MODALS

1. MODAL VERBS
STRUCTURE
1- DO NOT TAKE -S, -ING, OR -ED SUFFIXES
( shouldS shouldED shouldING arenot correct)
2- FOLLOWED BYTHE BARE INFINITIVE( INFINITIVEWITHOUTTO)
Ex. He should study more. ( correct)
Ex. He should to study more( not correct)
3- COME BEFORETHE SUBJECT INQUESTIONS AND ARE FOLLOWED BYNOT IN
NEGATIONS. Example: MUST I do this? No, you MUSTN’T do it
4- THEY DO NOT HAVETENSES INTHE NORMAL SENSE . THEY CANNOT BE
CONJUGATED.
Ex: I will must study more( not correct)
Ex. I will haveto study more( correct). Haveis a semi modal verb and can be
conjugated as a general verb.
5- THEY ARE FOLLOWED BYA PRESENT BARE INFINITIVEWHENTHEY REFER TO AN
INCOMPLETEACTIONORSTATE.( * we do not conjugatethe modal verb. Modal verbs
are auxiliaires)
a. We SHOULD STOP the show ( Present) *
b. You SHOULD BE STUDYING more ( Presentcontinuous) *
6- THEY ARE FOLLOWED BYA PERFECT BARE INFINITIVETO REFERTO A COMPLETE
ACTIONORSTATE. (Usethis structures for pastactions).
a. They SHOULD HAVERUN more today
b. They SHOULD HAVEBEEN STUDYING moretoday.
USES ( MODALITY)
OBLIGATION /DUTY / NECESSITY
 MUST expresses DUTYor STRONG OBLIGATION. Ex: I MUSThelp my brother.
 HAVETO expresses STRONG NECESSITY/ OBLIGATION. Ex: I HAVE TO study harder.
 HAD TO is the past formof MUST and HAVE TO. Ex: I HAD TO help my brother to
study maths.

2.  SHOULD/OUGHTTO express DUTY, WEAK OBLIGATION. Ex: they SHOULD recycle
more.
ABSENCEOF NECESSITY
 DON’THAVETO /DON’TNEED TO / NEEDN’T express it IS NOTNECESSARY in Present
and Futuresentences.
Ex: You don’thave to pay for the ticket
Ex: You don’tneed to come to the party tonight
Ex: You needn’t pay for the ticket tonight.
 DIDN’TNEED TO/ DIDN’THAVETO expresses it WAS not necessary in Past Sentences.
We do not know if it was done or not.
Ex: He DIDN’TNEED TO pay for the ticket. ( maybehe paid, maybehe didn’t)
Ex: He didn’t haveto buy her a new dress. ( maybe he did, maybehe didn’t)
 NEEDN’T HAVE+ PASTPARTICIPLE( ModalPerfect)
Used when something was not necessary BUTit was done.
Example: You NEEDN’THAVE BOUGHToranges ( but you did).
PROHIBITION
 MUSTN’T. It is forbidden to do something. Ex: You MUSTN’T smokehere
ADVICE
 SHOULD. Personaladvice. You SHOULD usesolar power if you go out today.
 OUGTH TO. General advice. You OUGHTTO usesolar power if you don’t wantto get
burnt.