Read and understand this

lesson for your Quiz 1.

 MODALS
Permission, Obligation, Prohibition
 Modals
• also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs
and modal auxiliaries are special verbs which
behave irregularly in English. They give
additional information about the function of the
main verb that follows it. They have a great
variety of communicative functions.
 Modals
• They are used to indicate modality which
allows speakers to express certainty,
possibility, willingness, obligation,
necessity, ability and prohibition.
 Remember
The modals differ in:
Informal
•function Neutral
•degree of formality Formal
Let’s review the 3 types of
MODALS
MODALS OF PERMISSION
can, could, may and might
 can not formal
You can use ‘can’ to Examples:
say that someone is
• My friends can eat my
allowed to do
snacks.
something.
 could
You can use ‘could’ to Examples:
say that someone • We could go to any part
was allowed to do of the island we wanted.
something in the past.
 may formal
In more formal
situations, ‘may’ is Examples:
used to say that • They may do exactly as
someone is allowed to they like.
do something.
 be allowed to
You also use ‘be Examples:
allowed to’ when • When Mr. Wilt asks for a
you are talking solicitor he will be allowed
about permission. to see one.
 Remember
When you want to give someone permission
to do something, you use ‘can’.
• You can borrow that pen if you want to.
• You can go off duty now.
• She can go with you.
 Remember
When you are asking for permission to do something,
you use ‘can’ or ‘could’. If you ask in a very direct
and simple way, you use ‘can’.

Can I ask a question?

Can we have something to wipe or hands on, please?
 Remember
‘Could’ is more polite than ‘can’.
• Could I just interrupt a minute?
• Could we put this fire on?
 Remember
‘May’ is also used to give permission, but
this is more formal.
• You may speak.
• You may leave as soon as you are finished.
 Remember
‘Might’ is rather old-fashioned and is not often
used in modern English in this way.

Might I inquire if you are the owner?

MODALS OF OBLIGATION
must, have to, should, ought to
OBLIGATION or STRONG RECOMMENDATION

We use must (do) and have to (do) to say that it is

necessary to do something.

e.g. Well, it’s 11 o’clock. I must/have to go now, I have a

meeting at 11:30.
There is sometimes a DIFFERENCE between must and
have to.
- With MUST the speakers are giving their own feelings, saying what
they think is necessary:
e.g. I must send an e-mail to Liz. I haven’t written to her
since Christmas.

e.g. I must study English if I want to pass the exam.

- With HAVE TO the speakers are not giving their feelings.

They are just giving facts :

e.g. I can’t come on Saturday, I have to work.

e.g. Students have to wear uniforms at this school.
 BUT, NOTE:
You can only use must to talk about the present and
future:

e.g. We must go now.

e.g. You must be on time tomorrow.

Have to, however, can be used in all forms :

e.g. I had to leave the party early because I felt ill.

e.g. What do I have to do to get a degree in Economics?
Keep fit

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You must keep fit!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Put the rubbish in the bin

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You must put rubbish in the bin!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Speak English in class

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You must speak English in class!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 Pay taxes

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You have to pay taxes!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Have a passport to
travel to Africa

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You have to have a passport to
travel to Africa!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Wear a uniform

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
They have to wear a uniform!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 SHOULD/OUGHT TO
We use should (do) and ought to (do) to indicate
obligation, duty or correctness.

Example:
You should be wearing your seat belt. (obligation)
I should be at work now. (duty)
You should have said that to hear. (correctness)

* Should and ought to are very similar, and can often replace
each other. But should is much more frequent than ought to.
MODALS OF PROHIBITION
cannot/can’t
must not/mustn‘t
may not
 cannot/can’t
Examples:
You use ‘cannot’ to
say that they are not • Children cannot bathe
allowed to do it. except in the presence of
two lifesavers.
 could not couldn‘t
You use ‘could not’ or Examples:
‘couldn’t’ to say that
• We couldn’t go into the
they were not allowed
library after 5 pm.
to do it.
 may not
In more formal Examples:
situations, ‘may not’
• The retailer may not sell
is used to say that
the book below the
they are not allowed
publisher’ s price
to do it.
 Remember
When you want to prohibit someone, you use
‘cannot’/‘can’t’, ‘will not’/‘won’t’, ‘shall not’/
‘shan’t’.

‘Can I have some sweets?’ - ‘No, you can’t!’

‘I’ll go upstairs’ - ‘You will not!’ You shan’t leave
without my permission.
 higher degree of
must not/mustn’t prohibition
You mustn’t (do) something means it is
prohibited that you do it.
e.g. You mustn’t tell anyone what I said.

e.g. You mustn’t smoke.

 Eat junk food

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You mustn’t eat junk food!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Use your phone

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You mustn’t use your phone!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 Sleep in class

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 You mustn’t
sleep in class!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION

You don’t have to do something

means it is not necessary to do
it.

e.g.
I can stay in bed tomorrow
because I don’t have to go to
school.
Get up early at the weekend

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
You don’t have to get up early at
the weekend!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
Work on holiday

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
 You don’t have
to work on
holiday!

http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/
I hope you are now ready for
Quiz 1.