This document provides information about English modal verbs over 5 sections: 1) Simple modal verbs like can, may, must and their functions are explained in section two. 2) Past forms of modal verbs like could, would, should and their functions are covered in section three. 3) Compound modal verbs using modal verbs with perfective aspects like may/might/could have are discussed in section four. 4) A final test reviews modal verb usage through multiple choice questions in section five.

1. English Modal Verbs ?
By Bahrom Almardanov

2. Section Four
Compound Modal
Verbs and their
functions
Section Two
Simple Modal
Verbs
Section Three
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions
Section One
Basic Information
about Modal Verbs
Section Five
Final Test

3. What are Modal Verbs ?
 Modal verbs are special verbs which
behave very differently from normal
verbs. Here are some important
differences:

4. 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the
third person.
 EXAMPLES:
He can speak Russian.
She should go now.
My wife may join us for the dinner.

5. 2. You use "not" to make modal verbs
negative, even in Simple Present and
Simple Past.
 EXAMPLES:
You should not be late.
I can not come to at 6pm.
He may not like this idea.
You must not disturb him now, he is busy.
They didn’t must do it. NOT CORRECT

6. 3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in
the past tenses or the future tenses.
 EXAMPLES:
He will can go with us. NOT CORRECT
She musted study very hard. NOT CORRECT
It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT

7. 1
2
3

8. Which sentence has a modal verb?
 We have been arguing over this issue for half and hour, let
 Do not turn on that computer, it is not working properly. We
 Let’s visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Christm

9. Well Done!

10. Back to the Rule

11. Please choose the correct sentence
 He cans climb the rocks.
 He can climb the rocks.
 He canned climb the rocks.

12. Fantastic!

13. Back to the Rule

14. Please choose correct negative form
of modal verb
 I don’t can do it now, I am very busy till 5pm.
 You must don’t smoke here, this place is smoke fre
 He should not procrastinate his assignments, he m

15. Great!
Quit Continue

16. Back to the Rule

17. Section Two
Simple Modal
Verbs
“Can”
“May”
“Must”

18. 1. to express general ability
2. to express possibility / impossibility
3. to ask a permission (informal)

19. EXAMPLES:
 I can sing and play the guitar.
 Anyone can learn how to use Computers if
they want to.
 Can you help me to fix my door?
Take the testBack to section two

20. 1. to express possibility
2. to ask or to give a permission (formal)
3. to make requests

21. EXAMPLES:
 He may come late today.
 You may use my Computer now.
 May I make a phone call?
Take the testBack to section two

22. 1. to express certainty
2. to express necessity
3. to make a strong recommendation

23. EXAMPLES:
 You must be tired now, you have worked all
day long.
 I must have a visa to go to Canada.
 CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must
take it too.
Take the testBack to section two

24.  If you want to get a better feeling for how the
city is laid out, you_______________ walk
downtown and explore the waterfront.
Choose the best answer
Will DoCan

25. See the rules

26. Can May Must

27.  Today is cloudy, it ________________ rain.
Choose the best answer
May CanDoes

28. Can May Must

29. See the rules

30. Choose the best answer
 Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than
11 hours. He ________________ be
exhausted after such a long flight.
May MustCan

32. See the rules

33. Can
If you have not studied one of these verbs, click on it.
May Must
If you have, click here
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34. “Could”
“Would” “Should”
“Might”
Section Three
Past forms of
Modal Verbs and
their functions

35. 1. to express general ability in the past, because it is
the past form of the “Can”
2. to express possible future actions similar to “May
and Might” in meaning
3. to make a request or ask something
4. to express unreal or impossible actions

36. EXAMPLES:
 We tried hard but we could not persuade them to
come with us.
 My grandfather could not swim.
 When you go to Uzbekistan, you could stay with me.
 Could you tell me what time it is?
 I don’t know how she works 14 hours a day in front
of the computer, I could not do this.
Take the test #1Back to section three Take the test #2

37. 1. to express future in the past because it is the past
form of “Will”
2. to express unreal action in the present
3. to ask someone to do something (formal),
(structure: If + you + would+ verb)

38. EXAMPLES:
 He told me that he would come and fix this computer
yesterday.
 I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun
at me.
 If we did not go to their party next week, she would
be very upset.
 I’d be very grateful if you would come and help me
move to my new apartment.
Take the test #1Back to section three Take the test #2

39. 1. to ask or give advice or recommendation
2. often after these verbs: suggest, propose,
recommend, insist, demand.
3. If you think that if person is likely to do something
with less certainty or accidentally, you can use
this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should +
you + verb

40. EXAMPLES:
 I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing
around, instead you should do sometime useful.
 They insisted that we should have dinner with them.
 He recommended that I should apologize to her for
what I said.
 If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him
to call me? or Should you see Tom…..
 Don’t worry if I should be late tonight.
Take the test #1Back to section three Take the test #2

41. 1. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past,
because it is the past form of “May”
2. to express future or present possibility and
probability
3. Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no
difference in meaning.

