MODAL VERBSModal verbs are used to express functions such as:Giving or Refusing Permission: may / can / may not / cannot / must / mustn’tAsking for permission: Can / Could / May / Might Offering: Can I…? / Shall I…? / Would you like…?Ability: can / could / be able toObligation or duty: must / have to / has toProhibition: mustn’t / can’t Lack of necessity: don’t (doesn’t) have to / needn’tAdvice: should / ought to / had betterPossibility at any time: can / may Possibility in the future: may / might / could Request: Can / Could / Will / wouldSuggestion: could / might / Shall we …? / Would you like…?100% certain: must Modal Verb Meaning Expressing Example must phải Bắt buộc chủ quan You must stop when the traffic lights turn red. chắc hẳn Phỏng đoán chắc chắn He must be very tired. He's been working all day long. must not không được cấm You must not smoke in the hospital. can có thể khả năng I can swim. xin phép / cho phép Can I use your phone please?You can use my printer if you want. điều có thể xảy ra Smoking can cause cancer. can’t không thể không có khả năng I can’t speak Chinese sự không thể xảy ra He can’t be ill. He is at work now không cho phép You can’t smoke on the bus could có thể khả năng trong quá khứ When I was younger I could run fast. xin phép lịch sự Excuse me, could I just say something? điều có thể xảy ra / gợi ý It could rain tomorrow!We could go to the cinema tonight khả năng (giả định) I’m angry with him. I could kill him sự nghi ngờ, không chắc chắc His story could be true, but I hardly think it is. Yêu cầu lịch sự Could you open the door for me, please? couldn’t không thể không có khả năng (qk) may có thểcó lẽ / có thểcó thể Xin phép May I use your phone please?She asked if she might go to the party. điều có thể xáy ra It may rain tomorrow! mệnh đề trạng ngữ chỉ sự nhượng bộ He may be poor, but he is honest. lời chúc, ước May she rest in peace. might có lẽ điều có thể xảy ra (không có thật) If they paid me better, I might work harder. lời trách mắng có tính hờn dỗi You might try to be a little more helpful. needn’t không cần không cần I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge. should / shouldn/t nên advice (khuyên) You should to revise your lessons trách móc, mong muốn Where's Tina? She should be here by now. after certain verb:insist recommend suggest demand propose I insisted that he should apologise. after certain adjectives lt's important/vita /necessary/essential that ... should ... : Sau If (không mong muốn nhưng cứ xảy ra) Should the situation change, we will contact you. had better nên advice You 'd better revise your lessons would sẽ giả định lt would be nice to buy a new car, but we can't afford it. Yêu cầu Would you please ….? Mời Would you like to ….? Tình nguyện Would you like me to ….? thói quen trong quá khứ Whenever Richard was angry, he would walk out of the room. I. Can, Could, Be Able To1. Ability/Lack of Abilitya. Present and Future:can/can’t + V1. Tom can write poetry very well.2. I can help you with that next week.3. Lisa can’t speak French.am / is / are / will be + able to + V am not/ isn’t / aren’t/ won’t be + able to + V1. Mike is able to solve complicated math equations2. The support team will be able to help you in about ten minutes.3. I won’t be able to visit you next summer.b. Past:could / couldn’t + V1. When I was a child I could climb trees.was / were + able to + V wasn’t / weren’t + able to + V hasn’t / haven’t + been able to + V1. I wasn’t able to visit her in the hospital.2. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the client yet.Note: Can and could do not take an infinitive (to verb) and do not take the future auxiliary will.· Incorrect: I can to help you this afternoon.· Correct: I can help you this afternoon.· Correct: I will (I’ll) be able to help you this afternoon.2. Possibility / Impossibilitycan / can’t + V1. You can catch that train at 10:43.2. He can’t see you right now. He’s in surgery.could + V1. I could fly via Amsterdam if I leave the day before.3. Ask Permission / Give PermissionCan + Subject + V (informal)1. Can you lend me ten dollars?Can + V (informal)1. You can borrow my car.Could + subject + V (polite)1. Could I have your number?2. Could I talk to your supervisor please?4. Make a suggestion – To make a suggestion use:Could + V (informal)1. You could take the tour of the castle tomorrow.II. May, Might1. Formal Permission / Formal Prohibitionmay / may not + V1. You may start your exam now.2. You may not wear sandals to work.2. Polite RequestMay + subject + V1. May I help you?3. Possibility / Negative Possibilitymay/ might + V1. We may go out dinner tonight. Do you want to join us?2. Our company might get the order if the client agrees to the price.may not / might not + V1. Adam and Sue may not buy that house. It’s very expensive.2. They might not buy a house at all.4. To Make a Suggestion (when there is no better alternative)may as well / might as well + V1. You may as well come inside. John will be home soon.2. We might as well take Friday off. There’s no work to be done anyway.5. Polite Suggestionmight + V1. You might like to try the salmon fillet. It’s our special today.III. Shall, Should, Ought to1. To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are quite sure of a positive answer)Shall + subject + V1. Shall we go for a walk?Note: Shall is only used with I or we. It is used instead of will only in formal English.2. To Offer of Assistance or Polite Suggestion (When you are not sure of a positive answer)Should + subject + V1. Should I call a doctor?3. A Prediction or Expectation that Something Will Happenshould/shouldn’t + V1. The proposal should be finished on time.2. I shouldn’t be late. The train usually arrives on time.4. To Give Adviceshould / ought to + V1. You should check that document before you send it out.2. You ought to have your car serviced before the winter.5. To Give Advice (about something you think wrong or unacceptable)shouldn’t + V1. James shouldn’t teach him words like those.IV. Must, Have to, Need to, Don’t have to, Needn’t1. Necessity or Requirementa. Present and Future:must / have to / need to + V1. You must have a passport to cross the border.2. Elisabeth has to apply for her visa by March 10th.3. I need to drop by his room to pick up a book.b. Past:had to / needed to + V1. I had to work late last night.2. I needed to drink a few cups of coffee in order to stay awake.Note: have to and need to are often used in the same context, but many times, need to is used to express something that is less urgent, something in which you have a choice.2. Almost 100% Certainmust + V1. Thomas has lived in Paris for years. His French must be very good.3. To Persuademust / have to + V1. You must try this wine. It’s excellent.2. You have to visit us while you’re in town.4. Prohibited or Forbiddenmust not / mustn’t + V1. You must not drive over the speed limit.2. You mustn’t leave medicines where children can get to them.5. Lack of Necessitydon’t /doesn’t /didn’t + have to + V1. You don’t have to park the car. The hotel valet will do it for you.2. Tim doesn’t have to go to school today. It’s a holiday.3. You didn’t have to shout. Everyone could hear you.needn’t + V1. You needn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.V. Modals: Will / Would1. will / won’t + V1. John will pick you up at 7:00am.2. Beth won’t be happy with the results of the exam.2. Polite Request or StatementWill / Would + V1. Will you please take the trash out?2. Would you mind if I sat here?3. I’d (I would) like to sign up for your workshop.3. Habitual Past ActionWould/Wouldn’t + V1. When I was a child, I would spend hours playing with my train set.2. Peter wouldn’t eat broccoli when he was a kid. He loves it now.
