The document discusses modal verbs and their usage. It defines modal verbs as auxiliary verbs that provide additional meaning to the main verb. It lists common modal verbs like can, may, must, etc. and explains they are used to express ideas like possibility, obligation, permission. The document also discusses how modal verbs are used without inflections and how they form negatives and questions. It outlines the meanings of different modal verbs and provides examples of their usage. Finally, it discusses "perfect modal verbs" which are used to talk about past possibilities and assumptions.

1. MODALS and MODALS PERFECT
What have researchers said about Modal Verbs?
 Modals are mainly used when we want to indicate our attitude to what we
aresaying,orwhenweareconsideringhowwhatwesaywillaffectthe person
we are communicating with.
 They are Auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the
main verb of the sentence.
 Modalverbsaresometimes referredto as ModalAuxiliary verbsbecausethey
help other verbs.
 The ‘modalauxiliary verbs’ or ‘modal verbs’ are can, could, may, might, will,
would, shall, should, ought to, must, need and dare.
 “The use of modal verbs is one of the problematic areas of English Grammar.”
(Randolph Quirk et al., 220)
 “In respect to the later developments of meaning carried by [modal auxiliaries], the
situation is exceedingly complex and no rules yet formed seem adequate to mark out
precisely their area of use.” (Peter Howard Fries, 175)
 “What makes it so difficult to account for the use of…’modal auxiliaries’ or
‘modals’…is that their meaning has both a logical and a practical (or pragmatic)
element.” (Geoffrey N Leech, 66)
 The mood represented by modal verbs or auxiliaries expresses “certain attitudes of
mind of the speaker towards the contents of the sentence.” (Jespersen)
Modal verbs express “modality” defined as “the manner in which the
meaning of a clause is qualified so as to reflect the speaker’s
judgment of the likelihood of the proposition it expresses being true.”
(Randolph Quirk et al. 219)

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 We use modal verbs to talk about possibility, willingness, ability, obligation,
certainty and permission.
 It might rain .(possibility)
 You mustbe home by 11 o’clock. (obligation)
 Will you help me? (willingness)
 You haven’teaten all day. You must be hungry. (certainty)
 May I borrow yourcar? (permission)
 Modals (except ought) are always followed by the baseformof the verb.
 I might play tennis tomorrow.
 You ought to tell her.
 Modals never inflect or conjugate no –ing or –ed forms, no –s in the 3rd
person singular present.
 He can ski
He cans ski Xor He can skis X
 Modals do not use do or did to formnegatives.
 They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious X
 The negative of can is written as one word.
 She cannot(can’t) come.
 Could is sometimes the past of can (ability).
 Louise can read.
 Louise could read when she was three.
 Modals do not use do or did to formquestions.
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me? X
 Talking about the past: modal verb + have + pastparticiple.
 Peter is late. He may have missed his bus.
(Perhaps he missed his bus.)

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The Meanings of Modal Verbs
 Intrinsic = imply some kind of human control over events, so they include
meanings which are often described as permission, willingness and
necessity.
 Extrinsic = involve some kind of human judgment about what is or isn’t
likely to happen, so include meanings which are described often as
prediction or possibility.
 All modal verbs haveboth intrinsic and extrinsic uses.
You can have a break now. (Intrinsic use)
Paris can be very hot in summer. (Extrinsic use)
I will see you tomorrow. (Intrinsic and extrinsic use)
How do we use modals?
What do they express?
• They can havedifferentmeanings depending on thesituations they areused.
• To understand it better we are going to divide them into 3 categories
1. Single Concept Modal: they have one meaning
2. Double Concept Modal: they have two meanings
3. Modals in past (Perfect Modals) : They are used to express a
situation in the past
S
Subject
V
Verb
M

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Single concept
Modals
Double Concept
Modals
Modals in Past
(Perfect Modals)
Will
Might
Should
Ought to
Had better
May
Must
Would
Shall
Could
Can
Would have
Could have
Might have
Should have
May have
Must have
SingleConcept Modal
Modal Concept Examples
Will Future Joe will travel toNY nextweek
Might Small probability I mightmove to Canadasome day
Should Recommendation You shouldgoto the doctor
Oughtto Formal
recommendation
We oughtto know aboutfirstaids
Had
better
Warning I had betterstudyor I will fail the test
DoubleConcept Modal
Modal Concept Examples
May (1) Permission May I come in?
May (2) Good probability We may visit Mexico this summer
Must (1) Responsibility Everyone must pay taxes
Must (2) Assumption She didn’t arrive. She must be sick
Would (1) Past (used to) When I was young, I would play soccer
Would (2) Present unreal I would buy the car but I can’t afford it

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Modal Concept Examples
Shall (1) Educatedexpression
Offer
Excuse me,I shall go now.
Shall I cleanit?
Shall (2) Contractual
obligation
The company shall payon January1st
Could(1) Unreal Ability I couldgo if I had time
Could(2) Past Ability She couldplaythe piano,not anymore
Can (1) PresentAbility We can speakEnglish
Can (2) Permission Can I have a sweet?

