Modal Verbs


&

Similar Expressions
 Modal Basics
● Modals + bare-Infinitive
● Never changing forms (no -s, -ed, or -ing)
● Acting as auxiliaries
● Used with continuous (be + V-ing) and perfect
(have + p.p.) aspects
 MODALITIES

ABILITY POSSIBILITY PROBABILITY

PROHIBITION/
OBLIGATION NECESSITY
DUTY

ADVICE REQUESTS PERMISSION

OFFERS/ LOGICAL
CRITICISIM
SUGGESTIONS ASSUMPTIONS
 Ability
● She can dance well.
● She could/ was able to dance well when she was
young.
● She’s able to type 120 words per minute.
● They were able to buy a car after saving for many
years.
● He couldn’t/ wasn’t able to save the patient.
 Possibility
● He can’t still be at home.
● He could/ may be tired.
● He might come later.
● He could have killed her.
● He may/ might have sold his house.
● It’s likely that Ann will offer to help.
● Ann is likely to offer to help.
● It was likely that she had missed the bus.
● She was likely to have missed the bus.
 Possibility
● Heavier smokers can die of lung cancer.
● All the roads may be blocked in the protests.
 Probability
● He will come tomorrow.
● He should/ ought to come by later.
● He should/ ought to have reached Rome by now.
 Obligation
● I must cut down on fats.
● I have to cut down on fats.
● I had to cut down or else I would have got
overweight.
● We ought to stay within the speed limit.
 Necessity
● I must see a doctor.
● I had to see a doctor.
● We’ve got to move the house.
● The cat needs feeding/ to be fed.
● You ought to behave yourself.
● She doesn’t have/ need to come.
● She didn’t have/ need to come.
● She needn’t have come so early.
 Prohibition/ Duty
● You can’t enter this area.
● They couldn’t enter this area.
● You mustn’t touch the artifacts.
● You may not smoke in the corridor.
● All applicants must/had to fill in this form.
● People ought to respect the environment.
● He ought to have notified the police of the burglary.
 Advice
● You should stop smoking.
● You should have stopped smoking.
● You ought to comply with the regulations.
● You ought to have contacted a lawyer earlier.
● You had better not lie to her.
 Requests
● Can I see the manager?
● Could I see the manager?
● May I see the manager, please?
● Might I see the manager?
● Will you do the shopping?
● Would you mind working overtime?
 Permission
● You can/ can’t take my car.
● He wasn’t allowed to/ couldn’t take my car.
● He is allowed to see the patient.
● He was allowed to take my car. (NOT COULD)
● Could I go out for a minute?
● You may start doing the test now.
● Might I have the pleasure of your company?
● I’m sorry, but you can’t/ mustn’t make that call now.
● Visitors may not take pictures of the statues.
 Offers/ Suggestions
● Can I carry your bag?
● Shall we collect your laundry?
● Would you like to stay for a couple of days?
● Would you like me to give you a lift?
● Shall we have a break now?
● We can/ could watch TV then.
● Let’s play football.
● Why don’t we play football?
● How about playing football?
● What about playing football?
 Criticism
● You could at least call her.
● You could at least have called her yesterday.
● He should let us know.
● He should have let us know.
● You ought to be more helpful.
● You ought to have been more helpful.
 Logical Assumptions
● He must be tired.
● He must have arrived by now.
● It can’t/ couldn’t be a fake.
● He can’t/ couldn’t have killed him.