3. Can
It´s used to
express ability
or
opportunity,
to request or
offer
permission,
and to show
possibility or
impossibility.
It is also most
commonly
modal verb in
EXAMPLES: English.
• I can speak French. ability
• You can come to France when we´re in Europe. opportunity
• She cannot go out at 10 pm. permission
• Can you lend me your dictionary ? Request
• They can hang out and find some friends. possibility Modal verbs
4. Could
It´s used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions
and requests. It´s also commonly used in conditional sentences as the
conditional form of can.
Could is the past of the verb ¨can¨
Exemples:
• I could go to the nearest shopping mall. Possibility
• She could swim like a fish when he was 6. past ability
• You could watch TV or go out with your friends. Suggestion
• Could I use your mobile phone to call my mum? request
• We could go to cartagena if I didn't have a lot of money. conditional
Modal verbs
5. May
it´s most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give
or request permission.
Examples:
• Maurice may be at university, perhaps at home. Possibility
• The dean may leave the meeting when courses start. Give
permission
• May I go to the bathroom? request
Modal verbs
6. Might
It´s most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used
in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make
suggestions or requests.
Exemples:
• Your wallet might be in the dinning room. Possibility
• If I didn't work tonight, I might go to the pub with
you. conditional
• You might visit the Eiffel tower when you are in
France. suggestion
• Might I borrow some money? request
Modal verbs
7. Have to
It´s used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.
Past form: ¨Had to¨
Exemples:
• This way has to be right. Certainty
• Teachers have to be qualified to teach us. necessity
• This subway has to leave early. obligation
Modal verbs
8. Must
it´s most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express
necessity or strong recommendation, although the form “have to” is preferred
by native people because is less strong.
Exemples:
• This must be the right address. Certainty
• Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this
school. necessity
• You must take some medicine for that cough. strong
recommendation
• Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition
Modal verbs
9. Should
It´s most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be
used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Exemples:
• When you are in France, you should visit the Eiffel
tower. Recommendation
• You should spend more time on your child and less on work. advice
• I should be in the university on time. obligation
• By the time, they should already be in London. expectation
Modal verbs
10. Ought to
It´s used to advise or make recommendations. It also expresses assumption
or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that
something is deserved.
Attention! "Ought to" in negative form is “Ought not”(without "to", is used
to advise against doing something.
Exemples:
• You ought to stop drinking. Recommendation
• Jim ought to get the scholarship. it´s expected
• This bike ought to increase in value. probability
Mark ought not smoke so much. advice against sth (there´s not ¨to¨)
Modal verbs
11. 1. Fill in the blanks according the situation with the verb appropiate.
I. Kelly ______ stay at home. She ______ go to the disco with us.
II. You _______ swim in that river. It´s full of cocodriles.
III. Annie ______ dance better than her sister, althought they took the same lesson.
IV. The doctor said I ______ take the medicine urgently to avoid an infection.
V. He _______ be paul, since he´s at the school. I think he´s another person, i don´t
see him because i´m not wearing my glasses.
VI. ________ you help me with these exercises?
VII. You ________ pay the rent of the house today.
VIII. Laure ________ hear the speaker because the crowd was cheering so loudly.
IX. The CD player isn't working. It _______ damaged during the move.
X. The lamp __________ be broken. Maybe the light bulb just burned out.
Modal verbs
