Modals and their functions

             










How many modal verbs are there?


















              Probability   Ability    Permission    Prohibition    Suggestion     Obligation   Request




Can

Could

May

Might

Must

Shall

Should

Will

Would




practice








Classic errors:


You really must to go to bed now.

You don’t can park here.

 You always should keep your PIN in a safe place. 




We often use phrases like these instead of modals:


Have to
Need to
Don't need to / needn't / needn't have
Ought to
Be able to
Be supposed to
Manage to
Be bound to
Had better
Used to
Be used to


There are lots of variations of these. For example, "be bound to" could be: be certain to, be likely to, be unlikely to, be sure to, etc.



Write down

Something you're sure to do before the end of the year.

Something you'd better do before the end of the year

Something you haven't managed to do yet this year.

Something you don't need to do before the end of the year.

Something you need have done this year.

Something you ought to have done this year

Something you ought to do before the end of the year

MODAL	PAST	PRESENT	FUTURE	USAGE
be able to	*	*	*	Shows ability I am / was / will be able / unable to do that.
be supposed to	*	*	*	Shows expectation I am / was supposed to / not supposed to do that.**
be to	*	*	*	Shows strong expectation I am / was to be / am not be there by noon / till noon.**
can / could		*	*	Shows ability or possibility—negative too  I can / can't do that. I could / couldn't do that (tomorrow).
		*		Shows permission or lack of permission (informal, speaking only)  You can / can't have that.
could		*		Request—formal  Could you do that?
	*	*		Shows suggestions  You could do / have done that. Couldn't you do / have done that?
	*	*		Shows limited certainty—under half  They could be/ have been there.
	*	*		Shows impossibility—negative  The keys couldn't be / have been there.
had better		*		Shows advisability  I had better / better not do that.
have got to		*		Shows necessity or lack of necessity  I have got / haven't got to do that.
have to	*	*	*	Shows necessity or lack of necessity I have got/ had / will have to do that. I don't have/ didn't have / won't have to do that.
may		*		Formal request / permission  May I have that? You may have that.
		*	*	Shows limited certainty—under half I may/ may not do that later.**
might		*		Formal request  Might I have that?
		*	*	Shows limited certainty—under half I might do that/ I might not do that.**
must		*	*	Shows strong necessity I must take the car.**
		*	*	Shows prohibition You must not take the car.**
		*		Shows very high certainty  You must be tired after your journey.
ought to		*	*	Shows advisability I ought / ought not to do that.**
		*	*	Shows high certainty I ought to feel better tomorrow.**
shall		*	*	Formal question/suggestion Shall I do that?**
should		*	*	Shows advisability I should / should not do that**
		*	*	Shows high certainty I should feel better tomorrow.**
used to	*			Repeated action in the past  I used / used not to do that regularly.
will		*	*	Shows certainty / willingness I'll / wont be there I'll / won't do it.
		*	*	Formal request Will / won't you do that?**
would		*	*	Formal request Would you do that?**
		*	*	Shows preference I would rather/ would rather not do that.**
	*			Repeated action in the past. I would do that years ago.
		*	*	Shows advisability—negative I wouldn't do that (if I were you).**

Talking about ability

Modal past practice