8. The modal verbs are: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, will, would, shall, and should. They do not take -s in the third person singular. He can ride fast. They come before the subject in questions and are followed by 'not' in negations. Could I leave now?" "I'm afraid you can't leave." The modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to except for 'ought to'. She could leave early but she really ought to stay till the end. Each modal verb normally has more than one use. Shall I help you with the dishes? (offer) Shall we go out tonight? (suggestion)

9. Certain verbs or expressions have virtually the same meaning as some modals. These are: need (= must), had better (= should), have to/have got to (= must), be able to (= can), used to (= would), etc. I have got to hurry to catch the bus. (= I must hurry.)

10. We use modal verbs to express: ability, advice, criticism, logical assumptions, necessity, offers, obligation/duty, permission, possibility, probability, prohibition, requests or suggestions.

Functions of Modal Verbs and Synonymous Expressions

Use Present/Future Past

ability He can read Arabic. He could/was able to read Arabic when he

was four, (repeated action - ability in the past) She's able to run a marathon. He was able to ride a bike when he was ten.

possibility He can win the race. (90% certain) She could have been killed in the car crash.

They could still be at school. (50% (Luckily, she wasn't killed.) certain; it's possible they are still at Ct/ . -be\ \ o | school.)

Tom may be studying in his room. He may have spoken to Jenny yesterday,

(perhaps; 50% certain; it's possible (Perhaps he spoke to Jenny.) that he's studying.)

He might want some more food. He might have forgotten. (Perhaps he has

(40% certain; perhaps he wants forgotten.) some more food.)

It is likely that he will arrive tonight. It was likely that he had arrived the day

before.

He is likely to arrive tonight. He was likely to have arrived the aay before

Use Present/Future

probability Alhey will be home soon. (100%

. ^ certain; prediction) t;^' Q Greg should win easily. (90% ^x - certain; future only; he'll win easily.)

They ought to be home by now. (90% certain; they will probably be home.)

.

logical She must be working. (90% certain assumption ^j- positive; I'm sure she's working.)

^m&vM^ She can't be over forty, (negative; ^^Ty^ I'm sure she isn't over forty.)

He couldn't be at work, (negative; I < don't thiniTfie's at work.)

k r

permission You can/can't borrow my car. • , ro VJlSlAv^ (giving or refusing permission; Fji informal)

Cfcui № i IULBBB y/sm ffilramns^? ((mm® [jadilte: atdtorngj ftor fpsr msffltsirl) Wow jjra^y iiuaetthefpilrrcriffi. ((tsmiuil

®Uinrg) (PBTnifflBGDl))

f№1 g|ttt i I apeaK tt» fWtr Jtowai ftJfeaaa®

(inunrtbimai; asking¹ permission)¹

I'm afraid you can't/mustn't see

the patient, (informal; refusing

permission)

Children may not be left unaccompanied, (formah refusing permission - written notice)

necessity I must buy a new jacket. (I say so.)

He has to put some petroi in the car.^riecessity coming from outside the speaker)

l've_gotJo go to the bank now. (informal)

My car needs repairing, or My car needs to be repaired, (it's necessary)

They don't have to/don't need to/needn't come if they don't want to. (it isn't necessary - absence of necessity)

I ought to get my hair cut. (it's necessary)

Use Present/Future

I —' ^; —i —-— *"

advice You should drink more water.

(general advice; I advise you) You ought to respect the elderly. (I advise you; most people believe this) You had better finish it. (it's a good idea; advice on a specific situation) Shall I buy that car? (asking for advice)

criticism You could at least help me. They should try harder. You ought to behave yourself.

obligation I must go on a diet. (I'm obliged to; I say so.)

I have to go on a diet. (I'm obliged to; the doctor says so.) We ought to donate some money to the poor. (It's the right thing to do but people don't always do it.)

requests Can I borrow your book? (informal) Could I borrow your book? (polite) May I have a cup of coffee, please? (formal)

Might I use your phone? (very formal)

Will you phone Jane tonight? (very friendly)

Would you mind sending this fax? (polite)

offers Can l/we do anything for you? (informal)

Shall l/we do it for you? (informal) Would you like me to help you?

suggestions Shall we dance?

I/We can go now if you like. We could leave if you want.

prohibition You carrt smoke there, (you aren't allowed to)

You mustrVt smoke there, (it's forbidden)

You may not smoke there, (formal)

Past

He should have received his prize by now. (He has probably received it by now.) They ought to have arrived an hour ago. (They have probably arrived.)

She must have been working, (positive; I'm sure she was working.) She can't have stolen the money, (negative; I'm sure she~3idn't steal the money.) He couldn't have been at work yesterday. ' (negative; I don't think he was at work yesterday.)

He wasn't allowed to/couldn't cross the border.

He was allowed to enter the country. (NOT:

I had to buy a new jacket. (I was obliged to.) Since his car was being repaired, he had to go to York by train.

I had to go to the bank yesterday.

My car needed repairing, or

My car needed to be repaired, (it was

necessary)

She didn't have to go. (it wasn't necessary -

absence of necessity)

She didn't have to/didn't need to buy any

apples. (It wasn't necessary for her to buy any apples and she didn't.) He needn't have worn such heavy clothes. (It wasn't necessary Tor him to wear such heavy clothes but he did.)

Past

You should have gone to bed earlier last night, (but you didn't)

He ought to have seen a doctor earlier, (but he didn't)

It would have been better if you had finished it yesterday, (but you didn't)

You could have at least helped me last night. They should have tried harder, (but they didn't) You ought to have behaved yourself yesterday. (It was the right thing to do but you didn't do it.)

I had to go on a diet a month ago.

I had to go on a diet a month ago.

We ought to have donated some money to the poor. (It was the right thing to do but we didn't do it.)

Must - Have to - Have got to (Necessity - Obligation)

11. Must (= it s necessary; I'm obliged to) is used when the speaker decides what is necessary to do. I must buy some new clothes. (I say so. I decide what to do.)

12. Have to (= it's necessary) is used when the necessity comes from outside the speaker or when others decide for the speaker what is necessary to do.

He has to be at work at 9.00. (The boss says so.)

13. Have got to has the same meaning as 'have to' but it is used in spoken English. "Mum, I've got to go to the library."

14. Must is stronger than 'have to' and indicates urgency and importance. I must meet Jane tonight. (It's very urgent that I meet her.) I have to meet Jane tonight. (I need to meet her.)

15. Must is used only in the present or future. I must go to the meeting tomorrow. It borrows the rest of its tenses from 'have to'. She had to be present at the lecture last Monday.