Week 2 Modals

English
Stikes Nani Hasanuddin

Program Studi S1 Keperawatan
Program B
Mutmainnah Hasyari, S.S., M.Hum.

MODAL VERBS
Grammar review
MSc Sanda Katavić-Čaušić
ENGLISH MODAL VERBS-OXFORD ONLINE ENGLISH-INTRODUCT

ION
WHAT ARE MODAL VERBS?
• special verbs which behave very

irregularly and that are used to indicate
modality – ability, possibility, likelihood,
probability, permission, and obligation.
LIST OF MODAL VERBS
• Can
• Could
• They are Auxiliary verbs that
May
provide additional and specific
• Might meaning to the main verb of the
• Must sentence
• Shall
• Should
Modal verbs are sometimes
• Will referred to as
• Would Modal Auxiliary verbs because
• Ought to they help other verbs
Structure of Modal Verbs
I
You
He
She Modal Verb Infinitive
It (can /should, etc.) (without TO)
We
They
How do we use modals?
S M V
Subje Verb
ct
Example: Mary can play the piano
-they are not conjugated
- they don’t need other auxiliary verbs
Form
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative
He can ski not He cans ski or He can skis.
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
They can’t be serious.
They don’t can be serious.
Form
Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
to can / caning to must /musting
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to
She must study.

He could play football in his youth. (general ability)
We should have gone the other way.
Modals in the Past
- refer to actions that happened in the past
MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle
It must have been a difficult decision

They should have invited her to their wedding
CAN
1) to express ability:
Ryan can speak French but he cannot speak German.
Superman can do things that ordinary people can’t.
2) to express request:
Can you help Sue?
Can I offer you something to drink?
3) to express permission:
Can I use your cell phone?
You can’t go out with Victor.
4) to express possibility:
If the weather is perfect tomorrow, we can go on a picnic.
I can be ready by five.
I will be ready five.
COULD
1) to express abilities in the past:
Jason could talk when he was four.
2) to express permission:
Could I leave the classroom?
3) to express future possibility:
I could get a bad final mark. It depends on the next exam.
4) could with present perfect tense is used to express something
in the past may be real.
You could have been killed in that accident.
I could have won that game.
SHALL
1) to express the simple future for the first

person.
• Shall we meet at the bus stop?
• I shall never forget your help.
WILL
1) present to future tense:

Sean will leave tomorrow. She will be
back in a few days.
If it rains, the soccer game will be put
off.
2) express willing,
If you won’t go and help him, I will.
I will wash the dishes if you cook.
WOULD
1) as the past tense of will:
She said she would buy dinner on her way home.
I believed it would rain so I brought my raincoat.
2) to express polite request:

Would you please take off your coat?
Would you mind turning the radio off?
SHOULD
1) to give advice and opinions
You are driving too fast; you should slow down a little bit.
You have gained a lot of weight. You should go on a diet.
2) to express expectations:
Are you ready? The taxi should be here soon.
Twenty dollars is enough. It shouldn’t cost more than that.
3) to suggest a less strong possibility
If you should pass the bakery, can you buy some bread?
Should with present perfect tense means something in the

past should not be done.
The baby is crying. You shouldn’t have talked so loudly.
She is angry. You shouldn’t have come back so late.
MUST and HAVE TO
1) express something is necessary and essential
You must pay by cash.
You have to drive on the right in France.
2) Students have to wear uniform.

must not is used to express something is not permitted or
allowed.
You mustn’t smoke, eat and drink in the museum.
You must not drink and drive.
3) not have to is used to express something that is not to be done

necessarily.
We don’t have to get up early on Saturday.
She doesn’t have to live in the hotel. She can live with us.
MAY
1) express possibility in the present or in the future.

It may rain.
Elizabeth may know his telephone number.
2) for permission:
May I come in?
You may come if you want.
3) to express wish or hope.
May you a long life!
MIGHT
1) to express possibility in the present or in the future.
Ashley might be in the library. I am not sure.
George might come as well.
He may come.
He might come. (the chance that he comes is less likely than
may)
2) might with present perfect tense means speculation about the

past.
Edward is late. He might have missed his bus or he might
have overslept.
Modal Verbs Expressing Examples
Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
Must logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day long.
Must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

Can ability I can swim.
permission Can I use your phone please?
Possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.
Could
polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

Possibility It could rain tomorrow!
permission May I use your phone please?
May
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

Might I suggest an idea?
polite permission
Might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.
lack of necessity/absence of obligation I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge
Need not
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.

Should/ ought to
Advice You should / ought to revise your lessons

logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all day long.
Had better Advice You 'd better revise your lessons

Use your imagination
Think about these situations and create a sentence using modals.
1. We are going to Paris for a weekend. (Make suggestions about
things to do)
2. We start school in September. (Talk about necessity)
3. Margaret is a very talented sportswoman. (Talk about ability)
4. You have just won the lottery! (Talk about possibility)
5. Peter has got a headache and a congested nose. (Give him some
advice)
6. You want to borrow your uncle’s Mercedes Benz. (Ask for
permission politely)
Possible answers
1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower
2. We have to buy a new notebook
3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin
4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York
5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea
6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?
ONLINE EXERCISE ON MODALS

Week 2 Modals

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Week 2 Modals

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Week 2 Modals

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

English

Stikes Nani Hasanuddin

Mutmainnah Hasyari, S.S., M.Hum.

MSc Sanda Katavić-Čaušić

ENGLISH MODAL VERBS-OXFORD ONLINE ENGLISH-INTRODUCT

• special verbs which behave very

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms

to can / caning to must /musting

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

She must study.

- refer to actions that happened in the past

MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle

It must have been a difficult decision

1) to express the simple future for the first

1) present to future tense:

2) to express polite request:

Should with present perfect tense means something in the

2) Students have to wear uniform.

3) not have to is used to express something that is not to be done

1) express possibility in the present or in the future.

2) might with present perfect tense means speculation about the

Must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.

Advice You should / ought to revise your lessons

Had better Advice You 'd better revise your lessons

1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower

2. We have to buy a new notebook

5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea

You might also like