Prepared by:Asma AskaouiMeriem Ait Hemmou

Supervised by: Jennifer EVANS Youssef Tamer

Modal Verbs

Characteristics of modals

Characteristics of modals:

Characteristics of modals

explanation examples

Contraction with not

Except ‘’ may’’and ‘’shall’’ all modals can contract with not

He shouldn’t tell her.*She mayn’t come.

Subject-aux inversion

Modals undergo subject-aux inversion in yes/no question

Can you give me your attention?

Repetition in retorts and in tag question

A.Repetition in retorts:

In retorts, modalsare repeated withprimary stressB. Repetition in

tag questions:A modal verb in

thestem appears in

the tag

You think she will not succeed? well, she will

Amal can’t come, can she?

Invariant form Modals do not take the present tense-s ending or the past tense-ed ending.

*he cans do that.*she canned forget it.

Types of modals:

Modals can be classified according to form and according to meaning.

Modals can be classified into 3 categories according to their forms:

Pure modals Marginal modals

semimodals

CanCouldMayMightMust ShallShouldWillwould

DareNeedOught to

Be going toBe supposed toHad betterHad bestHave got toHave to

1.Except ‘’may ‘’, pure modals display the four characteristics (contraction, inversion, repetition in retorts and tags, and invariant form)

2.Marginal modals display only 2 characteristics; contraction with not and subject-aux inversion.

Eg;*he need to go. He needs to go.

3. Semimodals are fixed idiomatic expressions begining with have, had or be. Semimodals are not invariant.

He has to apologise They have to apologise

Modals can be classified into 3 categories according to their meaning:

Basic meaning of modals:

1. Modals of ability, permission and possibility: can, could, may and might.

2. Modals of advice and necessity: must, should, dare, need, have to, had better, had best, have got to, ought to, and be supposed to.

3. Modals for expressing future time: shall, will, would, and be going to.

Extended meanings of modals are determined by the context.

Pure modals of ability,permission and possibility

The modals of ability, permission and possibility are all pure modals.

CAN:

‘’Can’’ expresses the following basic meanings: Ability: Youness can make the datashow work. Permission: Can i leave now? you can ask for more clarification.

Possibility: Your dreams can Be fulfilled.

CAN has several extended meanings: Admonition: You can’t tell her! The shock would kill her. Speculation: Now, who can be calling at this hour? Disbelief: He didn’t pass the exam? That can’t be possible!

He is always top of the class.

COULD:

‘’could’’ expresses the following basic meanings: Ability: The old man said ‘’ when i was healthy i

could run very fast’’. Permission: Could i use your laptop? Possibility: It could rain today.

COULD has several extended meanings:

speculation. Mrs Jennifer could be in room 57, but i’am not sure.

Regret. Amal could have presented business English presentation, but she was very sick.

Disbeliefs: couldn’t have expresses disbelief about a past event or action. - Nouhaila couldn’t have insulted you. She is well educated.

Suggestion or implied criticism: could and could have are used to:

1. Advise someone to do something. -if you don’t understand modal verbs, you could ask

Asma for clarification. 2. Show criticism of a person’s behavior. -He could have knocked before he came in.

MAY: expresses possibility and permission. possibility: He may be the winner. permission. May i help you? you may leave now. MIGHT: expresses possibility as basic meaning. - she might come.

Might expresse as extended meaning: Speculation: Brahim might have met soumia in library,

but i think he was not free Suggestion: you might try filipping that switch and

see what happens. Implied criticism: Youness might have at least

informed me about the make-up class. Permission in formal request: might i ask you a favor?

Pure Modals of Advice and Necessity

Should : 1) Advice : should expresses

recommendations based on the speaker’s subjective judgment.

-Drivers should obey the speed limit.

-That’s a very deep wound ,you should see a doctor immediately.

Extended meanings1)Inferred probability: should can express probability based on the

evidence present at the moment of speaking.

-It’s 9:00 the bus should come by any minute now.

should have can also express surprise.-the bus should have been here 10minutes

ago.I wonder what’s holding it up.

2)Reproach or reprimand: Should have expresses these meanings

about actions taken or not taken. Example : -Aziz should have been more careful ,but

he was driving recklessly ,as usual.

Must :1)Necessity and obligation: Necessity can be internal when it springs

from an internal desire. -I have decided not to pursue a career in

law. I feel very strongly that i will be happier as a teacher. This is my destiny and i must pursue it.

Necessity can be external ,if external circumstances that create the compulsion.

-you must fulfill the terms of your contract

or else we will take you to court.

2)prohibition: it is expressed by the use of « must not »

-you must not have any further contact with that person.

-you must not leave the country or your parole will be revoked

Must not can also express obligation , meaning that an action must not be done .

-you must not forget to turn off the gas before you leave the house.

Must not is never used to convey « it is not necessary »

-You must not answer every question on the exam.*

- You need not/don’t have to answer every question on the exam.

3)Minimal requirement or condition: (meaning at least)

-you must have a BA in English studies to apply for TEFL and ICT master program .

Extended meanings:1)Inferred probability: Must expresses inferred probability or

supposition. -wow ,you pronounced that perfectly!you

must be French.-well ,judging from her apprearance ,she

must be rich.

2)Polite insistence : Must is used to express polite insistence in

invitations and apologies. -You must visit us this weekend .I insist on it

.

