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TOIEC Grammar - Modal Verbs
TOIEC Grammar - Modal Verbs
TOIEC Grammar - Modal Verbs
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Modal verbs
an auxiliary verb
used to express intention, necessity, obligation, offer, permission, possibility, prohibition, question,
request, suggestion
2.1. Can
- To talk about theoretical possibility (khả năng có thể xảy ra nói về mặt lý thuyết) - to say that
situations and events are possible theoretically.
Wars can break out any time. (It is theoretically possible for wars to break out any time.)
Do not use can to talk about future probability (điều có thể xảy ra ở tương lai) – to say that something will
happen in future. We express this idea with may or might.
Might expresses a less definite possibility than may. Could is also used in the same sense.
Can is often used in questions and negatives to talk about the logical possibility that something is true.
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- To talk about ability
We can use can to talk about present or general ability – to say that we are capable of doing something.
If you are not satisfied with this product, you can send it back.
They were able to catch the thief. (= They could catch the thief.)
We do not use can to talk about future ability. Instead, we use will be able to or other words.
Someday scientists will be able to find a cure for cancer. (NOT Someday scientists will can find a cure
for cancer.)
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- To ask for or give permission
Can is sometimes used to ask for and give permission (sự cho phép). Some people, however, think that may
is more correct than can.
You can go out and play after you have finished your homework.
Note that we can also use could to ask for permission. It is a more polite form of can.
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- To make requests and offers
Can is used in polite requests (yêu cầu lịch sự) and offers of help (đề nghị giúp đỡ).
Note that Could is a more polite way of making requests and offers.
2.2. Could
Could is often used to say that somebody was able to do something in the past. However, Could refers to the
past only when the context makes the time clear.
She spoke in such a low voice that most of us could not hear her.
Could is used to talk about past ability in general. We do not normally use could to say that somebody
managed to do something on one occasion. But with certain verbs like see, hear, taste, feel, smell,
understand, remember etc., could can be used for particular occasions (các sự kiện cụ thể) as well.
Could is the past equivalent (quá khứ tương ứng) of can in indirect speech.
She said, "I can't climb up the hill." She said that she could not climb up the hill.
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Could is often used to make a request or offer sound more polite.
You could get a better job if you spoke English. (=You would be able to get a better job if you spoke
English.)
If only I had some working capital, I could start a new business. (=…I would be able to start a new
business.)
Note: The structure could have + past participle can be used to criticize people for not doing things. It can
also be used to talk about past events that did not happen.
I have been waiting since morning - you could have said that you weren't coming.
Why did you drive so carelessly? You could have killed yourself.
2.3. May
Are they likely to help us? (BUT NOT May they help us?)
The structure may + perfect Infinitive (have + past participle) can be used to say that it is possible that
something happened or was true in the past.
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Alice is very late. She may have missed her train. (= It is possible that she missed her train.)
I will try phoning him, but he may have gone out by now.
May can be used to ask for permission. It is more formal than can and could.
May is used to give permission; may not is used to refuse permission and to forbid.
May I have a look at your papers? No, I am afraid you may not.
Must not is also used to forbid (ngăn cấm). It is stronger than may not.
May and might are not normally used to talk about permission which has already been given or refused, about
freedom which people already have, or about rules and laws. Instead, we use can, could or be allowed.
Can you/Are you allowed to park on both sides of the road here? (More natural than May you allowed
…) 5
When we were children, we could watch TV whenever we wanted to. (NOT .. we might watch TV …)
May is used in formal expressions of wishes and hopes. May often comes at the beginning of the sentence.
Note:
Both can and may can be used to talk about possibility. But there is some difference between them.
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Compare:
Any road can be blocked. (Theoretical possibility - It is possible to block any road.)
There may be a strike next week. (It is possible that there will be a strike next week.)
Strikes can happen any time. (It is possible for strikes to happen any time.)
When we talk about possibility, could often means the same as may or might.
Compare:
We may not go camping this summer. (= It is possible that we may not go camping.)
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We cannot go camping this summer. (= It is not possible for us to go camping this summer.)
2.4. Might
We often use might to say that there is a chance that something is happening, or that there is a possibility of it
happening.
The structure might + perfect infinitive can be used to say that it is possible that something happened or was
true in the past.
The same structure can be used to say that something was possible but did not happen.
You were stupid to try climbing up there. You might have killed yourself.
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- To ask for and give permission
Might can be used to ask for permission. It is very polite and formal; it is not common and is mostly used in
indirect questions.
“May I borrow the car?” “No, I’m afraid you may not”
Note:
Might is the past equivalent of may in indirect speech. But it does not normally have a past meaning. It is used
in the same way as may to talk about the present or future. The difference is that might usually refers to
situations that are less probable or less definite. It is used when people think that something is possible but not
very likely.
2.5. Will
Will is used to talk about future events that you are certain about or things that are planned.
Will shows determination or willingness (sự sẵn lòng) on the part of the speaker.
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I will teach him a lesson.
Will you give the book to John when you meet him?
Will can be used as a polite way of inviting someone to do something or of offering someone something. Note
that would is a more polite form of will.
2.6. Would
Would is often used in polite requests and offers. It is a softer, less definite form of will.
Would can also be used to express an opinion in a more polite way without being forceful.
Would can be used to talk about past events that happened often or always.
