The document discusses modal auxiliary verbs and their functions. There are 10 modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, have to. Modals are used to express functions such as permission, ability, possibility/certainty, necessity, requests, suggestions/offers/invitations. Examples are provided that demonstrate how modals express these different functions.

2. He should go to the
doctor.
He should take an
aspirin.
He should drink a
cup of tea with two
panadols.
Advice= SHOULD
Abilities= CAN/COULD
Present Past
I could ride a bike when I was little but
now I can’t

3. Can is used.-
To express ability:
He can speak Spanish but he can't write it very well.
To express permission:
Can I talk to my friends in the library waiting room?
To express theoretical possibility:
American automobile makers can make better cars if they think
there's a profit in it.
could is used.-
To express an ability in the past:
I could always beat you at tennis when we were kids.
To express past or future permission:
Could I bury my cat in your back yard?
To express present possibility:
We could always spend the afternoon just sitting around talking.
To express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances:
If he studied harder, he could pass this course.

4. Future
Will
Be going to
When we are not sure about the things we will
do in the future:
e.g. My father will travel to Paris for business
When we are sure about the things we will
do in the future:
e.g. I am going to study medicine next
year

5. In the United States, we seldom use shall for anything other than
polite questions (suggesting an element of permission) in the first-
person:
"Shall we go now?"
"Shall I call a doctor for you?"
Shall
In England, shall is used to express the simple future for first
person I and we.
Example
I/we shall be be with you in a minute
It is rarely used in modern English.
It is often used in formal situations (legal or legalistic documents,
minutes to meetings, etc.) to express obligation, even with third-
person and second-person constructions:
The board of directors shall be responsible for payment to
stockholders.
The college president shall report financial shortfalls to the
executive director each semester."

6. Obligations
Have/has to Must
I have to study for
my test tomorrow
I must do my homework
if I want to get all the
points.
Less strong Stronger than have or has

7. May
Could
Can
Permission
Very formal:
May I go to the Bathroom?
Formal:
Could I have a word with you?
Informal
Can you give me one example
using the verb go?

8. Do
Would
Do you want something to drink?
Would you like something to drink?
Informal
formal
Offer

9. POSSIBILITY: May & Might
- It may rain today because it is very cloudy.
- If you go to Hollywood you might see some
famous actors in the street.
PERMISSION: Can, May
- Can I go to the toilet?
- May I go to the toilet? (more polite)
ABILITY: Can (past tense and conditional tense:
Could)
- I can play the guitar
- When I was a child I could play the guitar,
but now I can't.
ADVICE: Should
- If you want to be a doctor you should
study more.
INTENTION: Will (past: Would) [yes, this verb
can be a modal or an auxiliary for the future)
- Don't worry, I will help you.
- He said that he would help me.
DEDUCTION: Must ("can't" for the negative)
- Who's that? - That must be John, because he is
very tall.
- No, that can't be John, John is younger.
SUGGESTION: Shall
- Shall we go to the cinema?
INVITATION: Will
- Will you come to my party tonight?
- Sure, I will.
OBLIGATION: Must
- You must stay here and you mustn't speak to
anyone until I come back home
PROHIBITION: Can (in the negative)
- I'm sorry, you can't park here, there is a yellow
line on the road.
Ready for
exercises?
Summary

10. There are 10 modal auxiliary verbs.
What are they?
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
ability
permission
possibility and certainty
necessity (obligation)
asking people to do things (requests)
suggestions offers and invitations
Functions
Modals are used to express functions. Some common functions are:

11. Example Function
Could you move your car, please?
You can't smoke in most restaurants nowadays.
Would you like to come for dinner?
It must be a mistake - I'm sure I said I wanted blue.
You must not drink the water under any circumstances.
He could ride a horse almost before he could walk.
Function
Can I help you?
He can speak Italian and Spanish.
Function
You can't smoke in here.
You're not allowed to take the books home.
Examples.
Match the examples to the functions above.
Note:
(1) Each modal can express more than one function.
(2) Each function can be expressed by a number of words and phrases including modals.

12. Example Function
Could you move your car, please? request
You can't smoke in most restaurants nowadays. permission
Would you like to come for dinner? invitation
It must be a mistake - I'm sure I said I wanted blue. possibility
You must not drink the water under any circumstances. necessity / obligation
He could ride a horse almost before he could walk. ability
Function
Can I help you? offer
He can speak Italian and Spanish. ability
Function
You can't smoke in here. permission
You're not allowed to take the books home. permission
Examples.
Match the examples to the functions above.
Note:
(1) Each modal can express more than one function.
(2) Each function can be expressed by a number of words and phrases including modals.

13. You're not allowed to make personal calls.
He can't have gone home - his bag is still here.
Do you fancy going for a walk?
You must be back by nine. Is that clear?
Do you think we could see the flat?
You have to get a visa to visit America.
You can't smoke in here, I'm afraid.
Can I borrow your pen a minute?
Can you give me a hand with this?
Would you like to go for drink?
Could you let me know as soon as possible?
It might rain - better take an umbrella.
He could dance better than any of the others.
She can run a kilometer in under three minutes

14. You're not allowed to make personal calls.
He can't have gone home - his bag is still here.
Do you fancy going for a walk?
You must be back by nine. Is that clear?
Do you think we could see the flat?
You have to get a visa to visit America.
You can't smoke in here, I'm afraid.
Can I borrow your pen a minute?
Can you give me a hand with this?
Would you like to go for drink?
Could you let me know as soon as possible?
It might rain - better take an umbrella.
He could dance better than any of the others.
She can run a kilometer in under three minutes
permission
possibility - certainty
invitation
obligation - necessity
permission
obligation - necessity
permission
permission
request
invitation
request
possibility - certainty
ability
ability