Modal verbs are used with another verb to indicate that an action is possible, necessary, or certain. They can
also be used to ask permission or give advice.
Positive Sentences I can swim.
You must leave.
She should go.
Negative Sentences I cannot (can't) dance.
He must not (mustn't) stop.
We could not (couldn't) leave
Questions Can you speak French? (No, I can't)
Should they leave? (Yes, they should.)
What can you do?
Where should we go?
1. Modal verbs (can, could, may, mght, should, must, ould, will and shall):
- Infinitive without "to":
Incorrect: You can to use it anywhere.
Correct: You can use it anywhere.
- Same form for all subjects:
Incorrect: My brother cans swim.
Correct: My brother can swim.
- Negatives with "not" or "n't":
Incorrect: I don't can speak Japanese.
Correct: I can't speak Japanese.
- Questions without "do/does/did":
Incorrect: Does she can play tennis?
Correct: Can she play tennis?
- No infinitive or -ing forms:
Incorrect: I want to can play the guitar.
Correct: I want to be able to play the guitar.
Incorrect: I love can stay up late
Correct: I love being able to stay up late.
- No participle (-ed, -ing) forms:
Continuous/Perfect tenses:
They can't have used it yet.
Passive Form of Modals
- Modal verb + form of "be" + past participle:
Active: Members can use this car park.
Passive: This car park can be used by members.
, 2. Can for Present Ability and Possibility
- We use "can" or "be able to" to indicate that it is possible to do something or that
someone/something has the ability to do something.
You can use this phone anywhere in the world.
Can you speak Japanese?
- Use "be able to" when something is surprising or requires effort
It's amazing—some animals are able to sleep standing up!
Because of her illness, Alice isn't able to see visitors.
- Use "can/can't" with verbs of the senses (e.g., see, hear, smell) and some verbs of thinking (e.g.,
believe, forget, remember) for actions happening now:
I can smell something bad.
Can you remember her name?
I can't believe this computer's so slow!
3. Future Ability and Possibility
To talk about what we can do in the future:
- Be able to for certain situations:
After you receive your password, you'll be able to visit our new website.
I won't be able to eat for three hours after the operation.
- Can for future personal arrangements:
The dentist can see you on Friday.
Can you meet me at the airport on Tuesday?
- Could for possible but unlikely situations:
We could give up our jobs and live on a desert island.
I'm so angry I could scream.
- Could or would be able to for conditional situations:
If you had a credit card, you could buy it on the Internet.
If you learned to sing, you'd be able to join the music group.
4. Past Ability and Possibility
- To talk about past ability and possibility, we use "could/couldn't" or "was/were able to."
Before I got this job I couldn't afford a car.
Could the first cameras take colour photos?
SPECIALS:
- Use "was/were able to" for a positive statement about a single event in the past:
I was able to transfer my old number.
- For negative statements, use "couldn't" or "wasn't/weren't able to"
We weren't able to get any cheap flights.
We couldn't get any cheap flights.
- For particularly difficult tasks, use "managed to":
I washed it twice but didn't manage to get rid of that stain on your shirt.
- We often use managed to with expressions like: in the end, eventually, finally
It took a while, but in the end, we managed to find some cheap flights on the Internet.
, 5. General Truths
- Use "can" to indicate general possibilities:
It can be very cold in New York in January.
Life can be very hard for people on low incomes.
Bad weather can cause flight delays at any time.
- We use ‘could’ to talk about general truths about the past
In the days of sailing ships it could take many months to travel across the Atlantic.
Making a Guess (1): may, might, could, must, can’t, should
1. Making a Guess About a Present Situation
- No modal verbs are used when completely certain:
The camera isn't working because the battery hasn't been charged.
- Must or can't are used when certain about a guess (opposite must is can’t and NOT musn’t)
It must be the battery!
It can't be that. I recharged it yesterday!
Lucy's just bought a new car - she must be earning plenty of money.
Is that Marina at the door? It can't be her; she's on holiday.
- May (not), might (not), or could are used when less certain about our guess:
It might be the memory card. Perhaps it's full.
There could be life on other planets.
The manager may be in a meeting. I'll check for you.
Steve might not be living at home anymore.
- May not or might not (not could not) when we are not sure about our guess:
This small shop might not have batteries.
- Asking for a guess: Use Could or Do you think?:
Could it be the battery?
Do you think Jerry's at home today?
2. Making a Guess About the Future
- Use may (not), might (not), or could (NOT couldn't):
If we wait for a few days, the prices might be cheaper.
I could get a part-time job next summer.
The tickets may not arrive in time.
3. Expectations
- Use should or shouldn't when expecting something to be true/correct:
You can phone Henry at work. He should be in the office by now.
, Making a Guess (2): must, might, could, should, have
1. Past Forms
Perfect Form:
- Modal verb + have + past participle:
Positive: I might have seen him.
Negative: I cannot have lost it.
Questions: Could you have known?
Continuous Form
- Modal verb + have + been + -ing:
He must have been driving too fast.
2. Making a Guess About a Past Situation
- Certain that our guess is correct: Use must, can't, or couldn't + have + past participle:
Everything's pink! You must have put something red in the machine.
Lester couldn't have been driving the car.
- Less certainly about our guess: Use may (not), might (not), or could + have + past participle
'Where are the keys?' 'I may have left them in the car!'
'Why hasn't Ali arrived yet?' 'Could he have forgotten the date?'
- Uncairtainly: Use mightn't have + past participle (NOT couldn't have):
I'm not sure; I mightn't have passed the exam.
3. Expectations About the Past
Should + Have + Past Participle
- Express expectations about past events:
That letter should have arrived by now.
We should have had our exam results last week.
- Use this form for planned actions that didn’t happend
We should have had our exam results last week.
I should have gone swimming last Friday.
- Similar meanings can be expressed with was/were meant to or was/were supposed to:
The plane was meant to leave at six.
I was supposed to send her my email address.
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