove her innocence.

4.

Hes forced to make a choice.

He has to make a choice.

MUSTNT / CANT are used to indicate

PROHIBITION in the future or present.

You mustnt / cant talk loudly in the

library.

DONT HAVE TO / DONT NEED TO /

NEEDNT are used to indicate absence of
NECESSITY & OBLIGATION.

You dont have to /dont need to /neednt burn

books to destroy a culture. Just get people to
stop reading them.
Ray Bradbury
He didnt have to / didnt need to buy me
flowers to apologize. I had already forgiven
him.
Note: neednt does not have a past form.

SHOULD / SHOULDNT / OUGHT TO /

OUGHT NOT TO / HAD BETTER are used to
give ADVICE.

You had better tell her everything. strong

advice
You should / ought to eat more vegetables.
In this town, you shouldnt / ought not to go
out late at night.