MODALS AND SEMI-MODALS

C1 ADVANCED, 2023
In comparison with many other languages, English has
very limited use of grammatical moods. Moods are
usually used to show an attitude toward something
(e.g., a command, permission, desire, etc.) In English to
show the same attitudes we usually use modal verbs.
WHAT MAKES MODAL VERBS SPECIAL?
Connotative Perspective
Other verbs usually show the action happening by the subject of the sentence,
the state the subject is in, or a relationship between the subject and the
object of the sentence. Modals on the other hand give information about the
function of the main verbs. They act more like an adverb than a verb. It is
interesting to know that in some languages like Persian, many of the same
connotative notions are made via adverbs; For example, to show obligation
an adverb comes before the verb.
Because of this feature, modal verbs cannot be used alone in a sentence;
mainly because It would be like using an adverb without a verb.
WHAT MAKES MODAL VERBS SPECIAL?
Syntactic Perspective
In English modal verbs are also called “modal auxiliary verbs”. The reason
behind that is they can act very similar to many other auxiliary verbs. In English
grammar each clause can only have one main verb (or verb phrase), any other
verb in the same clause should be helping the main verb (and so the name
auxiliary or helping verb). Also, in English main verbs cannot be directly used
to make a negative or interrogative sentence, to do so you need an auxiliary
verb, which is usually present in the sentence but even if it is not, it should be
added. Modals can be used for the same function. In fact, they have priority
over the other auxiliary verbs, which means if you have a modal verb in the
sentence, you should use that to form a negative clause or question.
MODALS VS. SEMI-MODALS
English has 9 modal verbs:

● can and could

● may and might
● shall and should
● will and would
● must*

* Must is an odd one, it does not have preterit (or past) form and is used to some extent different from the rest

English Semi-modals

● ought to
● dare
● need
● used to
● had better
A) OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY
1. MUST / MUSTNʼT

Used to express:
● strong obligation when we impose this on ourselves;
I must go to the doctorʼs. I mustnʼt forget to take out insurance.
● a strong opinion;

We must all do our bit for the environment.

A) OBLIGATION AND NECESSITY
2. HAVE TO / NEED TO

To express an obligation imposed by someone else;

This report needs to / has to be finished by Monday.

B) LACK OF NECESSITY
1. DONʼT HAVE TO / NEEDNʼT / DONʼT NEED TO

MIND YOU!

Need has 2 past forms with different meanings:

➔ She didnʼt need to take a coat. It wasnʼt cold. (Did she take it?)
➔ She neednʼt have taken a coat. (Did she take it?)
C) PROHIBITION AND CRITICISM
1. MUSTNʼT - SHOULDNʼT
PROHIBITION IMPOSED BY THE SPEAKER
2. CANʼT - MAY NOT
PROHIBITION IMPOSED BY SOMEONE ELSE
3. COULDNʼT
PROHIBITION IN THE PAST
4. SHOULD/SHOULDNʼT + HAVE + PARTICIPLE
REGRET OR CRITICISM OF A PAST ACTION
I SHOULD HAVE BECOME AN ENGINEER! YOU SHOULDNʼT HAVE DONE THAT.
D) ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATION
1. MUST

YOU MUST VISIT THE CASTLE! (STRONG ADVICE/RECOMMENDATION)

2. SHOULD / OUGHT TO

YOU SHOULD / OUGHT TO PROTEST. YOU SHOULDNʼT GO ON STRIKE. (LESS

STRONG)

3. HAD BETTER (NOT)

IʼD BETTER GO GET READY! YOUʼD BETTER NOT TELL YOUR MUM.

SELDOM DO WE USE OUGHT TO IN (?) AND (-)

E) PERMISSION
CAN I USE YOUR CAR? YES, YOU CAN. / NO, YOU CANʼT. (INFORMAL)

COULD I ASK YOU TO DO ME A FAVOUR? (POLITE)

MAY I LEAVE THE OFFICE EARLY TOMORROW? YES, YOU MAY / NO, YOU MAY NOT. (FORMAL)
I WONDER IF I MIGHT HAVE A WORD WITH YOU? (POLITE + FORMAL)
F) ABILITY
1. CAN / CANʼT
2. COULD
3. WAS ABLE TO (SPECIFIC SITUATION)
4. WASNʼT ABLE / COULDNʼT ( SPECIFIC ABILITY)
5. COULD/MIGHT + HAVE + PARTICIPLE (PAST ABILITY OR OPPORTUNITY NOT USED)

HE COULD HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE, BUT DECIDED AGAINST IT.

6. MANAGED TO / SUCCEEDED IN
G) POSSIBILITY AND PROBABILITY
1. CAN, COULD, MAY

THINGS THAT ARE THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE AND HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

TEMPERATURES CAN REACH -20C AT NIGHT IN THE DESERT.

2. COULD, MAY, MIGHT (PRESENT & FUTURE)

3. COULD

THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST

MY DAD COULD BE REALLY STRICT WITH ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

4. COULD, MAY, MIGHT + HAVE + PARTICIPLE
SPECIFIC PAST POSSIBILITIES
SHE MIGHT/MAY/COULD HAVE BEEN HELD IN TRAFFIC.
5. COULD, MIGHT (+ HAVE + PARTICIPLE)
TO EXPRESS CRITICISM OR ANNOYANCE
YOU MIGHT AT LEAST SAY THANK YOU!
THEY COULD/MIGHT HAVE LET US KNOW THEY WERENʼT COMING!
6. MAY, MIGHT (WELL)
ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING IS TRUE, BEFORE INTRODUCING A CONTRAST
HE MIGHT (WELL) BE A GOOD ACTOR, BUT HE CANʼT SING.
7. SHOULD, SHOULDNʼT

FOR PROBABILITY AND EXPECTATION

IT SHOULD BE A NICE DAY TOMORROW.

PETER SHOULD BE ARRIVING ANY MOMENT NOW

IT SHOULDNʼT BE SO DIFFICULT TO FIND THE WAY.

H) DEDUCTION (CERTAINTY)
1. MUST
2. MUST + HAVE + PARTICIPLE
3. CANʼT/COULDNʼT (NOT MUSTNʼT)
I) OFFERS, PROMISES, SUGGESTIONS, REQUESTS,
ORDERS
1. CAN, MAY, SHALL, WOULD, WILL (OFFERS AND PROMISES)
2. COULD, MIGHT, CAN (SUGGESTION)
3. CAN, COULD, SHALL, WOULD (REQUESTS)
4. WILL, SHALL (ORDERS)