Modals gramar explanation for Bachillerato

1. MODAL VERBS REVIEW
WHAT IS “MODALITY”?
MODALITY IS A SPEAKER ´S
ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE
ACTION

2. MAIN FEATURES
 Always followed by infinitive without to







I could sing when I was young.
No third person singular “S”
She must take her exam again.
No need auxiliaries ( no do/does/did….)
May I go to the toilet?
Invariable form: no infinitive, no –ing form, no
participle
to must
musting to might
mighting

3. ADVICE, OBLIGATION, PROHIBITION, L
ACK OF OBLIGATION, NECESSITY
USE
SHOULD /SHOULDN´T
EXAMPLE
Advice, weak
obligation
You should study harder.
OUGHT TO/ OUGHTN´T
TO*
HAVE TO*
She ought to go to the dentist if
she has toothache.
Obligation
MUST
MUSTN´T
Prohibition
NOT HAVE TO *
Lack of obligation
NEEDN´T*
Children have to help at home.
Ellen has to help at home.
You must finish your project by
the end of the week.
You mustn´t eat too many
sweets.
Applicants don´t have to speak
German.
You needn´t get here before six
o´clock.

4. POSSIBILITY, SPECULATION AND
DEDUCTION (PRESENT)
USE
EXAMPLE
Possibility in the present.
They may/might/could
choose Peter for
president.
Certainty that something
is true.
It must be late because
it´s getting dark.
Certainty that something
is not true.
That can´t be true I saw it
with my own eyes.
MAY
MIGHT
COULD
MUST
CAN´T

5. ABILITY
USE
EXAMPLE
Ability in the present
Can you speak Chinese?
Ability in the past
He could ride a bike when
he was only three.
Ability in the future
We´ll be able to pick you
up tomorrow at ten.
CAN
COULD
BE ABLE TO

6. Exercise:Think about the use of the
following sentences
You mustn´t smoke in this area.
Prohibition

7. Exercise: Think about the use of the
following sentences
She needn´t come to work
today, there´s nothing to do.
Lack of obligation

8. Exercise: Think about the use of the
following sentences
Look at the snow, it must be
very cold outside.
Certainty

9. Exercise: Think about the use of the
following sentences
That story can´t be true!
Certainty that something it´s not
true.

10. Exercise: Think about the use of the
following sentences
You should go to the hospital if
you feel sick.
Advise

11. Exercise: Think about the use of the
following sentences
I will be able to speak English
perfectly in two years.
Ability in the future

12. ADVICE, OBLIGATION, LACK OF
NECESSITY (PAST)
USE
SHOULD/SHOULDN´T HAVE
PAST PARTICIPLE
EXAMPLE
Criticism or
regret about a
past action.
You shouldn´t have lied
to your parents.
You should have seen the
film , it was great!
NEEDN´T HAVE
PAST PARTICIPLE
Lack of necessity
in the past.
HAD TO
Obligation in the
past.
They had to ….

13. POSSIBILITY, SPECULATION AND
DEDUCTION (PAST)
USE
EXAMPLE
Possibility in the
past.
They may/might/could not
have received our message
about the party.
MUST HAVE+
PAST PARTICIPLE
Certainty that
something was
true in the past.
Danny must have felt
disappointed when he didn´t
win the competition.
CAN´T HAVE +
PAST PARTICIPLE
Certainty that
It can´t have been Leo, he was
something was not at home all evening.
true in the past.
MAY HAVE +
PAST PARTICIPLE
MIGHT HAVE +
PAST PARTICIPLE
COULD HAVE+
PAST PARTICIPLE