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Perfect Modals (Modals in the Past)
They are modals that refer to actions that happened in the past
MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle(V3)
It must have been a difficult decision
They should have invited her to their wedding
PERFECT MODAL USE EXAMPLES
MUST HAVE + V3 Deductioninthe past Peterhasarrivedlate.He musthavebeen ina
trafficjam
MAY / MIGHT HAVE+ V3 Possibilityinthe past Joe may / mighthavetaken the wrong train.
CAN’T HAVE + V3 Impossibility (negative
deduction) inthe past.
Mary isverysensitive.She can’thavepassed a
goodtime whenherchildgot sick.
COULD HAVE+ V3 A possible actioninthe
past that wasnot fulfilled
You could haveplayed better
I could havepassed myexambut I didn’tstudy
enough.
WOULD HAVE+ V3 Unfulfilledwish inthe past I would havevisited you,butI forgot your
address
SHOULD (NOT)
/ OUGHT TO
HAVE+ V3 Regretaboutsomething
we didwrong(didn't) in
the past.
You should /oughtto havewarned me earlier
He shouldn’t havetold them
NEEDN’T HAVE+ V3 Saysthat we did
somethingalthoughitwas
not necessarytobe done.
You needn’thaveboughtit.
You needn’thavecome.Whyhave you done
it?
Modal Concept Examples
Wouldhave Past unreal action I would havebought the car,but I didn’thave money
Couldhave Past unreal Ability She could havetaken the flight
May have Past unreal Possibility We may havepassed the test,butitwas inFrench
Might have
Past Unreal Small
Probability
You mighthavesold the house,if youreallyneededthe
money
Shouldhave
Past unreal
Recommendation
You should havelistened to the doctor
Must have Past unreal assumption We musthavebeen crazy!

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Modals-like verbs
There are few verbs which often serve as modals too.
These are modal-like verbs
They need to be conjugated
Modal Concept Example
Like to Enjoy I like to watch TV
Want to Desire John wants to buy a car
Need to Necessity We really needed to talk to you
Have to Obligation Susan had to pay the rent
Have got to Have to I’ve got to go now
Look forward to Future plan I look forward to seeing you again

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PRACTICE
EXERCISE 1
Choose the best answer: a, b, c or d
1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could
2. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can
3. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.
a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to
4. Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to
5. You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.
a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t
6. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
7. You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to
8. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. would c. must d. have to
9. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
10.You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t
11.__________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?
a. could b. may c. should d. would
12.You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
13.__________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need
14.He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must

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EXERCISE 2
Fill in the blanks with don’t have to, mustn’t
1. You ________ smoke in a gas station.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
2. You ________ pass a test to ride a bicycle.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
3. You ________ open up the computer while it is plugged in.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
4. Shops ________ sell cigarettes to children.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
5. This bus is free! You ________ buy a ticket.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
6. You ____ live in Canada to study at the University of Victoria. You can take a
course by Internet.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
7. In the US, employers ________ discriminate against women or minorities. It's
against the law.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
8. You ________ buy the text book for this course -- you can borrow mine.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
9. Puerto Ricans________ get a visa to travel to the US.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
10.You ________ be late for class, or the teacher will be angry.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't

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EXERCISE 3
Using the correct form of the modal verb in capitals, rewrite
the sentences so that the meaning is almost identical.
1. I'm sure he is in love with Mary.(MUST)
2. You are not allowed to walk on the grass.(MAY)
3. I don't believe it's ten o'clock (CAN).
4. You'd better call the police. (SHOULD)
5. Perhaps he works for the mafia.(MIGHT)
6. Why don't you bring me that book?(COULD)
7. Please stop talking. (COULD)
8. Please sit down.(WILL)
9. You cannot walk on the grass.(MUST)
10.Peter, you study very little. (SHOULD)
11.He wasn't able to lift the piano.(COULD)
12.It's forbidden to enter the building.(CAN)
13.It's just possible that the phone is out of order.(MIGHT)
14.He used to smoke his pipe in the evenings. (WOULD)
15.Let me help you.(CAN)
16.The Government is not creating enough work.(OUGHT)
17.I insist that you do as I say.(MUST)
18.We didn't call the doctor because it wasn't necessary.(NEED)
19.Do you know how to make an omelette?(CAN)
20.Why don't we go for a walk?(SHALL)
21.Perhaps it is going to rain.(COULD)
22.You're not allowed to look.(MUST)
23.It's possible that she's visiting her parents.(MAY)
24.You are not obliged to say anything.(NEED)
25.I'm sure that this is not Peter. He is taller. (CAN)

