Meaning Modal verbs Differences in Forms of infinitives  Kinds of Rendering Examples

meaning Tenses sentences into Russian

1. Permission Can Colloquial The Indefinite Infinitive You can use my umbrella.
(expresses the May Formal + можно May I smoke here?
idea of Could/Might Express a more polite ? Might I join you? Could I use your car?
request
permission).
2. Ability, Can The Indefinite  Present мочь, She can play a few tunes on the piano.
capability. + можешь
Could The Indefinite  Past - мог He could read a lot of books last year.

The Indefinite  Present ? мог бы She could be a secretary in a good

or Future firm.
3. Supposition, May/might Implies uncertainty. All forms of infinitives + возможно, He may come soon.
probability.  All Tenses - может быть She may be ill.
He might have fallen ill.
Should Strong probability The Indefinite  должно
Ought to Smth that can be Present, Future + быть,
naturally expected наверное
Must Implies strong All forms of Infinitives должно He must be too old to wonder the city
probability.  Present, Past + быть, so long.
очевидно, She must have gone recently.
наверняка
4. Possibility. May The Indefinite  Present The railway may be improved.
Possibility of the fact мочь
Might The Indefinite/Perfect  +
Past (perfect  the
action wasn’t fulfilled)
Can 1. due to circumstances The Indefinite  + мог Anybody can make a mistake.
2. due to existing In ld days a man could be sentenced
Present, Future -
rules/laws
Could The Indefinite  Past мог to death for a small crime.
3. of the idea (theoretical)
The Indefinite  Pres., Future
?
мог бы The airport can be improved.
The Perfect  Past (the action мог (но не You could have seen the house from
wasn’t fulfilled) there it hadn’t been so dark.
смог)
Be to Implies strong The Passive Infinitive  +, -, ? всегда Her father was often to be seen in the
possibility Present, Past можно bar of the Hotel Metropole.
5. Obligation, Need Implies only The Indefinite  Present, You needn’t be afraid of me.
necessity Future зря Need I repeat it?
necessity. Perfect  the action was
-
? не к чему You needn’t have come, the deal is
fulfilled though it was
unnecessary off.
Should Instructions and All forms of Infinitives  All + You shouldn’t take this medicine
corrections. Tenses нужно right now.
The Perfect  a desirable -
Ought to Moral duty and следует They shouldn’t have concealed it
action was fulfilled. ?
obligation from us.
Have to Arising out of The Indefinite  All +, -, ? вынужден I wondered how long I had to stay in
circumstances Tenses hospital.
Must With no freedom of должен You must talk to your daughter about
choice or form the The Indefinite  Present + her future.
speaker’s point of Must he do it himself?
?
view
Be to Arising out of a plan The Indefinite  + должен We are to discuss it next time.
or an arrangement Present, Past ? Is he to arrive tomorrow?
6. An order or Should Corrections, All forms of Infinitives  All + нужно You shouldn’t take it more than three
Ought instructions Tenses следует times a day.
instruction. The Perfect  a desirable -
action was fulfilled. ?
Must Invitation, command, The Indefinite  Present You must do it today.
an urgent request должен
Be to A strict order. Often The Indefinite  + Norman says I am to leave you alone.
official. Present, Past
?
Will An impatient The Indefinite  Present Will you be quiet!
command
7. Disapproval or Would Disapproval of The Indefinite  Present Only in этого “I know she attended the place.”
reproach. something expected. responses следовало и “Oh, yes, she would”
ожидать
Might The Indefinite, Perfect  мог бы You carry the parcel for me.
Present, Past (for the none- + You might have helped him.
performance of the action)
8. Habitual or Will The Indefinite  Present + любит She will/would sit for hours under the
recurrent actions. Would Literary style The Indefinite  Past любил old oak tree looking at the beautiful
country around her.
9. Uncertainty, Can All forms of Infinitives неужели Can he really be ill?
doubt. Could Implies more  Present, Past ? Can she be telling lies?
uncertainty Can he have said it?
10. Improbability. Can All forms of Infinitives не может He can’t be really ill.
Could Less categorical  Present, Past - быть, She can’t be telling lies.
невероятно He can’t have said it.
11. Prohibition Can You can’t do it.
Must Stronger prohibition. The Indefinite  Present - не должен He mustn’t leave his room.
Be to The strongest form. нельзя You aren’t to do this.