MODAL VERBSIntroduction to modal verbs

FORMThe modal verbs are CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, WILL, WOULD, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT TOThere is no s in the third person singularThere is no do/does in the questionThere is no dont/doesnt in the negativeSome modals dont usually have past forms. Other expressions are used insteadThey have no infinitives and no ing formThey are followed by an infinitive without to. The exception is ought toThey can be used with perfect infinitive to talk about the past

Basic rulesThey indicate:ABILITY OBLIGATIONPERMISSIONREQUESTPOSSIBILITYDEDUCTION

MODALSMAYSHOULDMUSTMIGHTOUGHT TOCOULDCAN

Basic expressions Modal verbs express our attitudes, opinions and judgments of eventsThey express ideas such as willingness and ability, permission and refusal, obligation and prohibition, suggestion, necessity, promise and intentionAll modals can express degrees of certainty, probability or possibility

CAN and MAYThese two verbs have only the present tense and the past tense:Can ~ CouldMay ~ Might Forms:Affirmative: I canI mayNegative: I cant (cannot) I may notQuestion: Can I? May I?

CAN and MAY (continued)CAN expresses:ABILITY: I can speak English. Can you lift this box?PERMISSION: Can I go for a swim this afternoon, mother?REQUEST: Can I have a sweet?POSSIBILITY: Can the news be true?

MAY expresses:PERMISSION: May I go out?

CAN and MAY (continued)The modal CAN has the following forms:PRESENT: CANPAST: COULDOTHER TENSES: BE ABLE TO therefore we have:Present: I am able toPast: I was able toFuture: I will be able to

The modal MAY has the following forms:PRESENT: MAYPAST: MIGHT

MUST OUGHT TO - SHOULDMUST expresses:OBLIGATION: You must do as you are told.NECESSITY: I must see what can be done.COMMAND: You must come early tonight!PROHIBITION: You mustnt do that!DEDUCTION: He must be at home now.

OUGHT TO and SHOULD express:MORAL OBLIGATION: We ought to be more careful.ADVICE and RECOMMENDATION: You should stay in and work.

MUST OUGHT TO SHOULD (continued)These modals have the following forms:

MUST ~ HAVE TO / HAS TO (Present)I have to go. I dont have to go. Do I have to go?She has to wear the uniform. She doesnt have to wear the uniform. Does she have to wear the uniform?

HAD TO (Past)I had to go. I didnt have to go. Did I have to go?

WILL HAVE TO (Future)I will have to do it. I wont have to do it.

MODALS

General rules

Expression obligation MUST and HAVE TO:1. MUST and HAVE TO both express strong obligation. Must is used to express an obligation that involves the speakers opinion. It is personal! I must get my hair cut. (This is me talking to me)You must do this homework carefully. (A teacher talking to students)MUST is also associated with a formal, written style. 2. HAVE TO expresses a general obligation based on a law or rule, or based on the authority of another person. It is more objective.I cant play tennis tomorrow. I have to go to the dentist. (I have an appointment)Children have to go to school. (a law)Mom says you have to tidy your room before you go out. (Mothers order!)

Expressing obligation MUST and HAVE TO:3. Be careful! The negatives MUSTNT and DONT HAVE TO are completely different. MUSTNT expresses prohibition! DONT HAVE TO expresses the absence of obligation. COMPARE:You mustnt steal other peoples things. (prohibition)You mustnt drive if youve been drinking. (You could kill someone!)Some people iron their socks, but you dont have to. When you go into a shop, you dont have to buy something.

Expressing obligation MUST and HAVE TO:4. HAVE GOT TO is also very common in British English but it is more informal than have to:Ive got to go now. See you!Dont go to bed late. Weve got to get up early tomorrow.Go and tidy your room. Have I got to? Yes, you have.

Thank you for watching this presentation