42. EXAMPLES:
 She told that he might come in and use her stove.
 He might be having lunch now.
 It might rain tomorrow.
 There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because
the director is ill.
 I may/might go to Italy this summer.
Take the test #1
Back to section three Take the test #2

43.  Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go
out for a walk.
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb
Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

44. Back to the Rule

45. Outstanding!!!
Back to section three

46.  If he were here, he ____ help you.
# 2. Choose the correct modal verb
May CanCouldn’t Could

47. Back to the Rule

48. Terrific !!!
Back to section three

49.  Mr. Bond said if she was busy at 10 o'clock,
he ____ come to see her later.
# 1. Choose the correct verb
May CanWould Must

50. Back to the Rule

51. Super!!!
Back to section three

52.  This house ____ look better if they painted it
and cut the grass and planted flowers.
# 2. Choose the correct modal verb
May Can WouldMust

53. Back to the Rule
Quit

54. Well done!!!
Quit Continue
Back to section three

55.  Oh, you are seriously ill. I think you ... consult
a doctor.
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb
Would Should MayCould

56. Back to the Rule

57. Good Job!!!
Back to section three

58.  The Sheriff demands that all the
eyewitnesses _____ be questioned
immediately.
# 2.Choose the correct modal verb
WouldShouldMust Could

59. Back to the Rule

60. Outstanding!!!
Back to section three

61.  He said that I ____ play any CD from his
collection while he was gone.
# 1. Choose the correct modal verb
May Should Must Might

62. Back to the Rule

63. Good Job!!!
Back to section three

64.  Don’t call me at 8:30. I ____ be watching the
football match on television.
# 2. Choose the correct modal verb
WouldCanMight Should

65. Back to the Rule

66. Good Job!!!
Back to section three

67. Modal Verbs + Perfectives?
Quit Continue
Section Four
Compound Modal
Verbs and their
functions

68. Modal Verbs + Perfective
May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle
Must + Have + Past Participle
Should + Have + Past Participle
Would + Have + Past Participle

69. Examples:
 When I was sleeping last night, it may/might/could
have rained.
 I can’t find my notebook in my office, I
may/might/could have left it in the cafeteria.
 to express the possibility or probability in the
past, it is not certain if it happened or not.
May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle
Take the testBack to section four

70.  A) Why didn’t Tom answer the doorbell? I am
sure he was in the house at the time.
 B) He ____ have been in the bath.
Choose the incorrect answer
CouldMightMay Can

71. Back to the Rule

72. Outstanding!!!

73. Examples:
 Amira made an excellent presentation, she must
have prepared a lot for it.
 When I came home in the middle of the night, I
unintentionally made a lot of noise, you must have
heard me.
 to express the certainty in the past.
Must + Have + Past Participle
Take the testBack to section four

74.  When I woke up this morning, the light was
on. I _____ have forgotten to turn it off.
Choose the correct modal verb
Couldn’tShouldCan Must

75. Back to the Rule
Quit

76. Awesome!!!
Quit Continue

77. Examples:
 I feel sick now, I should not have eaten so much
chocolate.
 I am so sorry to hear that you got a bad grade for
this class, you should have studied more.
 to criticize some action in the past that did
not happen.
Should + Have + Past Participle
Take the testBack to section four

78.  The driver in the front stopped so suddenly
without warning, I drove into the back of his
car. It wasn’t my fault. He ______ have
stopped so suddenly.
Choose the correct modal verb
Wouldn’tShouldn’tCan’t May not

79. Back to the Rule

80. Well Done!!!

81. Examples:
 Why didn’t you call me? I would have come and
helped you, and you wouldn’t have received this bill.
 If I had known that you were in Washington DC,I
would have made arrangements to see you.
 to talk about unreal situations in the past,
usually in If sentences.
Would + Have + Past Participle
Take the testBack to section four

82.  If you had been more careful, you _____
have broken this vase.
Choose the correct modal verb
Wouldn’t Shouldn’tCan’t May not

83. Back to the Rule

84. Yey!!!

85. I challenge you to take this
Quit Continue
Section Five
Final Test

86. Choose a Test Question Number
One
Two
Three
Five
Four

87. #1. Choose the best answer
 You _____ break the body but you _____
break the spirit.
may / can not
could / can not
must / should
can / might not

88. Back to the Rule

89. Good Job!!!
Back to section five

90. #2. Choose the best answer
 He knew perfectly well that he ______ it but
he wouldn't admit it.
shouldn't have done
Should do
Must have done
Can do

91. Back to the Rule

92. Outstanding!!!
Back to section five

93. #3. Choose the best answer
 Oh, Mary, you ______ a lie to your mother.
She _______ you.
shouldn't tell / could have helped
should tell / might have helped
shouldn't have told / could have helped
mustn’t have told / could help

94. Back to the
Rule

95. Bravo!!!
Back to section five

96. #4. Choose the best answer
 If I had gone to the University of Miami, I
________ participated in their Spanish
immersion program.
Could have
Should have
Must have
Can have

97. Back to the
Rule

98. Spot on!!!
Back to section five

99. #5. Choose the best answer
 You have no temperature now, so you needn't stay in bed any
longer. You ___ eat what ever you like, but you ... drink any
alcohol until you have finished taking tablets. And you ... stay
indoors for three-four days. After you ... go out for short walks.
If you want to get well soon you ... to follow all these
instructions.
could/need/don't have to/must/must
might/could/had to/could/are able
have to/might/had to/could/should
can/mustn't/should/can/will have

100. Back to
review
section two
Back to
review
section three
Back to
review
section four

101. Wow!!!
Back to section five

102. For more Information about English
Modal verbs please
Clickhere
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