Verbs that support & give meaning to the main verbs.

Determines the mood or tense of another verb phrase.

Examples:

Can Could Will Would

Ought to Should May Might

Must Had better Have to Have got to

Examples:
You can go now You could leave now You will arrive home at 9 p.m. You may go home now. You should buy that dress. You ought to see the headmaster now. You had better eat the medicine now. You must take your breakfast. You have to walk home alone today.

To express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, & to show possibility or impossibility.

Examples:
 I can ride a horse. ABILITY  We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. OPPORTUNITY  She cannot stay out after 10 PM. PERMISSION  Can you hand me the stapler? REQUEST  Any child can grow up to be president. POSSIBILITY

MODAL USE CAN

GENERAL ABILITY

POSITIVE FORM  I can speak Chinese.

NEGATIVE FORM  I cant speak Chinese.  Even with a burst of adrenaline, people can't pick up something that heavy.

CAN
ABILITY DURING A SPECIFIC EVENT

 With a burst of adrenaline, people can pick up cars.

CAN
OPPORTUNITY

 I have some free time. I can  I don't have any time. I can't help her now. help her now.  I can drive Susan's car when  I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of town. she is out of town.  Can I have a glass of water?  Can't I have a glass of water?

CAN PERMISSION CAN REQUEST CAN POSSIBILITY &

IMPOSSIBILITY

 You can become rich &  You cant become rich & famous if you know the right famous just from knowing the people. right people.

To express possibility or past ability, to make suggestions and requests & usually used in conditional sentences.

Examples:  Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. POSSIBILITY  Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. PAST
ABILITY

 You could see a movie or go out to dinner. SUGGESTION  Could I use your computer to email my boss? REQUEST  We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. CONDITIONAL

MODAL USE COULD

POSSIBILITY

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

 John could be the one who  Mary couldn't be the one stole the money. who stole the money.

COULD
CONDITIONAL OF CAN

 If I have more time, I could travel around the world.

 Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world.

COULD
SUGGESTION

 You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii.

 NO NEGATIVE FORMS.

COULD
PAST ABILITY

 I could run ten miles in my twenties.

 I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties.

COULD
POLITE REQUEST

 Could I have something to drink?

 Couldnt he come with us?

To express possibility & to give or request permission.

Examples:
Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at

work. POSSIBILITY Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner. GIVE PERMISSION May I use your bathroom? REQUEST PERMISSION

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

MAY
POSSIBILITY

 Jack may be upset. I can't really tell if he is annoyed or tired.

 Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired.

MAY
GIVE PERMISSION

 You may leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.

 You may not leave the table. You're not finished with your dinner yet.

MAY
REQUEST PERMISSION

 May I borrow your eraser?

 NO NEGATIVE FORMS.

To express possibility. in conditional sentences suggestion & request.

Often or to

used make

Examples:
 Your purse might be in the living room. POSSIBILITY  If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. CONDITIONAL  You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. SUGGESTION  Might I borrow your pen? REQUEST

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

MIGHT POSSIBILITY

 She might be on the bus. I think her car is having problems.

 She might not be on the bus. She might be walking home.

MIGHT
CONDITIONAL OF MAY

 If I entered the contest, I might actually win.

 Even if I entered the contest, I might not win.

MIGHT
SUGGESTION

 You might have tried the cheese cake.

 You might not want to eat the cheese cake. It's very calorific.

To express obligation & expectation also make

recommendation or give advice.

Examples:
When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. RECOMMENDATION You should focus more on your family and less on work. ADVICE I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. OBLIGATION By now, they should already be in Dubai. EXPECTATION

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

 People with high RECOMMENDATION, cholesterol should eat ADVISABILITY low-fat foods.

SHOULD

 Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health.

SHOULD
OBLIGATION

 I should be at work before 9:00.

 NO NEGATIVE FORMS.

SHOULD
EXPECTATION

 Susan should be in New York by now.

 Susan shouldn't be in New York yet.

To express advise & expectation or recommendation & strong make probability.

Examples:
You ought to stop smoking. RECOMMENDATION Jim ought to get the promotion. EXPECTATION This stock ought to increase in value. PROBABILITY

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

 Margaret ought to RECOMMENDATION, exercise more.

ADVICE

OUGHT TO

 Margaret ought not exercise too much. It might cause injury.

OUGHT TO ASSUMPTION, EXPECTATION,

PROBABILITY

 She ought to have the package by now.

 "OUGHT NOT" IS USED TO EXPRESS NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.

To make recommendation & to express desperate hope & to warn people.

Examples:
 You had better take your umbrella with you
today. RECOMMENDATION That bus had better get here soon! DESPERATE HOPE You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! WARNING

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

HAD BETTER
RECOMMENDATION

 You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it.

 You had better not clean the toaster until you unplug it..

HAD BETTER
DESPERATE HOPE, WARNING

 The movie had better end  They had better not to be soon. late.