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He would always bring us nice gifts without telling why.
The old man would recline in a corner and sleep most of the time.
After dinner we would sit in a common room and chat for a while.
Would is often used to suggest that what happens is expected because it is typical, especially of a person's
behaviour.
'Ann rang to say that she was too busy to come.' 'She would - she always has an excuse.'
He would bet on that horse, though I asked him not to. (Determination)
Would is sometimes used to refer to a situation that you can imagine happening.
It would have been quite boring to sit through the entire speech.
Note:
Both would and used to can refer to repeated actions and events in the past.
2. Would rather
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She would rather die than marry him.
Would is a softer, less definite form of will. It is used in polite requests and offers.
2.7. Shall
In the first person shall expresses simple futurity. It is used to show the strong possibility or near certainty of an
action or event which is to take place in the future.
Note that shall is becoming increasingly less common in Modern English. Instead of using shall in the second
and third person to indicate a command, promise or threat, people often use other verbs and expressions.
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Usage
- To make suggestions
Shall can be used with the first person pronouns (I or we) to make suggestions.
Shall can show certainty. It is used to say that something will certainly happen, or that you are determined that
something will happen.
She shall clean the kitchen, no matter whether she likes it or not.
2.8. Should
- To express obligation
Should is often used to talk about duty (trách nhiệm, bổ phận) or obligation (nghĩa vụ). It can also be used to
say or ask what the correct or best thing to do is. 11
- To express probability
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‘Granny will be staying with us for a couple of months.’ ‘That should be nice.’
Mount Everest should be visible from Tiger Hill if the sky is clear.
The structure should have + past participle can be used to talk about past events which did not happen.
This structure can also be used to talk about past events which may or may not have happened.
We can use should not have + past participle to refer to unwanted or unnecessary things that happened.
Note:
1. Should or Would?
In British English, both would and should can be used after first person pronouns (I and we). There is no
difference in meaning.
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I would/should like some sweets before I go to bed.
Should can be used after certain adjectives expressing personal judgments and reactions. Examples are: odd,
strange, sad, unfair etc.
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This also happens after adjectives and nouns expressing the importance of an action. Examples are:
necessary, important, essential, vital, eager etc.
Should can used after so that, in order that, for fear that, in case and lest to show the purpose of an action.
Note that if he should come indicates less likelihood of his coming than if he comes. The sentence means
something like this: There is not much chance of his coming. But if he turns up, ask him to wait.
2.9. Have to 13
- To express certainty
That must not be Jerry. They said he has blond hair, not red hair.
- To show obligation
2.10. Must
Must indicates that it is necessary or very important that something happens. If you say that you must do
something, you mean that you have a definite intention to do something in future.
If you tell someone else that they must do something, you are emphasizing that it is a good idea for them to do
that.
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You must stop lying.
Usage
Must can be used to express the conclusion that something is certain or highly possible.
Somebody is knocking at the door. Who can it be? (NOT Who must it be?)
In negative clauses we generally use cannot/can’t to say that something is certainly not the case.
- To express necessity
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Must is often used in affirmative sentences (câu khẩng định) to say what is necessary, and to give strong
advice and orders to ourselves and other people.
Must can be used in questions to ask about what the hearer thinks is necessary.
Must I go now?
Do I have to go now?
Must not or mustn’t is used to say that things should not be done, or tell people not to do things.
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Note: Must and Have to
Both must and have to can be used to express the conclusion that something is certain. Note that have to is
more common in American English.
Conclusions about the past are usually expressed with must followed by the perfect infinitive (have + past
participle).
I hear you have been to Australia. That must have been interesting.
- Necessity
Must and have to can both be used to talk about necessity. In American English, have to is more common.
- Obligation
Must is used mostly to talk about the feelings and wishes of the speaker and hearer.
Have (got) to is used mostly to talk about obligations that come from ‘outside’ – for example from
laws, regulations, agreements and other people’s orders.
Compare:
Will have to is used to talk about future obligation, but have (got) to is preferred when arrangements for the
future have already been made.
When you leave school you will have to find a job. (Future obligation)
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Had to is used to talk about past obligation. Must is used with the perfect infinitive (have + past participle) to
express certainty about the past.
Mary isn’t in her office. She had to go home. (= It was necessary for her to go home.)
Mary isn’t in her office. She must have gone home. (= It seems certain that she has gone home.)
Must not and do not have to/ have not got to have quite different meanings. Must not is used to tell people not
to do things; do not have to/ have not got to is used to say that there is no obligation.
You don’t have to tell him. (= You can if you like but it is not necessary.)
2.11. Ought to
You ought to love your country, ought not you? (NOT…ought not you to.)
Ought is rarely used in questions and negatives; should is generally used instead. A structure with think …
ought is also common. 16
We ought to help them, shouldn’t we? (More natural than ought not we?)
Do you think I ought to consult a doctor? (More natural than Ought I to consult a doctor?)
Meaning
Ought to expresses duty, necessity, desirability and similar ideas. It is often used to advise people – to tell
them that they have a duty to do things. The meaning is similar to should
When ought refers to past time, it is followed by the perfect infinitive. This structure can be used to talk about
things which were supposed to happen but did not.
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This structure can also be used to make guesses.
Ought not to have can be used to talk about things that happened unnecessarily.
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