Exercise

judge :you must not drive your car for three months.if you do,you will be arrested .(prohibition)

1_she must get a B on this exam if she if she wants to pass the class.

2_(hearing the door open )that should be Mom.3_we must contact him before he leaves for

Thailand.4_you should get some rest .You look tired.5_you mustn’t forget to take out the trash with you.6_you should have lent him the money .He’s your

best friend,you know.

Indicate the meaning expressed by each modal verb in italics.Some of the modals express a basic meaning ,and others express an extended meaning.

Correction : 1_minimal requirement or condition 2_inferred probability 3_necessity or obligation 4_advice 5_necessity or obligation 6_reproach or reprimand

Marginal modals and

Semimodals of advice and necessity

Marginal modals and semimodals all (except be going to) have meanings related to necessity and advice.

A. Marginal modals: 1- DARE

• Dare expresses the basic meaning of advice. It appears only in questions and negative statements.

- Dare i hurry up? (British English)

• Dare expresses in negative statements the extended meaning of:

Admonition: you dare not ignore this cough. Impossibility: i dare not tell my mother about this.

2- NEED

• Need expresses the basic meaning of necessity. You need to do your assignment.• Need expresses the extended meaning of advice.• you need to see a doctor.

3-OUGHT TO

• Ought to expresses the basic meaning of advice• ikram ought to be more careful with her

motocycle.

• Ought to expresses the extended meaning of: Inferred probability:

-I ought to be able to read your hand writing. Reproach or reprimand: -you ought to have forgiven him. After all, he

apologized

A.Semimodals

1- HAD BETTER and HAD BEST Had better : For advice. You had better

take your umbrella. It’s raining outside For warning. You’d better do

your job well, or you will be dismissed. Had best : For advice. You’d best consult your

wife before making any decision.

2- HAVE TO Have to expresses the basic meaning of necessity

or obligation. The time is not enough that i have to

hurry up Amal was so sick that we had to visit her.Have to expresses the extended meaning of : inferred probability: Sophia has to be very happy. She will go to MARRAKECH. polite insistence: Ait lmadani has to forgive us. We are taking a long time

Pure Modals and Semimodals for

Expressing Future Time

will:1)Future time ,prediction: will+main

verb=future time . Example: -sarah will postgraduate in one or two years.

(future) -they will go on to win tomorrow.

(prediction)

Extended meanings:1)Volition:Will can express volition which is the internal

desire of the speaker.Example: -I will leave tomorrow no matter what you

want me to do.- I promise we will overcome all the hardship.

2)Inferred probability: Will can be used to express inferred

probability , particularly about the immediate future.

-That will be MR Rayan.He always arrives promptly at 8:00.

3)Requests(polite alternatives to

commands):

-will you step into my office for a second? -will you move your car a bite to the left?

Shall:1)Future time: Shall is used to express a prediction about

the future.-It appears that this play shall be a great

success.British English

-It appears that his play will be a great success. American English

Extended meanings:1)Volition: Shall is used to express a strong volition .

- We shall overcome these difficulties and go on to win.

- The person who committed this terrible crime shall be punished.

2)Suggestions and requests for advice: Shall expresses requests for advice, when

it is used with first person pronouns in questions,or it may also be a suggestion.

-Shall I tell him now or later?-the weather is beautiful today .Shall we go

to the beach?

Would:1)Prediction in the past ;future in the

past: Would is used to talk about future

predictions made in the past . -I think it will rain any minute.-I thought it would rain any minute.

Extended meaninngs: 1)Regular action in the past:Would is used to descride a regularly

occuring action in the past-when I was a child ,my father would read me

a story at night before bedtime.

2)Hypothetical results: would is the modal that indicates

hypothetical results in conditional sentences.

-if you listened more carefully ,you would get bettre grades.

3)Inferred probability: Would can be used to express inferred

probability .-That would be Meriem 4)Polite requests:

-Would you please stop talking so loudly ?we are trying to study.

Be going to :

1)Future time :planned action It is used to indicate planned future action -I’m going to leave a little after seven o’clock.

(I plan to leave a little after seven o’clock.)

2)Future Time :Immediate Imminent action

Be going to is used when speaking about an action that appears to be immediately imminent or has already started.

-Look out we’re going to hit that car!

Problems that ESL/EFL students have with modals.

ESL/EFL students commit three basic problems when mearning English modal verbs.

Following modals with infinitives (Spanish)

when learning to use English modals, spanish speakers will frequently use an infinitive after the modal.

you should to go to the cinema two times a week*.

You should go to the movies to times a week.

Incorrect use of must not (GERMAN)

Some ESL/EFL students incorrectly use must not to indicate that something is not is not necessary.

But we must not absolutely on foot go*. But we don’t really have to walk.

Selecting an inappropriate modal (Korean):

Korean speakers may often choose a modal that does not seem appropriate for a given context.

In conclusion, shopping must be short and simple. (advice)

In conclusion, shopping should be short and simple.

activity

In this activity you are required to write a short paragraph about a past experience that you regret now. Use modals to express what you could have done before falling in trouble.

Example: I could have succeeded if i had prepared well for the

national exam. I had to respond to my parents and teachers’ routine advice ( you must revise your lessons regularly if you want to succeed; you had better work in group to improve your English…..). Alas! it’s too late and there is nothing i can do now . Oh!! What a shame!

Thank you.