The document discusses various uses of modal verbs in English including ability, possibility, polite requests, permission, offers, obligation, suggestion, expectation, habitual activity, advice, description, preference, prohibition, necessity, lack of necessity, and perfect modals. It provides examples for how each modal verb is used for different purposes and contexts.

2. ABILITY
 Present: can, am/is/ are able to
 ex: Because of her artistic talent she can design very
well.
 She is able to swim
 Past: could/was/were/able to
 ex: he could play the violin when he was five years old.
 He was able to play piano when he was five years old.
 Negative statement:
 He couldn’t/wasn’t be able to play the piano as well as
he expected to.

3. POSSIBILITY
 Present:can/ be able to
 Ex: the florist can deliver the bouquet early.
 Past : was /were/ able to
 Ex:Ali and Helen were able to work out their culturel
differences and got married.
 Future: may/might/ could/ will be able to/
 ex: Necla may get married this summer if she decides
she is ready to settle down.
 We could get married by next year.
 We might go to Hawaii for our holiday.

4. POLITE REQUEST
 Can /could / may/ might/ would will
 Ex: could i get a price list please?
 Can i have a lager please?
 Would you mind opening the window?
 Would you drop off the flowers?
 Will you help me please?

5. PERMISSION
 May /can / could
 Ex: may I attend only the reception?
 You can leave class early.

6. OFFERS
 May/ can/ could
 ex: may i drive you home
 Can I get you a drink

7. OBLIGATION
 Present: have to/ have got to/ must
 Ex: Ali and Aynur have to move
 We have got to decide by tomorrow
 You must have a blood test
 Past: we had to wait for our test results

8. SUGGESTION
 Might/can/ could/ should/ought to/ had better/
have to /must/
 ex: you might try another store.
 We could have dinner.
 You should give him a chance
 You ought to marry him
 You had better think very carefully
 You must meet him

9. EXPECTATION
 Should/ ought/ to must
 ex: you should get a call from him soon
 The divorce rate ought to go down
 He’s been working for eight hours without a rest. He
must be very tired now.

10. HABITUAL ACTIVITY
 Be used to/ used to
 ex: I’m used to working for eight hours everyday. So it’s
not a burden for me
 I used to travel a lot, but I don’t go away much these
days

11. ADVICE
 Should/ had better
 ex: I have a terrible headache
 You should / had better take an aspirin

12. DESCRIPTION
 Should+ see/hear/taste
 ex: you should see her eyes. They’re your favorite color
 You should see their wedding rings.they are beautiful.

13. PREFERENCE
 Would prefer/would rather/ would just as/ soon/
would sooner/
 ex: I’d prefer to take the subway
 I’d rather make the decision later
 I’d just as soon get married now
 I would sooner not go to the party
 Will you tell him or would you sooner I did?

14. PROHIBITION
 Musn’t/
 ex: you musn’t smoke in the classroom. It’s strictly
prohibited.

15. NECESSITY
 Need to
 ex: I need to tidy my room
 Children need to drink milk

16. LACK OF NECESSITY
 Needn’t/ doesn’t have to/ Don’t have to
 Ex: you needn’t walk to the post office to mail your
letter. You can put it in to the mail-box here.
 You don’t have to go there if you don’t want to

17. PERFECT MODALS
 Real past
 May have V3
 Might have V3
 Could have V3
 Must have V3
 Can’t have V3
 Couldn’t have V3
 Unreal past
 Should have V3
 Ought to haveV3
 Needn’t have V3
 Would haveV3
 Might have V3
 Could have V3