MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS 1. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS 2. MODAL ...

I.E.S. JUAN GARCIA VALDEMORA

1? BACH

2017/2018

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

1. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

1. They are defective verbs: - no "s" for the simple present 3rd person sg. - they do not have a present or past participle form

2. They must be followed by a bare infinitive (except OUGHT TO/ HAVE TO) 3. They can act as operators in interrogative / negative sentences.

2. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

Four paired forms Can/Could; May/Might; Shall/Should; Will/Would

Five single forms Must, Ought to, Need, Had better, Dare

2.1. CAN / COULD: to say sth is possible

1. ABILTY or CAPACITY

"Be able to"

CAN for present and future tense: Lightning can be dangerous COULD ? WAS/WERE ABLE TO for past tense: I could run very fast ? General ability

Yesterday I was able to run four miles ? Specific situation

2. PERMISSION (In the present and future time) "Be allowed to" 3. PROBABILITY (In the present and future time) "Have the chance to" 4.REQUEST or ASK A

FAVOUR

CAN is less formal: Can I eat chocolate, daddy? COULD more formal: Could I leave earlier today, Mr. Brown? WAS/WERE ALLOWED TO ? permission in the past

COULD indicates a less likely possibility: It could be true COULD HAVE to talk about possibility in the past: They could have won the game, but

the striker missed a penalty.

CAN /COULD, but COULD is more formal: Can/Could you open the window?

CAN'T

DEDUCTION INABILITY PROHIBITION

She can't be dead. She is still breathing. She can't speak Chinese You can't smoke indoors in Britain.

2.2. MAY

1. PERMISSION 2. POSSIBILITY or

PROBABILTY

May I leave earlier today? It expresses less likely possibility than CAN and COULD: He may come, but it's not very frequent.

2.3. MIGHT

1. POSSIBILTY or PROBABILTY

It expresses less likely possibility than MAY: He might come, but I don't think he does.

2.4. SHOULD / OUGHT TO

1. ADVICE or OPINION 2. MORAL OBLIGATION

You should do some sport. ? It is advisable to, in my opinion.. You should / ought to pay for the broken window ? "ought to" slightly stronger You ought to finish your work, shouldn't you? ? in inversions or question tags

2.5. WOULD 1. FORMAL REQUEST 2. OFFER

Would you stop singing that song, please? Would you like to get into the school band?

I.E.S. JUAN GARCIA VALDEMORA

1? BACH

2017/2018

2.6. MUST

1. DEDUCTION 2. OBLIGATION (In the present and future time) "Have to"

MUSTN'T

He is not breathing. He must be dead. MUST ? speaker's authority or by law: He's badly hurt, we must call an ambulance. HAVE TO ? external obligation or authority: I have to wipe my feet every time I come in. HAD TO ? obligation in the past.

PROHIBITION

You mustn't text while driving

DON'T HAVE TO LACK OF OBLIGATION

Tom doesn't have to wear uniform at school.

2.7. NEED ? Marginal modal verbs: it can be both (modal auxiliary and lexical verbs):

OBLIGATION, NECESSITY 1. In affirmative sentences NEED TO (not be afraid of)

1.lexical verb (inf. to + -s:3rd person sg He needs to attend in person

LACK OF OBLIGATION or NECESSITY 2. In negative / interrogative sentences

NEEDN'T (lack of obligation) "don't have to"

1.lexical verb: "do" operator + inf with to

2.modal verb: bare inf. and no ?s: 3rd p)

He doesn't need to do it / Does he need to.? He needn't come / Need he come?

2.8. HAD BETTER (`D BETTER) 1. ADVICE or RECOMMENDATION

You'd better turn at the junction / You'd better not be late

3. MODAL PERFECTS

COULD Ability to do sth in the past, but which wasn't done in the end. CAN'T / COULDN'T When we feel sure sth was not possible. MAY /MIGHT A guess about a past action. MUST Logical conclusion of a past event. SHOULD / OUGHT TO Criticism or regret after an event. WOULD Desire to do sth, but which wasn't actually done.

HAVE

+ PAST PARTICIPLE

The children were tired. They could have stopped to rest.

The suspect was with me at the time of the murder. It can't/couldn't have been him.

Her wallet is missing. Someone may/might have stolen it. It must have been exciting for her to perform in front of thousands of people. You should/ought to have taken a taxi to go to the concert.

They would have held the concert outside, but it was raining.

NEEDN'T An unnecessary past activity happened.

He needn't have taken the umbrella

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