PERFECT MODALS

( In the same way that we use modal verbs to say how certain
we are about things in the present we can also use them to speculate about the past)
№ Modal verb % Example

Sarah can’t have visited the concert

1 Can’t + have + V3 totally impossible
of Oleg Vynnik! She hates him!

Sarah might have studied French at school, but I’m

2 Might + have + V3 a little bit possible
not sure.

3 May + have + V3 possible Sarah may have seen this film.

Could + have + V3 1. Sarah could have gotten her driving license.

1. very possible
4 2. Sarah could have lived in Berlin if she had studied
2. lost opportunity
German.

Sarah must have been very happy when Alex asked

5 Must + have + V3 absolutely sure
her out on a date.

Should/ ought to + Sarah should have paid more attention to her cactus.
6 criticism about past
have + V3 Now it’s dead.
 MODALS OF ASSUMPTION
(We can use these modal verbs (also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty) when
we want to make a guess about something. We choose the verb depending on how sure we are)
EXAMPLE
№ MODAL VERB % (Where is my
friend Sarah?)
totally impossible Sarah can’t be on the concert of
1 can’t + V1 \ be + Ving
0% Oleg Vynnik because she doesn’t like him.
a little bit Sarah might be visiting a doctor right now
2 might + V1 \ be + Ving impossible because one time she complained about her
30% health.
possible Sarah may be at the grocery store because she
3 may + V1 \ be + Ving
50% usually buys products on Tuesdays.
very possible Sarah could be going to the gym, she has training
4 could + V1 \ be + Ving
80% at 7 p.m.

absolutely sure Sarah must be at work finishing her tasks. She

5 must + V1 \ be + Ving
100% works till 6:30.
absolutely sure (on
the basis of
should \ ought to + V1 \ be + Sarah should be celebrating her boyfriend’s
6 previous
Ving birthday; she told me about that.
experience)
100%
 MODALS OF ABILITY
GENERAL ABILITY SPECIFIC ABILITY
This is something that once you have learned you can do any time This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular
you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language. situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find
somewhere you are looking for.
Present:
can / can't (for both general and specific ability)
 I can play the piano.
 He can't drive, he's too tired.
 We can't come now.

Past:
could / couldn't (for general ability) was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)

 I could read when I was four.
 She could speak French when she was a child, but now she
has forgotten it.
 He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.
 When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not
'I could fix it')
 She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn't
studied much.(not 'she could pass')
 He called us because he couldn't find the house.
 I couldn't open the window.

could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn't use)

 I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.
 We could have come earlier.
 She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.

Future:
will / won't be able to (general ability) can / can't (specific ability)

 At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own  I can help you tomorrow
website.  I can't come to the party
 He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take
months.
 MODALS OF OBLIGATION

POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Must Mustn't
1. strong obligation (possibly based on the speaker's opinion) 1. Negative obligation –
I must study hard. ban, prohibition
2. strong obligation. You mustn't smoke here.
You must obey!
3. strong recommendation
You must watch this film!

Have to \ Have got to Don't have to

Has to \ Has got to Doesn't have to
1. strong obligation (possibly from outside) 1. Absence of necessity
Children have to go to school. You don't have to eat anything you don't like.

Should Shouldn't
Ought to Ought not to
1. mild obligation or advice 1. mild negative obligation or advice
You should save some money. You shouldn't smoke so much.

Would rather Would rather not

1. preference 1. preference in negative form
I would rather walk than take a bus. I would rather not go to work.
2. would rather + O + V2\ed = when the speaker wants someone to 2. would rather + O + did not + V1 = when the speaker wants
do something someone to do something
I would rather you did the shopping yourself Do you mind if I smoke? — I would rather you didn’t.

Had better Had better not

1. advice (with options) 1. Advice in negative form
You had better buy red dress that white one. You had better not eat so much sweets.

CAN
We use can to ask for permission to
do something:
Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
We use can to give permission:
You can go home now if you like.
You can borrow my pen if you like.
We use can to say that someone has
permission to do something:
We can go out whenever we want.
Students can travel free.
Can and will are less polite ways of
telling or asking someone to do
something than could or would:
Can you take a message please?
Will you carry this for me please?
MODALS OF PERMISSION
COULD
Could is more formal and polite than
can:
Could I ask a question please?
Could we go home now?
We use could you and would you as
polite ways of telling or asking
someone to do something:
Could you take a message please?
Would you carry this for me please?
Could I have my bill please?
MAY
May is another more formal and
polite way of asking for permission:
May I ask a question please?
May we go home now?
May is a more formal and polite way
of giving permission:
You may go home now, if you like.
May is a more formal and polite way
of saying that someone has
permission:
Students may travel free.