Look at these examples:

1. He can find any street in London.

2. He is able to find any street in London.
3. I could play tennis when I was younger.
A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is
used to express: ability, possibility, permission or
obligation. Modal phrases (or semi-modals) are used to
express the same things as modals, but are a
combination of auxiliary verbs and the preposition to.
The modals and semi-modals in English are:

1. Can & Could
We use can + bare infinitive (base form)
To talk about the general ability((‫درة‬,,‫ ق‬in the present and
in the future.
Sally can use a computer and she’s only four!
For requests‫طلبات‬
Can you fix my scanner?
For permission‫طلبإذن‬
Ok, you can go to the swimming lesson.
- We use can’t +bare infinitive (base form) to show that
we are sure that something isn’t true.
He can’t be a scientist, he doesn’t know any science.
 We use could + bare infinitive (base form)
To talk about general ability in the past. (past form of
can)
My sister could speak when she was a year old.
To talk about possibility ‫مكانية‬,‫إ‬
Don’t ply golf during a storm; lightning could strike you.
For polite requests ‫ة مؤدبة‬,‫طريق‬
,,,‫لطلب ب‬,‫ل‬
Could you explain this to me, please?
To make suggestions ‫ح‬,‫القترا‬,,‫عند ا‬
You could mix the red colour with the blue one.

2. May & Might

We use may + bare infinitive (base form)
To talk about possibility in the future.‫مستقبل‬,,‫ لا‬,‫ي‬,,‫مكانية ف‬,‫إ‬
They may give Hector the research scholarship.
For polite requests (With I and We) ‫ة مؤدبة‬,‫طريق‬ ,,,‫لطلب ب‬,,‫ل‬
May I use your phone.
For polite permission ‫ة مؤدبة‬,‫طريق‬
,,,‫إلذن ب‬,,‫طلب ا‬,,‫ل‬
Yes, you may see the professor.

We use might + bare infinitive (base form)

To talk about possibility in the future.
Hala might study chemistry in the university.
As the past tense of may.
Dad said that he might buy me a new laptop.

3. Must
We use must + bare infinitive (base form) to:
Say that something is necessary ً‫دا‬,‫روري ج‬,‫يء ض‬,‫تحدثعن ش‬,,‫ل‬
Safety goggles must be worn in the lab.
Talk about obligations ‫يء‬,‫جبارعمل ش‬,‫ وإ‬,‫م‬,‫زا‬,,‫تحدثعن لإ‬,,‫ل‬
You must press this button to turn off the machine.
Show that we are sure that something is true
She must be very clever as she is studying physics.
Recommend something ‫يحة‬,‫ص‬,‫ ن‬,‫قديم‬ ,,,‫ت‬
You must check out the new iphone.

We use mustn’t + bare infinitive to talk about something

that is not allowed.‫يء غير مسموح‬,‫ش‬
You mustn’t touch those cables.
4. Should
We use should + bare infinitive to:
Give advice.‫صيحة‬,‫عطاء ن‬,‫إل‬
You should take a break; you look tired.
Ask for advice ‫صيحة‬,‫طلب ن‬,,‫ل‬
Should I get more memory for my computer?
Note: Ought to can also be used to give advice, but it is
not usually used in the question form.
Thelma ought to study harder.
5. Would
We use would + bare infinitive for:
Actions that we did regularly in the past, but that we didn’t
do now. ‫ا‬,‫فعله‬,‫د ن‬,‫ع‬,‫ ن‬,‫ماضيولكن لم‬,,,‫ب‬
,,‫ لا‬,,,‫ب‬
‫ا‬,‫ ه‬,‫وم‬,,‫نا نق‬,‫ث ك‬,‫حدا‬,‫أ‬
I would write letters to my friends, now I just send e-
mails.
Polite requests
Would you put some papers in the photocopier, please?
6. Needn’t
We use needn’t + bare infinitive to say that something is
not necessary.‫روري‬,‫يغير ض‬,‫لتحدثعن ش‬,‫ل‬
You needn’t print the report; just e-mail it to me.
Note: We can use need as an ordinary verb. It has
affirmative, negative and question forms and it is
usually used in the Present Simple and Past Simple. It
is followed by a full infinitive.
They need to update all of their software.
They don’t need to buy a new printer. I can fix the old
one.
Does Sue need to read the instruction manual?
7. Be able to (semi-modal)
We use be able to talk about:
General ability ‫درة‬,‫مق‬
Our students are able to use online information for their
projects.
A specific ability ‫درة محددة‬,‫ مق‬in the past (could can’t be
used here)
The scientist was able to prove his theory.
8. Have to (semi-modal)
We use have to to:
Say that something is necessary.‫روري‬,‫يء ض‬,‫لتحدثعن ش‬,,‫ل‬
You have to be very careful when you do chemical experiments.
Talk about obligation ,‫ عمله‬,‫يء ملزم‬,‫ش‬
Robert has to report any technical problems to his manager.
9. Mustn’t & Don’t have to (semi-modals)
There is an important difference between mustn’t and don’t
have to. We use mustn’t to say that something is not allowed,
whereas we use don’t have to to show that there is no
obligation or necessity.
Scientists mustn’t lie about the results of their research.
We don’t have to drive to work; we can take the bus.
 Thank you
English teacher
Lana Abawi