Mihai ION Basic English Morphology

MODAL VERBS
MODAL CAN USED TO EXPRESS ability in the present/future (+be able to) continuity with verbs of the senses permission (informal) (+be allowed to) EXAMPLES I can run fast. Peter can/will be able to help us later. I can hear music from inside.

COULD

MAY

MIGHT

Can I read your newspaper? You can take the car, if you want. We cant wear jeans at work. possibility Anyone can make mistakes. Can she be right? He cant have slept through all that noise. request Can you feed the cat, please? typical behaviour/state She can be very forgetful. It can be quite windy on the hills. suggestion We can eat in a restaurant, if you like. general ability in the past Jane could walk when she was nine months old. specific ability in the past I was able to get a half price ticket with my (only be able to) Student Identity Card. but: Kevin couldnt/wasnt able to finish that race. continuity with verbs of the I thought I could smell something burning. senses permission (informal) Could I borrow your dictionary? (+be allowed to) The boys could play football while the girls had to go to the library. possibility There could be something wrong with the (less certain than can) washing-machine. Could she have posted the letter? He couldnt be working all day. request Could you help me with this box? typical behaviour/state It could be very dangerous to draw near a dogs kennel. suggestion You could take my car, if you like. permission (formal) May I come in? (+be allowed to) You may join us if you wish. Students may not use the college car park. possibility This medicine may soothe your cough. She may not have missed her train. wish/hope May all your dreams come true! permission (formal) She wondered if she might come in. (in reported speech) possibility We might go away for the weekend if the (less certain than may) weather is fine. I mightnt be home till late this evening. They might have arrived by now. persuasive request You might go there at once. reproach You might have been more careful.

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology

MUST

internal/specific obligation (neg. with have to) external/habitual obligation (only have to) necessity (+have to) prohibition probability/deduction

You must wash the car tomorrow. You dont have to wash the car tomorrow. Nurses have to wear a uniform. I must study hard to pass the exam. She had to stay in bed to recover. Well have to work long hours to get a rise. Visitors must not feed the animals. You must be hungry after your long walk. She must be having a lot of problems with the language. He must have known what she wanted. You must read this book its brilliant! Must you make so much noise? Need I buy this paper? (I hope not.) [specific] Do I need to buy it every morning? [habitual] We neednt go to work tomorrow. We dont need to go to work at weekends. You neednt have waited for me. [action performed] I didnt need to wait very long for the bus. [action NOT performed] This time next week I shall be on holiday. You shall stay with us as long as you like. You shall obey my orders. Shall I fetch you a glass of wine? What shall we do this weekend? Candidates shall remain in their seats until all the papers have been collected. If you eat up your lunch, you shall have icecream for dessert. Your brother shall pay dearly for it! You should/ought to give up smoking. He should/ought to have been more careful. The children shouldnt/oughtnt to watch so much television. They should/ought to be home by now. Who should come in but his ex-wife! Should I make the coffee? Should we meet outside the theater? Let me know if you should change your mind. Take the umbrella in case it should rain. This will make you a fortune. How long will you be staying in Paris? Oil will float on water. [generic] Engines wont run without lubricants. This will be your sister, I suppose. [probable] They will have reached Dublin by now. She will surf the Internet for hours. [habit]

NEED (int. & neg.)

strong advice reproach (lack of) necessity

SHALL

prediction willingness/determination (formal) offer/suggestion (only int.) order/instruction (formal) promise/threat

SHOULD OUGHT TO

mild obligation/advice

WILL

probability/deduction (less certain than must) surprise (only should) offer/suggestion (only should AmE) hypothesis (only should) (after if and in case) prediction

Mihai ION Basic English Morphology

willingness (weak volition) intention (neutral volition) insistence (strong volition)

WOULD

request offer/invitation order/instruction (internal) prediction

willingness (weak volition) intention (neutral volition) insistence (strong volition) request (more polite) offer/invitation past habit order/instruction (external) arrangement impossibility (only neg.) courage indignation probability (only aff.) (+say) MODALITY CHART ability can could possibility can could may might permission can could may (fml) might

USED TO BE TO

DARE (int. & neg.)

I shall be glad if you will do this. The door wont open! [refusal] Im thirsty. Ill buy you a diet coke. I will go to the party, whatever you may say. [determination] He will comb his hair at the table, even if he knows I dont like it. [annoyance] Will you water the plants while Im away? Will you have another sandwich? You will do it this minute! I was sure he would receive my letter. That would be her aunt Nelly. [probable] When my parents were away, my neighbour would look after me. [past habit] I should be glad if you would do this. My car wouldnt start this morning. [refusal] I said I would buy her a diet coke. He would keep fighting, although he was bleeding heavily. Would you open the door for me, please? Would you have dinner with me tonight? I used to collect stamps when I was a child. We were to be back by Friday. They are to be married in July. The book was not to be found. I darent ask my boss for a day off. Churchill dared not go against the Americans. How dare you call me a liar? I dare say you are British, but you still need a passport to prove it.

probability must should ought to

prediction will shall (fml) would

obligation must shall (fml) will be to should ought to need

volition will would shall

Degrees of certainty The key will be in your pocket. You always keep it there. [prediction, certainty] The key must/cant be in your pocket. I know you (didnt) put it there. [deduction, certainty] The key should/ought to be in your pocket. I would expect it to be there. [probability] The key could be in your pocket. It is possible but not probable. [strong possibility] The key may be in your pocket. Perhaps it is there. [neutral possibility] The key might be in your pocket. Perhaps it is there, but Im reserved. [tentative possibility]