The document discusses the uses of several English modal verbs: 1. May is used to express probability, permission (formal/polite), and possibility. 2. Can is used to express ability, permission (informal), and possibility. 3. Must is used to express obligation, deduction, and necessity. It is only used in the present tense; have to is used for past and future. 4. Should and ought to are used to give advice or express recommendation or moral obligation. Should is used in interrogative and negative sentences.

1. M u st Cou
l d
Should
an to Ma
C ht y
O ug

2. May –used for probability and
permission
Present
Sue may/is allowed to come with us every weekend.
Past
Catherine might/was allowed to stay on our farm last
year.
Futuro
She may /will be allowed to come with us tomorrow.

3. Can-used for ability
Deb can /is able to play tennis.
Roger could/was able to play
tennis better six years ago.
Dan’s son will be able to play tennis much
better than his father when he grows up.

4. May-permission(formal),probability
and possibility
• She may be right.
• May she be right?
• She may not be right.
May I come in?

5. Can
permission(informal),ability,possibility
They can dance very well.
You can’t smoke here.
He can be a doctor,he is
wearing white clothes.

6. Must -obligation,deduction,necessity
 used in the present tense only.
 We use have to to make the past and future.
You must recycle.
Must I recycle? We mustn’t polute the air.

7. They must be travelling their car
isn’t in the garage.
She must lose
weigh.

8. Must –have to
 We use have to to make the past and future form.
When I was a child I had to go to bed early.
I will have to work hard next year, I’m
planning to buy a new car.
ATTENTION
You don’t have to wear a uniform.
You have to wear a uniform.
You must wear a uniform
You mustn’t wear a uniform.

10. 1. She should
see a dentist.
2. She shouldn’t
eat sweet.
Sandy has
got a
toothache.

11. 1. She should
eat chicken
soup.
2. She should
stay in bed.
Julia has got
flu.

12. 1. He should eat
fruit and
vegetables.
2. He should eat
healthy food.
Bill has got
a
stomachache
.

13. 1. He shouldn’t
carry heavy
things.
2. He should get
a good rest.
Bill has got
a backache.

14. We
should
save
water.

15. Should and ought to
The verbs should and ought to are used
for advice,recomendation or moral
obligation.Although they are synonims
we use should in interrogative and
negative sentences.

16. Caracteristics
 The modal verbs are used with other verbs in the
infinitive without to.
 Don’t need auxiliar verbs.
 We don’t use them in the gerund(ing)
 They are the same for all persons.

17. Dilma Conserva