Modals, revision 12, Prepared by LORETA VAINAUSKIENE, Kruonis Gymnasium, Lithuania
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Transcript of Modals, revision 12, Prepared by LORETA VAINAUSKIENE, Kruonis Gymnasium, Lithuania
MODAL VERBS, revision
Loreta Vainauskiene, Kruonis Gymnasium, Lithuania
FORM OF MODAL VERBS Are followed by infinitives without ‘to’. Can be followed by past infinitives
(have+V3). The 3rd person singular doesn’t take –s. Don’t have –ing forms, past/passive/third
forms.
NEGATIVE FORMS.QUESTIONS To form negative we use modal verb + not:
E.g. He couldn’t see the importance of what I said. To form question we use inversion of the
modal verb and the subject:E.g. Have I to read this book till next Monday?
Never use two modal verbs together.
OBLIGATION, NECESSITY Comes from the speaker:
You must behave yourself! Comes from external rules, circumstances:
I have to work from 8.30 to 5.30 every day.
Past obligation/necessity: We had to leave early yesterday.
LACK OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY 1 Comes from the speaker:
We’ve got plenty of time. We needn’t hurry!
Comes from external rules, circumstances: You don’t have to tell him, but you
can if you want to. Lack of obligation/necessity in the past:
I didn’t have to get up early, but it was a lovely morning, so I did.
LACK OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY 2 Someone didn’t do something because it
wasn’t necessary: I didn’t need to get up early, so I
didn’t. (It wasn’t necessary). Someone did something although it was
unnecessary: I got up very early because I had to
get ready to go . But in fact it didn’t take long to get ready. So, I needn’t have got up so early.
PERMISSION Formal (given by the speaker):
Tourists may use the sauna 24 hours. Neutral permission:
You can use your notes during the test.
Request for permission: May I park my car here? Can I leave my books here? Could I copy this task from your
exercise-book?
PROHIBITION Very formal (from an authority):
Passengers may not smoke in a non-smoking compartment.
Comes from the speaker: We mustn’t make any noise.
Mother is sleeping. Neutral:
You can’t eat/aren’t allowed to eat in the classroom.
ADVICE/WEAK OBLIGATION Asking for advice:
Shall/Should I invite Susan to the party?
Giving advice: You should apologise. You shouldn’t work till late
evening. You ought to consult the doctor.
ABILITY In the present:
Their friends can speak Japan very well. Lack of ability in the present:
She’s broken her leg and can’t drive her car.
In the past: He could speak French some twenty
years ago. Lack of ability in the past:
Judy couldn’t play the piano.
POSSIBILITY 1 Theoretical (in the present/future):
The weather can be very severe in the Arctic.
Lack of possibility (in the present/future): It can’t be true.
In the past: They could stay in Paris with Julia.
Lack of possibility (in the past): I couldn’t live in a big city.
POSSIBILITY 2 Past achievement:
She was able to raise a lot of money for children’s home.
In the past that was wasted: (galėjo įvykti, bet neįvyko): I could have got a better job.
In the future: I could stay with you if you want. It’s a strange story but it
could/may/might be true.
PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE(from the most to the least certain)
I will be late this evening. (for sure) I may/might be late this evening.
(possible) I don’t know what time Liz is coming.
She could get here any time.
SPECULATIONS 1(about the present)
MUST – strong conviction that something is true:E.g. Her clothes are very expensive. She must be
earning a lot of money. CAN’T – strong conviction that someting is
not true:E.g. He’s got a very nice suntan. He can’t be
working in an office all day.
SPECULATIONS 2(about the present)
COULD, MAY, MIGHT – a possibility that something is true:E.g. He looks depressed. He may be having some
problems. MAY NOT – a possibility that something is
not true:E.g. She goes out every weekend, she may not have a
family.
MODAL + BE + -ING Speculation about something happening at the
moment:
E.g. She seems not to hear anything. She could be thinking about the test.
SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE PAST MUST CAN’T COULD PERFECT INFINITIVE MAY MIGHT MAY NOT
E.g. They have bought a new house. They must have won a lot of money.
MODALS IN THE PAST HAD TO (must/have to) DIDN’T HAVE TO (needn’t/don’t have to) COULD (can) COULDN’T (can’t/ mustn’t) WAS/WERE ABLE TO (can/be able to) MIGHT (may) WOULD (will)