MODAL VERBS IN THE

PRESENT
TRANSLATE!
Ja mogu pričati engleski.

Mogu li ući?

Danas bi mogla padati kiša.

Mislim da će sada više učiti.

Moglo bi zatopliti u svibnju.

Mislim da bi trebao više vježbati.

 • Verbs which model the meaning of the main
verb before which they stand.

•Main verb always stands after the modal verb and

MODAL it is always in the infinitive form:
VERBS He can speak five languages: 
He cans speak five languages. 
He can spoke five languages. 
CAN/ COULD
We use it when we want to
express the ability. In these
cases you may also use be Past tense of can is
able to, but can is more could.
common.

She can ride a bike He could ride a

very well. /He can bike when he was
hold his breath for 1 five years old. (now
minute. he is a grown up)
MUST/ CAN´T

•In the following examples the modal verbs do not have the litteral meaning:

Someone's knocking at the door. That must be Tom. (I'm sure it is Tom – it is logical because he told me he
would come).

•In this case, you don't use must for expressing an order (like You must wash the dishes) but you use it when
you make a logical conclusion about a situation.

You've been working all day. You must be tired. (You conclude that the person is tired after working all day)

I heard you are having an operation tomorrow. You must be nervous. (You expect someone to be nervous
before the operation)

•In this context, the opposite meaning of must is can't.

Someone's knocking at the door. That can't be Tom. He sad he won't come.
 •Modal verb may has two meanings:

1. maybe/probably/perhaps – in this context,

we may replace it with might

He may/ might come tonight – I'm not sure.

She may/might know the answer.
MAY/ 2. allow – when you are asking for permission

MIGHT to do something

• in this context you may not replace it with might

May I borrow your pencil?

May I go out tonight?
HAVE TO/ MUST

•We use must when we express an order we think it should be carried out:

'You must wash the dishes.', mum said.

'You must try harder!’

• An order expressed with have to has a law or something of that kind behind it. it is 'stronger'
than the one expressed with must, consequences of not following have to order are more
serious

'He has to wear suit at work.’ (the firm where he works has an official dress code; if he does
not follow that rule/order, he may get fired)

' Children have to finish compulsory education.’ (the law says that children have to finish
elementary school otherwise the parents will have problems with social services)
HAVE TO/ MUST

•The opposite meaning of must is don't have to

You don't have to wash the dishes. I'll do it.

•The opposite meaning of have to is mustn't

You mustn't shout in a museum.
 •This modal verb is used when we want to
give some kind of advice or personal
opinion:

SHOULD I think you should study more.

You should definitely buy this pullover. It
looks great on you.
 Modal verb – positive Modal verb - negative Example
CAN CAN'T I can ride a bike.

CAN ability to do something inability to do something I can't ride a bike.

MUST DON'T HAVE TO You must clean your room.

'weak' order (you are obliged you are not obliged to) You don't have to clean it – I'll do
to) it.
MUST MUST CAN'T It must be her at the door.

I'm sure it is... It's impossible... It can't be her – she is home sick.
HAVE TO MUSTN'T You have to be quiet in a
museum.
HAVE TO 'strong' order (you are 'strong' ban (it is forbidden; the
obliged; the law says so) law says so) You mustn't shout in a museum.
MAY MAY NOT May I borrow your pencil?

MAY you are allowed you are not allowed to No, you may not.
MAY (might, could MAY NOT (might not, could not) It may/might/could rain today.

probably probably not It may/might/could not rain today.

SHOULD SHOULD SHOULDN'T You should buy this shirt.

advice (in my opinion) You shouldn't behave like this.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain.

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening?

3. John is able to fix this.

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road.

5. You are obliged to what I say you to do.

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us.

7. I was able to swim at the age of four.

8. It's impossible it's her over there. She is in France.

9. You are not allowed to wear my new dress.

10. It's a good idea to call her, if you ask me.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening?

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us. It must be Bill who is waving at us. logical conclusion

7. I was able to swim at the age of four.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us. It must be Bill who is waving at us. logical conclusion

7. I was able to swim at the age of four. I could swim at the age of four past ability

8. It's impossible it's her over there. She is in France.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us. It must be Bill who is waving at us. logical conclusion

7. I was able to swim at the age of four. I could swim at the age of four past ability

8. It's impossible it's her over there. She is in France. It can't be her. She is in France. it's impossible – logical conclusion

9. You are not allowed to wear my new dress.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us. It must be Bill who is waving at us. logical conclusion

7. I was able to swim at the age of four. I could swim at the age of four past ability

8. It's impossible it's her over there. She is in France. It can't be her. She is in France. it's impossible – logical conclusion

9. You are not allowed to wear my new dress. You may not wear my new dress. permission is denied

10. It's a good idea to call her, if you ask me.

 Transform the sentences using the most appropriate modal verb

1. Look at the sky. It will probably rain. Look at the sky. It may/might/could rain. Probability (you are not sure)

2. Am I allowed to go out in the evening? May I go out in the evening? Permission

3. John is able to fix this. John can fix this. present ability

4. You are obliged to drive on the right side of the road. You have to drive on the right side. order - according to law

5. You are obliged to do what I say. You must do what I say. order – according to someone's opinion

6. I'm sure it is Bill who is waving at us. It must be Bill who is waving at us. logical conclusion

7. I was able to swim at the age of four. I could swim at the age of four past ability

8. It's impossible it's her over there. She is in France. It can't be her. She is in France. it's impossible – logical conclusion

9. You are not allowed to wear my new dress. You may not wear my new dress. permission is denied

10. It's a good idea to call her, if you ask me. You should call her. advice