7. Permission means the act of asking a
formal consent or approval.
Examples: can, may could and might.
Note: could and might ask a more
polite permission.
8. Example: Can I use your cellphone?
The sentence used the helping verb
“can” to ask permission from the
owner of the cellphone.
9. Note that in expressing modals, we use the
formula:
“MODAL + SUBJECT+ BASE FORM OF THE VERB+
OBJECT”
This time we will use the modal verb “Could”:
Could I use your phone?
In this example, the sentence still follows the
same formula as the first given example.
10. Difference between Present and
Past Tense of Modal Verbs.
In English Grammar, the
meaning of modal verbs “can” and
“may” in the past tense is more
polite. Therefore, you use the
modal verb “could” if you want to
sound more polite in asking a
permission.
11. OBLIGATION
Obligations means the act of compelling oneself to a course
of action.
Example: must, should ought to and have to.Example in
asentence: “John must go to school everyday.”
The sentence given used the helping verb “must” to oblige
John to attend
school everyday so he will
finish his studies.
Note: in expressing obligation, using modals, we use the
formula:
“SUBJECT+ MODAL+ BASEFORM OF THE VERB+
OBJECT”.
Another Example: “ You should see a doctor”.
The example given used the modal verb “should” to compel
the person to see the doctor for him to get well.
12. PROHIBITION
Prohibition means the act of restraining or stopping
someone by authority.
Note: We can use all the modals a while ago but with the presence of
adverb of negation. Using the Modal expressing prohibition we will use
the formula:
SUBJECT+ MODAL+ ADVERB OF NEGATION+
BASEFORM OF THE VERB+ OBJECT.
Example: “Ryan must not skip his classes”.
subject modal adverb of negation baseform of the verb object
Another example:
“ We may not attend the seminar due to the current
pandemic”.
subject modal adverb of negation base form of the verb object
13. GENERALIZATION
MODALS are helping verbs that are used
to express permission, obligation or
prohibition.
TYPES OF MODALS:
1. Modals that express Permission.
• Can, may, could, might
•Note that could and might ask a more
polite permission.
Example: Can I use you cellphone?
14. 2. Modals that express Obligation.
• must, should, ought to, have to.
Example: John must go to school everyday.
3. Modals that express Prohibition.
All modal verbs can be use plus the word
“not”.
Example: Ryan must not skip his classes.
Modals are basically use for the courtesy,
permission and requests. They are part of a
gentlemen or a lady speech. It allows us to some
more polite and kinder.
16. Choose the appropriate modal verb to complete the
sentences.
1. We should/can always learn from our mistakes.
2. The next test I will/must hope to pass because of
hardwork.
3. Would/Should I have really not have been
involved in a carcrash if I had been driving more
slowly?
4. We must/would be honest with ourselves and live
in the now?
5. The only things we will/can control are the things
happening now, in this moment.