To express certainty & necessity or strong recommendation.

Examples:
 This must be the right address! CERTAINTY
Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. NECESSITY You must take some medicine for that cough. STRONG RECOMMENDATION Jenny, you must not play in the street! PROHIBITION

MODAL USE MUST

CERTAINTY

POSITIVE FORM  That must be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair.

NEGATIVE FORM  That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to have red hair.

MUST NOT
PROHIBITION

 NO POSITIVE FORM

 You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles.

MUST
STRONG RECOMMENDATION

 You must take some time off and get some rest.

 You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health.

MUST
NECESSITY

 You must have a permit to enter the national park.

 NO NEGATIVE FORM

To express obligation.

certainty,

necessity,

&

Examples:
This answer has to be correct. CERTAINTY The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. NECESSITY They have to leave early. OBLIGATION

MODAL USE

POSITIVE FORM

NEGATIVE FORM

have to
CERTAINTY

 That has to be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair

 NO NEGATIVE FORM

have to
NECESSITY

 She has to read four books for this literature class.

 She doesn't have to read "Grapes of Wrath." It's optional reading for extra credit.

Could not vs. Might not "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you dont know if something happens. Examples:
 Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.  Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.

Dont have to vs. Must not "Do not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something.  "Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. Examples: You don't have to eat that. YOU CAN IF
YOU WANT TO, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.

Jack could not have the key. IT IS

IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.

Ought not
"ought to" loses the "to" in the negative

form. Instead of "ought not to, we say "ought not.

Examples: You ought not smoke so much. She ought not take such risks while skiing. They ought not carry so much cash while travelling.

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours.

He _(1)_ be exhausted after such a long flight. He _(2)_ prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.

2. Hiking the trail to the peak _(3)_ be dangerous if you are not
well prepared for dramatic weather changes. You _(4)_ research the route a little more before you attempt the ascent.

3. The book is optional. My professor said we _(5)_ read it if we

needed extra credit. But we _(6)_ read it if we don't want to.

4. _(7)_ we pull over at the next rest stop? I really _(8)_ use the
bathroom and I don't know if I _(9)_ hold it until we get to Chicago.

5. Leo: Where is the spatula? It _(10)_be in this drawer but it's not here.
Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It _(11)_ be in there. That's the only other place it _(12)_ be.

6. When you have a small child in the house, you _(13)_ leave small
objects lying around. Such objects can be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

7. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It _(14)_ have cost a fortune. 8. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago,
and it's still warm! Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer _(15)_ be someone in this room. It _(16)_ be any one of us!!!

9. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they

don't get enough water, they _(17)_ die.

10.I _(18)_ believe she said that to Megan! Shes not supposed
to insult her cooking in front of everyone at the party last night. She _(19)_ have just said she was full or had some salad if she didn't like the meal.

11.Do you _(20)_ chew with your mouth open like that? Geez,
it's making me sick watching you eat that piece of pizza.

12._(21)_you always say the first thing that pops into your
head? _(22)_ you think once in awhile before you speak?

13. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it
out of this room. It _(23)_ be lying around here somewhere. Where _(24)_ it be? be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

14. Ned:_(25)_ I borrow your lighter for a minute?

Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you _(26)_ keep it if you want to. I've given up smoking.

15. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He _(27)_ have left
it here last night.

16. You _(28)_take your umbrella along with you today. The
weatherman on the news said there's a storm north of here and it _(29)_ rain later on this afternoon.

17.If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out,
you _(30)_ walk downtown and explore the waterfront.

18.Dave: _(31)_ you hold your breath for more than a minute?
Nathan: No, I can't.

19.I _(32)_ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived
in Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I _(33)_ just say a few things in the language.

20.Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table.

He _(34)_ have left it here last night.

1. Nancy said you didn't need to buy her anything for her birthday,
but I really think you _(35)_ at least get her some flowers or a nice bottle of wine.

2. Debbie said she was really busy this week, but I think
she _(36)_ show up at the party if she doesn't have to work overtime on Friday.

3. Nina said she would come over right after work, so she _(37)_ be
here by 6:00.

4. Oh my God, he's unconscious. Don't move him - he _(38)_ have

internal injuries. Somebody call an ambulance.

5. You _(39)_ be kidding! That can't be true.

6. Dan: Where's the remote control? I want to change the

channel. Fiona: I don't know. It _(40)_ be under the couch. Or, perhaps I absent-mindedly took it into the kitchen. I'll check in there.

7. New research suggests that exercise can reduce the chance of

heart disease as well as cancer. That's why I told my father that he _(41)_ start walking once a day.

8. We should invite Sally and her husband to come to the picnic on

Saturday. We haven't seen them in weeks, and they _(42)_ really enjoy a nice day at the beach.

9. We had better call Tony to see if he's at home before we go over

to his house. He _(43)_ be there and we don't want to drive all the way over there for nothing.