MODAL VERB EXERCISES Exercises: Can, Could, Be able toFill in the correct form of can, could or be able to as in the examples.1. Ben could not help his little brother with his homework yesterday.2. Can I call you later tonight?1. _______ Tony run long distances when he was a boy?2. ______ you please call a tow truck for me? My car broke down. (polite)3. The students _______ to buy their textbooks today. The bookstore is all out of them.4. ______ you teach me how to fix my computer? You’re so good at it.5. ______ you ______ reach the customer if you call him at 4:00 his time?Answers:1. Could 2. Could 3. aren’t able 4. Can 5. Will/be able toExercises: May / MightFill in the correct form of may or might as in the example.1. May I sit here?1. They ______ finish the project on time. The main engineer is ill.2. You _____ want to stop by the museum gift shop on your way out.3. _____ I have your autograph?4. He _______ visit the Louvre. He’s in Paris anyway.5. You ______ park your car here. It’s reserved for guests of the hotel only.Answers:1. might not 2. Might 3. May 4. may as well 5. may notExercises: Should, Shouldn’t, Ought ToFill in should, shouldn’t or ought in the following sentences as in the example.Example: He shouldn’t encourage such bad behavior.1. You _____ get your teeth cleaned at least once a year.2. The house ______ be ready to move into by next month. It’s almost finished.3. Ron ________ to improve his attitude. If he doesn’t, he might get fired.4. ________ I get your jacket? It’s cold in here.5. You ________ put your feet on the table. It’s not polite.Answers:1. Should 2. Should 3. Ought 4. Shall 5. shouldn’tExercises: Must, Have to, Need to, Don’t Have to, Needn’tFill in the blanks with one of these modals: must, must not, have to, has to, don’t have to, doesn’t have to, needn’t as in the examples. There may be more than one correct answer.1. Shira doesn’t have to drive to the airport. She’s going by taxi.2. You must speak politely to the customers.1. You ______ tell Anna about the party tomorrow night. It’s a surprise! (must not, need to, doesn’t have to)2. Tina _______ register for her classes on Monday, otherwise she won’t get a place in them. (doesn’t have to, mustn’t, has to)3. You ________ send that fax. I’ve already sent it. (must, will have to, don’t have to)4. A dog ______ get special training in order to be a guide dog. (must, need to, don’t have to)5. Jeremy _______ get up early tomorrow. His class was cancelled. (mustn’t, doesn’t have to, don’t need to)Answers:1. must not 2. has to 3. don’t have to 4. Must 5. doesn’t have toExercises: will, wouldFill in the blanks with one of the following words: will, won’t, would, wouldn’t.1. Will you please help me lift this box?1. I ______ like to order the onion soup please.2. The manager _______ be pleased to hear that a customer slipped on the wet floor.3. _______ it be okay if I slept here tonight?4. When Igor lived in Russia, he ________ call his mother as often as he does now.5. I can assure you sir, the order ______ be shipped out tonight.Answers:1. Would 2. won’t 3. Would 4. wouldn’t 5. wilExercises – All ModalsFill in the blanks with the correct form of the following modals: can, could, be able to, may, might, shall, should, must, have to, don’t have to, need to – You may have to make the modals negative according to the context of the sentence. – There may be more than one possibility.1. He has to take his car to be serviced. The brakes are squeaking.2. Would you please save me a seat at the dinner event.1. If you are sick, you ________ go to work. You’ll infect everyone there.2. Drivers _______ stop at red lights.3. You _______ finish the proposal today. You can finish it tomorrow.4. She ______ hear much better with her new hearing aids.5. ______ I order us a bottle of wine?6. Sam ______ pick his daughter up from school. She’s taking the bus home.7. You _____________ smoke here. It’s a smoke-free building.8. You ________ eat so many sweets. They are bad for you.9. _________ you mind walking a little faster? We’re going to be late.10. I’m sorry. I _______ help you. I don’t know how to do it.Answers:1. shouldn’t 2. Must 3. don’t have to 4. Can 5. shall6. needn’t 7. mustn’t 8. shouldn’t 9. Would 10. can’t