MODALS

PEL542
INTRODUCTION

• Modals are those helping verbs, which express the ‘mode’ or ‘manner’ of the actions indicated by the
main verbs.
• They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission, requests and offers, obligation,
assumptions, advice etc.
• The most commonly used modals are Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Shall, Should, Ought to, Will,
Would ,used to ,dare ,need
STRUCTURE

• A Modal verb is followed by another verb in the base form

• Subject + Modal Verb + Verb (base form of the infinitive)
• Example:
• I may go there
• May: Modal verb
• Go: Main verb
CHARACTERISTICS

• They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
• They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (i.e. the bare infinitive.)
• They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation,
necessity, ability
Question

• Modals verbs are used to express:

A. Certainty
B. Possibility
C. Obligation
D. All of above
Correct Answer: D
Rules to use modal verbs

Can:
Use Example
Ability to do something in I can speak English
present
Permission to do something in Can I go to the cinema?
present
Request Can you wait for a moment please?
Offer I can lend you my car tomorrow
Possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.
Could

Use
Ability to do something (in
past)
Polite question
Past possibility
Example
I could study hard
Could I go to cinema please?
It could get very hot in Montana
May

Use Example
Positive probability It may rain today
Formal permission May I come in?
Polite suggestion May I help you
Might

Use Example
Lesser possibility It might rain today
Hesitant Offer Might I help you?
Question

• Fill the blank with appropriate modal verb:

I never thought, I ……….. do it at that time.
A. Can
B. May
C. Could
D. might
Correct Answer: C
Must

Use Example
Force, necessity I must go to supermarket today
Possibility You must be tired
Advice, suggestion You must see the new film
Ought to

•Use
Use Example
•Moral
Example
advice You ought to respect parents
Obligation You ought to switch off the lights
Question

• Fill the blank with appropriate modal verb:

You ……..be devastated after your car accident.
A. Must
B. Ought to
C. Can
D. None of above
Correct Answer: A
Shall

Use Examples

suggestion Shall I carry your bag?

Should

Use Example
Advice You should drive carefully in bad weather
Obligation You should switch off the light when you leave
Will

Use
wish, request, demand, order
(less polite than would)
prediction, assumption
Promise
Example
Will you please shut the door?
I think it will rain on Friday
I will stop smoking
 Would

Use Example
Wish, request(more polite Would you shut the door please?
than will)
Habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers
Question

• Fill the blank with appropriate verb:

……. You like to read this article?
A. Should
B. Would
C. May
D. might
Correct answer: B
Let’s practice

Rose and Ted _________________ be good players. They have won hundreds of
cups !
A. Must
B. Need not
C. Cant
D. Have not
Answer: A
You _________________ pay to use the library. It’s free.
A. Don’t have to
B. Have to
C. Should
D. Need to
Answer: A
Question

I’m not sure where my wife is at the moment. She _________________ be at her
dance class.
A. Shall
B. Might
C. Was
D. All of above
Answer: B
Jerry _________________ be working today. He never works on Sundays.
A. Can’t
B. Can
C. Should
D. will
Answer: A
   Modals in the Present Modals in the Past
Obligation You must / have to stop when the traffic lights are red. You had to stop.

Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor

Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked there.
Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.
Certainty He has a Rolls Royce. He must be very rich. He must have been rich. He had a big house and an
He can't be American. His English is terrible. expensive car.
He can't have written that poem. He was illiterate.

Permission Can I go out? She could drive her father's car when she was only
15.
Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. It's cloudy. I guess it may / can / could / might have been Lacy
on the phone.

Lack of necessity You don't have to / needn't buy any tomatoes. There are You didn't have to / didn't need to buy tomatoes.
plenty in the fridge.
THANK YOU