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19 views4 pagesCopia de Modal Verbs Uses and Examples
The document outlines the uses of modal verbs such as 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'must', 'should', and 'shall' in English, detailing their applications in expressing ability, permission, possibility, obligation, and advice. It highlights the differences in meaning between similar modals, such as 'must' versus 'have to', and provides examples for clarity. Additionally, it explains the past forms and conditional uses of these modals to convey various nuances in communication.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
19 views4 pagesCopia de Modal Verbs Uses and Examples
The document outlines the uses of modal verbs such as 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'must', 'should', and 'shall' in English, detailing their applications in expressing ability, permission, possibility, obligation, and advice. It highlights the differences in meaning between similar modals, such as 'must' versus 'have to', and provides examples for clarity. Additionally, it explains the past forms and conditional uses of these modals to convey various nuances in communication.
Uploaded by
davegrammarsCopyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Can ©) Could
(General ability (present) General ability in the past )
=| can speak English. =| could play the piano when | was younger.
(Ask for permission (informal) Ask for permission (more polite) |
-Can | borrow your pen please? —_—- Could | use your bathroon please?
To request something (more polite)
- Could you pass me the salt please?
help me please?
Possibility Possibility in the past could have: |
- It can get very cold there at night. - What? You could have broken your leg.
| Offertohelpsomeone _| | Suggestion (when asked what to do)
- Can | carry your bags for you? -We could go to the movies if you like,
(Cannot (can'‘)= not allowed Conditional of Can (would be able to)
-You cannot smoke in this room. _- If we had some oranges | could make you
-You can’t go to the party. some fresh juice. (= would be able to)
CONT mee real
Uses of May and Might:
(Possibility ) May or Might?
- It might rain later so take an umbrella. May and Might can normally
(Give F | be interchanged without a
Give permission significant difference in
- You may have another cookie if you like. | meaning. However, Might
aa often implies a smaller chance
\Askforpermission of something happening
- May | borrow your pen please? (when expressing possiblity).
(Express wishes -Itmay rain. (70% chance)
SS SS eee |< It might rain. (40% chance)
~ May the New Year bring you happiness. | Wyner expressing wishes of
(Speculate about past actions ) giving permission, only May
She is late. She may have missed her plane. '° USe4-
ee eT mopaL MUST
Uses of Must:
Obligation or Duty msD + verb”
- You must wear a seatbelt when you drive ——
- You must eat all of your vegetables. fs bbase form of the infinitive
Deduction certain something is true)
“Look at all that snow. it must be cold ouside, He (MUSEK stop. 3
“heard a noise upstairs. Mary must be home. He (must) stop.
You (must) to go. 3¢
You must go. —
waits,
wait. —
Emphasize Necessity
- Plants must have light and water to grow.
- You must study if you want good grades. She
She
Strong Recommendation
- We must get together for dinner soon.
“These cupcakes are yummy. You must try one, | Miustn’t = Must not )
sa - It is important that you
Positive Assumption (Past) do NOT do something.
Must + Have + Past Participle foetere tasted
-That must have been my mother calling me it is not allowed
while I was in the meeting. No one else has -You mustn't use your phone
my private phone number, while di
mova. MUST vs. HAVE TO
MUST HAVE TO
The speaker thinks it is Another person thinks
necessary. is necessary.
Personal opinion. External obligation.
Written rules/instructions. _ Facts, not opinions.
The teacher is giving the students an obligation / instructions.
TEACHER: You must complete the essay by Friday.
STUDENT: We |haye to) complete the essay by Friday.
The teacher has given us the obligation / instructions.
We use Had to instead of Have tois more common
Must in the past tense. than Must in questions.
-!had to pay my speeding - When do you have to
ticket yesterday. finish the report? _) Mustn’‘t vs. Don’t have to
BE CAREFUL: There is a difference in meaning between Mustn’t and Don't have to.
Mustn’'t Don't have to)
MEANING MEANING
Itis prohibited; it isnot allowed. | There is no obligation; you are
Itis important that you do NOT not required to do something,
do something. especially if you don't want to.
You must not drink that. | You don’t have to drink that. |
=Itis forbidden to drink that. = You don't need to drink that but
= Don't drink that, it is not allowed. you can if you want to.
You mustn't tell John. You don't have to tell John.
= Do NOT tell John. = You can tell John if you want to
= You are not allowed to tell John. but it is not necessary.
EMP Cee
&.... of Should: Should
_ Advice or Suggestion SHOULD vs. OUGHT TO
is too long. You should get a haircut. Cee he oe by
cE Saree ‘ought to without a change
Situation likely in the present in meaning.
-Mary should be at home now. Giveher call. =You ought to study more, =
~You should study more.
Note: ought to sounds more
formal than should and is
used less frequently,
We use SHOULDN'T to advise
not to do something, usually
because itis bad or wrong.
~You shouldn't throw your
‘Meaning: The subject did not fulfill their
obligation in the past or did not act responsibly.
-You should have given your boss the report
yesterday when he asked for it.
‘Should + be + verb-ing litter onto the street.
Meaning: The subject is not fulfilling their -He shouldn't play with those
obligation nowor is notacting sensibly. wires if he doesn’t know
-You should be wearing your seatbelt. what he is doing.
-We should be studying for the test right now. ~ You shouldn't work so much.
ETc! SHALL
The modal verb Shall is not
used much nowadays. It may
still be found in formal speech
and some legal documents.
The most common use of
shall in everyday English isin
questions that offer or suggest.
~Shalll|...?.- Shall we ...?
Originally Shall was used
instead of Will in first person
(with | and We) when talking