modalverbs

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBSMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

By JESÚS HERRERO

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBSMODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

DEFINITIONLIST STRUCTURE GROUPS PERFECT MODALS

DEFINITIONDEFINITION

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS DEFINITIONDEFINITION

1. They are part of the verbal phrase:

I must get there before 7 o'clock. 2. They always accompany, assist or help

other verbs.

3. They add abstract (modal) meanings like obligation, permission, advice, etc

must get

LIST OF MODAL VERBSLIST OF MODAL VERBS

LIST OF MODAL VERBSLIST OF MODAL VERBS

can could

*be able to must

*have to need

should *ought to

may might

MODAL VERBS STRUCTUREMODAL VERBS STRUCTURE


1. How do we use modal verbs?

Affirmative: subject + modal + infinitiveex. She should stay

Negative: subject + modal(n't) + infinitiveex: She shouldn't stay

Interrogative: (Wh)Modal + subject + inf.?ex: Why should she stay?


2. Modal verbs are used with infinitives without to (bare infinitives) with the exception of ought to:We must get there before 7 o'clock.She should study harder.I ought to go home now.

(Have to is studied with modal verbs but it's not a pure modal verb as it needs auxiliary verbs and has -s in the third person singular)


3. Modal verbs do not add -s or -es to the third person singular. They are invariable verbs.

He can swim.He cans wim


4. They don't need auxiliaries to form short answers or negative and interrogative sentences:

She shouldn't eat salt. She doesn't should eat saltMay I help you? Yes, you may.Do I may help you? Yes you do

5. They do not have infinitives or -ing forms. canning to might


6. Modal verbs do not have all the tenses. They use other verbs to complete the tenses: can > could, be able to

They can swim now > She will be able to swim next year

must > had toYou must come early > You had to come early yesterday

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBSGROUPS OF MODAL VERBS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBSGROUPS OF MODAL VERBS

We are going to study them from two points of view: a. number of meanings or concepts that they express:

single, double

b. modal meanings that they express: permission, ability, obligation ...

NUMBER OF MEANINGSNUMBER OF MEANINGS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)(a. number of meanings)

1. The same modal verb can have different meanings depending on the context.May I come in? It may rain tomorrow

2. We can make two categories:

a. Single concept modals: These modal verbs have 1 meaningb. Double concept modals: They have 2 meanings


Can

Single concept Double conceptWill May

Might Must

Should Would

Could


Modal

Single concept modalsConcept Example

Will Future Peter will visit London some day

Might Probability He might see Big Ben

Should Advice He should wear comfortable shoes


Modal

Double concept modalConcept Example

MayPermission May I come in?Probability I may go to London next summer

MustObligation Students must wear uniforms

Certainty They must be at home, the lights are on

WouldConditional I would visit London if I had enough money

Habitual past action When I was a child I would go swimming every day


Modal

Can

Double concept modalConcept Example

Couldprobability That could be him. He said he'd phonePast ability I could play the trumpet when I was 10

Permission Students can wear T-shirts

Ability They can swim, they did a course last summer

Can't Impossible They can't be at home, they left yesterday

No permission They can't be at home, it's not their house

MODAL MEANINGSMODAL MEANINGS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings)(b. modal meanings)

Modal verbs express a series of modal meanings like:

- ability- obligation- prohibition- necessity- advice- possibility- certainty


ABILITY

(can, could, be able to)

1. Present: can

Two of my friends can play the guitar.

2. Past: could

When he was a child he could ski well.

saben

sabía


ABILITY

3. Other tenses: be able to- Next week they'll be able to vote. (future)- We haven't been able to go on holiday this year. (present perfect)- We would be able to do it. (conditional)

hemos podido

podrán

podríamos


OBLIGATION

Present: mustApplicants must answer the questions honestly

Other tenses (including present): have to- I have to study hard this year- I will have to work hard as a lawyer- I have had to stay at home lately

Tienen que

Tengo que Tendré queHe tenido que


PROHIBITION

We use mustn't to express prohibition

- You mustn't eat too many sweets- You mustn't cheat in exams

No debes / no puedes


NECESSITY / NO NECESSITY

Affirmative: need to (it's not a modal verb)You need to do this to pass the subject

Negative: needn't (no obligation) = don't have toYou needn't do it = You don't have to do it

Interrogative: needNeed I do this?

No es necesario

Hay que, es necesario que


ADVICE

You can use ought to, should, shouldn't to express advice or recommendation.

- Candidates should be friendly- You shouldn't worry too much about exams- Candidates ought to be friendly

No deberías

deberían


POSSIBILITY

Present & future: may, may not, might, mightn't, could:- It may be time for Linda to go- They might choose Danny- They could be on the train

Past: may / might / could + have + past perfectHe might have received our message

Puede que, tal vez


CERTAINTY / LOGICAL DEDUCTION

Positive: mustIt must be quite late, because it's getting dark

Negative: can'tThat can't be true

No puede

Debe de

MODALS + PERFECT MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVESINFINITIVES


When they refer to the past, certain meanings must be expressed with a modal + perfect infinitive (have + past participle):

1. certainty / logical deductionpositive, negative

2. possibility 3. advice / recommendation


1. CERTAINTY / LOGICAL DEDUCTION

Positive: must have + past participle

Danny must have felt disappointed when he didn't win the prize

Negative: can't have + past participle

She can't have passed the exam, she didn't study at all

Debió de (haberse)

No pudo (haber)


2. POSSIBILITY

When we talk about possibility about the past we can use: might / may / could + have + past participle:-They might not have received our message- He may have gone to the cinema- The government could have acted more quickly Podría haber / no haber

Puede que haya / no haya


3. ADVICE / RECOMMENDATION

When we express criticism or regret about a past action we can use should / shouldn't

- Linda shouldn't have talked so much- We should have gone to see that film while it was still on at the cinema

No debería haber / debería haber

PRACTICEPRACTICE

Click on this link to practice modal verbs:

http://mimosa.pntic.mec.es/~jherre23/

modalverbs

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