Modal Verbs

MODAL VERBS have special characteristics:

 they are followed by bare infinitive (infinitive without to);
 no –s on the 3rd person singular;
 no –ing form;
 no auxiliaries in the interrogative and negative forms.

Modal Verb Function Substituing verb

Can Could · ability - John can speak English, but he can't speak Spanish. · To be able to
· ability (in the past) - My mother could swim when she was younger. · To be capable of
· possibility - I can learn English. · To be (im)possible to
· permission - Can I smoke in the room? · To be allowed to
· offer - Can I help you, madam?
· request - Could you bring me a cup of tea, please?

May Might · permission (politeness) - May I open the window, please? · To be allowed to
· possibility - The chauffeur may be in the car. · To be likely to
Susan may not come tomorrow. · To be probable to
You might participate in the contest.
· probability - It might rain. · Perhaps… will

Will Would · requests (more polite) - Would you mind closing the door? · To want
· determination/intention - I will pass the exam. · To desire
· To be determined to
Shall Should · offer - Shall I open the door for you? · Do you want…?
· suggestion - Shall we go to the cinema? · Let’s
· advice - You should eat more vegetables. · To have to (morally)
· duty/moral obligation - Children should listen to their parents. · To be the (moral) duty
· To be better
· … would better…
Must · obligation/duty - You must do your homework, · To have to
whether you want to or not. · To be obliged to
· deduction - He has a great car. He must earn a lot of money.
· To have the obligation
· necessity - You must go to the doctor if you can't see well.
· To be certain
Mustn't · prohibition - You mustn't cross the road when the red light is on. · To be forbidden
· To be prohibited to
Ought to · recommendation/moral obligation - You ought to study more. · To have to

Need/ · (absence of) obligation/necessity - You needn’t run. It’s still early. · To be necessary
/Needn’t
· Don’t need to
 · Don’t have to
Dare · audacity or lack of it - How dare you?/He daren’t look at me. · To have the courage to

Exercise:
Rewrite the following sentences replacing some words or expressions by a modal verb and making
the necessary transformations.

1. The students are allowed to go to the zoo.

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2. Jane isn’t able to eat food with garlic.
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3. It was impossible for the man to carry the heavy suitcase upstairs.
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4. Look at the sky. Perhaps it will rain.
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5. It is better for you to tell your father what happened.
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6. It is necessary for them to come this morning because it’s urgent.
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7. It isn’t necessary for you to come. There’s no work to do.
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8. Ten steaks are likely to be enough for everybody.
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9. The government has the obligation of building houses for the homeless.
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10. It is children’s duty to respect their parents.
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11. My sister is forbidden to arrive home after midnight.
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12. Let’s go to a bar.
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13. She is determined to go to the concert.
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14. It is forbidden to smoke inside the building.
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15. It is almost certain that Peter missed the train.
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