MODALS

CAN:

1. To have the ability (=be able to): I can speak German /I can’t speak German
2. To ask or give permission (= may): Can I go to the toilet? Yes, you can/No, you can’t go to the toilet.
- May I go to the toilet?
*CAREFUL: cannot can not You cannot speak here.

COULD:

1. Can in the past (=was/were able to): I could/couldn’t finish all my homework this morning.
I was / wasn’t able to finish my homework this morning.
2. Would can: Could you help me with these bags? / If I had more money, I could buy this Ferrari
If I didn’t have money, I couldn’t buy this Ferrari
3. =may/might (puede que, probably): This weekend it could/may/might rain.
She could/may/might be sick.

MUST:

1. Obligation: You must study / You mustn’t talk in class (similar: you can’t talk in class)
Very similar in affirmatives: Have to. You have to study. Different in negatives: You don’t have to
study. (It’s optional, you can do it if you want to) You don’t have to talk in class doesn’t really make
sense
*But remember: HAVE IS NOT A MODAL
2. Assumptions (=will): That ring must have cost a fortune / That ring will have cost a fortune// -What’s
that noise? –It must / will be the cat / You will/must be joking!
*We use can’t for negatives: That noise can’t be the cat / You can’t be serious!
3. In the past: had to for obligations (+ or -). When I was a student, I had to wear a brown uniform.

Assumptions: had to (+) I knew that noise had to be the cat

Couldn’t (-) I knew it couldn’t be the cat

SHOULD:

1. Advice or recommendation (= would must): You should study harder

2. To offer yourself to do something (=shall/will, although shall is only common in the UK): Should I
open the window? Shall I open the window? Will I open the window?

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*to ask sb to do sth we say: will/could never should/shall. Will/Could you open the window?
Also: Would you mind opening the window?

MAY:

1. To ask for permission (=can): May I go to the toilet? / May I sit here?
2. =might, could: It may/might/could rain later. It may be dangerous (puede que)
3. Quizás / Maybe I may go out later. Maybe, I’ll go out later. Also might: I might go out later.

MIGHT:

• =may, could: They’re too late. They could/may/might be lost.

• =may = puede que
• =maybe

RULES:
• No “s” for the 3rd person: He can swim He cans swim.
• No auxiliars: Can you swim? Do you can swim? I can’t swim I don’t can swim.
• Followed by base form: I can swim. I can swimming / I can to swim.
• No will/would: I will can I will be able to / I would can I could= I would be able to.
• No gerund I’m canning.
• No “TO” (neither before nor after) Quiero poder hablar chino / I want to can speak Chinese I want to
be able to speak Chinese.
Para poder hablar Chino, hay que estudiar al menos ocho años. To be able to speak Chinese, you
have to study at least for eight years.

*ALSO: NEEDN’T = do not have to (it’s not necessary)

• You needn't do the washing up.

• We needn't take coats with us.
• Tom needn't come if he doesn't want to.
• Diabetes needn't mean you can't enjoy your food.
• We needn't tidy up until tomorrow.
• You needn’t have to come.
• You needn’t have bought that.

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*OUGHT TO = SHOULD

• ‘You ought to study harder’ = Deberías estudiar más.

This is an exercise to practise modals:

https://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal1.htm

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