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EXERCISE 4
Complete the sentences with one of the modal verbs listed
below:
must, mustn’t, can, can’t, could, couldn’t needn’t, will, won’t
1. Dogs ___________________fly.
2. You ___________________wear a coat, it’s quite warm.
3. Students ___________________be quiet when they write the test!
4. I ___________________go to schooltomorrow becauseI am ill.
5. ___________________you open the window, please?
6. You ___________________drive fast. It’s dangerous!
7. When he was fifteen he ___________________run fastbut he can’t now.
8. She’s a famous ballerina. She ___________________dance very well.
9. She ___________________dance at the party becauseher leg was broken.
10.If you go to bed so late every day, of courseyou _________________feel tired.
11.Your father is sleeping. You ___________________be noisy.
12.Birds ___________________fly.
13.If you don’t study, you ___________________do very well in the test.
14.He is late; he ………………………………………………. run to school.
15.We ………. book a table in the restaurant. John has already booked one for us.
16.Lions ……………………. sing.
17.He …………………………… buy anything he wanted when he was rich.
18.You ………………………………………….smoke. It is forbidden in here.
19.We ………………………..leave now. We can stay for a while if you want.
20.I …………………………………………... send you a postcard from Spain.

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Answers,
EXERCISE 1
1. d
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. d
10. c
11. d
12. a
13. b
14. d
EXERCISE 2
1. b
2. a
3. b
4. b
5. a
6. a
7. b
8. a
9. a
10.b
EXERCISE 3
1. He must be in love with Mary.
2. You may not walk on the grass.
3. I can't believe it's ten o'clock.
4. You should call the police.
5. He might work for the mafia.
6. Could you bring me that book?
7. Could you please stop talking?
8. Will you please sit down?
9. You mustn't walk on the grass.
10.Peter, you should study harder
11.He couldn't lift the piano.

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12.You can't enter the building.
13.The phone might be out of order.
14.He would smoke his pipe in the evenings.
15.Can I help you?
16.The Government ought to create more work.
17.You must do as I say.
18.We didn't need to call the doctor.
19.Can you make an omelette?
20.Shall we go for a walk?
21.It could rain.
22.You mustn't look.
23.She may be visiting her parents.
24.you needn't say anything or You don'tneed to say anything.
25.He can't be Peter.
EXERCISE 4
1. Dogs can’tfly.
2. You needn’t wear a coat, it’s quite warm.
3. Students must be quiet when they write the test!
4. I won’tgo to school tomorrow becauseI am ill.
5. Will you open the window, please?
6. You mustn’tdrive fast. It’s dangerous!
7. When he was fifteen he could run fastbut he can’t now.
8. She’s a famous ballerina. She can dance very well.
9. She couldn’t danceat the party becauseher leg was broken.
10.If you go to bed so late every day, of courseyou will feel tired.
11.Your father is sleeping. You mustn’tbe noisy.
12.Birds can fly.
13.If you don’t study, you won’tdo very well in the test.
14.He is late; he must run to school.
15.We needn’t book a table in the restaurant. John has already booked one for
us.
16.Lions can’t sing.
17.He could buy anything he wanted when he was rich.
18.You mustn’t smoke. It is forbidden in here.
19.We needn’t leave now. We can stay for a while if you want.
20.I will send you a postcard from Spain.

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References
1. “An Old English Grammar”: Randolph Quirk, Northern
Illinois University Press, 1994.
2. ”Meaning and the English Verb”: Geoffrey N. Leech,
Pearson ESL, 3rd
. ed. 2004.
3. ”On Subject and Theme” :Peter Howard Fries, John
Benjamin Publishing, 1996.
4. “The Philosophy of Grammar”, Jespersen, The University of
Chicago Press, 1992.
5. ”Understanding and Using English Grammar”. Azar, Betty.
Pearson Education: New York, 2007.
6. My communicative grammar study guide.