2. *
*They are auxiliary verbs
that provide additional
and specific meaning to
the main verb of the
sentence.
*They are referred to as
auxiliary verbs because
they help other verbs
CAN
COULD
MAY
MIGHT
MUST
HAVE TO
NEEDN’T
SHOULD
OUGHT TO
WILL
WOULD
3. *
*They do not accept conjugation ([-s], [-ing], etc.)
*They do not need other auxiliary verbs (don’t,
doesn’t, isn’t, etc.)
Example: Mary can play the piano
subject
modal
verb
main verb
4. *
*There is no don’t/doesn’t in negatives.
He can ski – He cans ski / He can skis
*There is no [-s] in the third person singular.
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
*There is no do/does in questions.
They can’t be serious.
They don’t can be serious.
5. *
Examples:
He has to study
Does he have to study?
He doesn’t have to study.
*There is one exception: have to.
6. *
to can / canning – to must / musting
*Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms.
*Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to or
base form.
She must study.
We should go to the supermarket.
He could play football when he was younger.
7. *
*Modal verbs do not have all the tenses. They don’t
have a present continuous, present perfect, etc.
form.
*Some modal verbs use other verbs to complete the
tenses.
*Can is completed with be able to.
*Must is completed with have to.
She can go to the concert.
She will be able to go to the concert. (future)
He must study.
He will have to study to pass tomorrow’s exam. (future)
8. *
MODAL
VERB
MEANING EXAMPLES
CAN • ability
• permission
• deduction (negative)
• request
I can speak German but you can’t.
Can I have a seat?
He can’t be at home. There is no light.
Can you give me a hand?
COULD • ability
• permission (more formal)
• request (more formal)
She could play the piano years ago.
Could I open the window, please?
Could you give me a hand?
MAY • permission (more formal)
• probability
May I come in?
I may go to Portugal this summer.
MIGHT • probability He might move to Canada some day.
9. *
MODAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLES
MUST • obligation
• deduction
You must leave before ten tonight.
He must be at home. Can you see the light?
MUSTN’T • prohibition You mustn’t smoke in here.
HAVE TO • obligation I have to study tonight.
DON’T HAVE TO • lack of
obligation
I don’t have to cook. I’m eating out today.
NEEDN’T • lack of
obligation
You needn’t eat now if you aren’t hungry.
10. *
MODAL
VERB
MEANING EXAMPLES
SHOULD • recommendation /
advice
You should go to the dentist.
OUGHT TO • recommendation /
advice (more
formal)
You ought to learn how to swim.
WILL • future
• request
I will fly to Paris tomorrow.
Will you help me, please?
WOULD • past habit
• conditional
• request
When I was young, I would play football.
I would buy it if I had enough money.
Would you give me a hand?
11. *
MODAL
VERB
PROBABILITY ABILIT
Y
PERMISSION OBLIGATION ADVICE REQUES
T
DEDUCTION PROHIBITION LACK OF
OBLIGATION
TENSES
CAN
X X X X
COULD
X X X
MAY X X
MIGHT
X
MUST
X X
MUSTN’T
X
HAVE TO
X
DON’T HAVE
TO
X
NEEDN’T
X
SHOULD
X
OUGHT TO
X
WILL
X X
WOULD
X X
12. *
*They are modals that refer to actions that happened
in the past.
modal verb + have + past participle
Examples
It must have been a difficult decision.
They should have invited her to their wedding.
13. *
MODAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLES
CAN’T HAVE + P.P. • deduction Joe can’t have been the murderer. He
wasn’t in town when it happened.
COULD HAVE + P.P. • probabilit
y
• ability
She could have gone to the party. I’m
not sure.
He could have done it. He had the
time.
COULDN’T HAVE + P.P. • deduction He couldn’t have passed the exam. He
didn’t study!
MAY HAVE + P. P. • probabilit
y
He may have taken the wrong train.
MIGHT HAVE + P.P. • probabilit
y
He might have taken the wrong train.
14. *
MODAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLES
MUST HAVE + P.P. • deduction Pete’s late. He must have found a lot
of traffic on the road.
NEEDN’T HAVE + P.P. • lack of
obligation
We had plenty of bananas. You
needn’t have bought any more.
SHOULD HAVE + P.P. • complaint/
regret
I should have studied more for my
exam.
You shouldn't’t have told them.
OUGHT TO HAVE + P.P. • complaint/
regret
You ought to have warned me about
it.
WOULD HAVE + P.P. • conditional I would have helped you if you had
asked me.
15. *
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’re 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
16. *
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
17. *
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) don’t have to b) mustn’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
15.She … asked me before using my phone.
a) must have b) should have c) must d) should
