7C + 8A

Modal verbs
B1 YEAR 1
 Modal verbs

 Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verbs.

 We use them to express a variety of things like

ABILITY, PERMISSION, OBLIGATION,

PROHIBITION, POSSIBILITY, ADVICE OR
REQUESTS.
 Modal verbs

 CAN Modal verbs AREN’T

 COULD followed by an
 MAY
infinitive with “to”:
 MIGHT
 SHOULD I can play the piano
I can to play the piano
 OUGHT TO
 MUST EXCEPTIONS:
 HAVE TO • Ought to: You ought to see the doctor.
 MUSTN’T • Have to: I have to study for an exam.
 DON’T HAVE TO • Don’t have to: You don’t have to eat it
if you don’t like it.
 CAN / CAN'T (cannot) – Present simple

 Ability
I can speak English.
 They can’t swim.

 Possibility
 Be careful! Peter’s dog can be very violent.

 Paula can’t be home yet. It’s impossible. She left 10

minutes after us.
 Permission or request (neutral)
 A: “Can I go to the toilet?”; B: “No, you can’t”.
COULD / COULDN'T – Past simple + Conditional

 Ability in the past

I could speak German when I was a child.

 Hypothetical possibility

 John could be the one who stole the money.

 If I could speak German, I’d go to Berlin.
 Permission or request (polite)

 Could you please tell me where the bus station is?

 7C MUST & HAVE TO

MUST MUSTN’T
INTERNAL obligation Prohibition
There are lots of things I have to do, so I • You mustn't smoke in the building.
must get up early tomorrow and I must tidy • You mustn't park outside the entrance.
my room before. • You mustn't make noise after 9 o’clock.

HAVE TO DON’T HAVE TO

EXTERNAL obligation
Not necessary
and RULES
• I don't have to come if I don't want to.
• We have to wear formal clothes at work.
• You don’t have to worry about it.
• I have to get up early tomorrow because
• Tell him he doesn’t have to work
my train leaves at 9 AM.
tomorrow.
• Do I have to come tomorrow, boss?
 7C MUST & HAVE TO

 ‘Must’ expresses obligation ONLY in the present.

 If you want to talk about obligation in the past, you

need to use HAD TO:

E.g. I couldn’t come to class yesterday because I

had to go to the doctor.
 8A SHOULD / SHOULDN’T

 Advice and suggestions

 If you go to London, you should visit the British

Museum.
 We shouldn’t eat too much before doing exercise.

 You should go to the doctor…