This document discusses English modal verbs and their various uses and meanings. It explains that modal verbs show attitudes and opinions about situations, like probability or necessity. Different modal verbs are used to talk about ability (can, can't), permission (can, may), necessity (must, have to), advice (should, shouldn't), prohibition (mustn't), and expectation or obligation (should, must). Examples are provided for how each modal verb is used depending on the context and situation. Readers are directed to additional online resources for further information and practice with modal verbs.

1. Colégio Municipal Rui Barbosa
Prof. Nivaldo Marques
Assunto: Modal Verbs

2. Inglês Modal Verbs

3. Inglês Modal Verbs
Modals show the speaker’s attitude
or feelings about a situation. For
example how probable or necessary
something is, or that the speaker is
offering or requesting something. The
same modal verb can be used in
different ways with different
meanings – you only know from the
situation.

4. Inglês Modal Verbs
To talk about ability or permission we use can and can’t (or cannot
in formal writing)
I can play the piano, but I can’t sing.
Can I borrow your laptop?

5. Inglês Modal Verbs
Now, ask your friend if he or she can do these things:

6. Inglês Modal Verbs
Use can to ask for permission in the following situations:
Example: You want to smoke in the cinema
a) You want to sit down

7. Inglês Modal Verbs
b) You’d like another drink
c) You need to talk to your boss in
private
d) You are anxious to see
your friend’s photos

8. Inglês Modal Verbs
However, the past of the modal can is could. We also use it
to ask for permission in a polite way, as you can see in the
pictures below:
Could I have the
menu, please?
Could you open
your suitcase,
please?
Inglês

9. Inglês Modal Verbs

10. Inglês Modal Verbs
We use may to ask permission. Notice that like
happens with the modal verbs can and could, may is
is used for permission too. Also, the verb may
expresses a remote possibility.
Ex: I may not have time to finish tonight. (I don’t
know)
President Jones may win the next election. (It’s
possible)
I may some news for you next week. (perhaps I will)
He could be stuck in the traffic. (perhaps he is)

11. Inglês
Inglês Modal Verbs
Ask permission to do things in the following situations. Use may in all of them.
You are in the classroom and you want to go to the lavatory.
You are watching an uninteresting TV program with your parents and you
want to switch the channel.
You have just had a bad cold and you want to eat an ice cream.

12. Inglês Modal Verbs
Use may to express possibility in all of these situations:
Ex: Perhaps your uncle and aunt will stay with you for a few days next week.
My uncle and my aunt may stay with me for a few days next week.
a)Perhaps Betty won’ t come to your birthday party next weekend.
b) Perhaps Mr. stone will give you a raise in your salary.
c) Perhaps they will never
find the cure for Aids.
d) Perhaps they will cancel the
show if it rains.

13. Inglês Modal Verbs

14. Inglês Modal Verbs
We use must or have to to explain that something is
necessary.
Ex: I must finish my homework before 8 p.m.
I have to phone Jan at 9 .p.m.
In writing there is no real difference between must and have
to . In speech there is a small difference:
We use have to when the situation makes something
necessary, for example because of officials rules:
At our school we have to wear a uniform.
Every player in a football team has to have a number.
When the traffic lights are red, we have to stop.

15. Inglês Modal Verbs
We use must when the speaker personally feels that
something is important.
You really must stop working so hard and try to relax.
You must be here by 8 a.m., or the bus will leave without you.
• In its negative form Mustn't describes an action that is
prohibited/forbidden.
Ex: You mustn’t cross the road when the red light is showing.
.

16. Inglês Modal Verbs
We use should and shouldn’t to give an
opinion about what is the best thing to do.
When we speak to another person our
opinion becomes advice.
I think the police should arrest hooligans.
I think you should talk to your teacher about it.
We also use should when we expect that
something will happen:
They should arrive here at about 6.30.

17. Inglês Modal Verbs
Necessity Prohibition Advice Obligation
Should Must not Should not Must

18. Inglês Modal Verbs
For more information on modal verbs and further practice, check the related
links:
1)http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html
2)http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbmodal.htm