Modals Verbs

Gerry Prez

Formula modal verbs yes no questions

Modal verb

Pronoun

Verb in base form

Examples Should I take a nap? Could you borrow me your pencil sharpener? Can I watch the TV? May I come in?

Formula with HW QUESTION OR QUESTION WORDS

QUESTION WORDS + MODAL VERB + PROUNUN + complement

What is a question word?

MODAL VERBS
DEFINATION

The verb can, could, may, might. Would, should. Must, ought are called modal verbs or modals. They are used before ordinary verbs and express meaning such as permission, possibility, certainty and necessity.

Formula Dont have

Negative
Subject

Statements

(refer a person who do the action) + dont have (modal in negative way) + infinitive (to) + complement

I, YOU, SHE, HE, IT , WE , THEY

Dont have

Infinitive (to)

Complement

Dont have

To refers to an absence of obligation

You dont have to work tomorrow

Must not formula

Subject

Must not (negative way)

Complement

Must not

Refers to an obligation not to do something

You must not leave the room before the end of the test

Where Should appears, ought to can also be used

Expectation
Recommendation

This film should be really good.

I think you should talk it over with your parents.

In writing should can be used to express a strong obligation politely (softer not rude)

Guests should vacate their rooms by midday.

Criticism of an action Uncertainty

You shouldnt eat so much late at night.

Should I leave these papers on your desk?

Should and verbs of thinking

Should is often used with verbs of thinking, to make an opinion less direct. I should think that model would sell quite well.

With be and adjectives describing chance

This group of adjectives includes odd, strange, funny (=odd) and the expression

What a coincidence. It's strange that you should be staying in the same hotel!

Grammar like to, want to, need to, have to

What kinds of clothes do you like to wear? What do you want to wear tonight? I want to wear my now outfit. I dont want to wear my old dress. Do you want to buy new shoes? Yes, I do. I need to get some sneakers. No, I dont need to buy new shoes.

I like to wear casual clothes.

I dont like to wear suits.

Do you have to wear a suit to work?

Yes, we do. We have to wear a suit and tie. No, we dont. We dont have to wear a suit.

What kinds of clothes do you like to wear?

Kayo: well, we dont have to wear uniforms at our school, so I like to wear pants, a T-shirt, and sneakers. Rick: I have to wear a suit and tie to work. After work, I just want to go home and put on jeans and old sweater. You know, something comfortable. Louisa: I like to wear designer clothes, because I need to look good for work. So I usually wear dressy pants or nice skirt, with a jacket and silk blouse. Oh, and of curse, high heels.

Make true sentences. Then compare with a partner.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

I___________ (like to) wear jean all the time. Our teacher ________ (have to) wear a suit to class. The students in this class ______ (have to) wear a uniform every day. I________ (want to) buy shoes this weekend. My parents ________ (like to) spend a lot of money on clothes.

6.
7. 8.

I ________(need to) buy new jeans.

My best fried ______ (like to) shop clothes. We _________ (need to) wear warm clothes in the spring.

Grammar advice and suggestions

What should I take? Should I take these shoes? You should take a hat. You shouldnt take high heels. You could borrow your dads hat. You need to have a warm clothes.

Do you want to pack some other shoes? Why dont you take a hat? Its a good idea to pack a jacket. Take a flashlight. Dont forget to pack some batteries.

Identify the advices in the reading

Mom: jenny, maybe you should take some insect repellent.. Oh and take a flashlight, and dont forget to pack some spare batteries.. Why dont you take my jacket? Its a good idea to have something warm Now, you need to take a hat. You could borrow your dads. but dont lose it.. Oh, and Jenny, do you want to pack some other shoes? I'm sorry, Mom. Did you say something? I cant hear you with my headphones on.

Grammar should

Use should and the base for of a verb to give advice

You shouldn't take that flight. You should take the non-stop.

 Questions Who

should get the aisle seat? I should, I like to walk around.

Can structure

I You He she We They

QUESTION WORLDS What can you do in Mexico city? You can do a million things

Can Cant

Take a shower See a show Go to Tampico

YES- NO QUESTIONS Can we buy an umbrella? Yes we can No we cant

Grammar can and have to

Can

Use can + the base form of ability or possibility

I can speak English, but I cant speak Italian.

I cant play golf today. I'm too busy.

Yes / no questions
Can you come for dinner this evening? Short answers Yes, I can. / no, you cant

Have to

Use have to+ base form Have of a verb for obligation.

I cant go running tomorrow. I have to meet my cousin after class. She cant come for dinner. She has to work late. Dave can sleep late. He doesnt have to go to work. Relax you dont have to work to the airport until 10:00. Short answers Yes, I do. / No, I dont. Yes, she does. /No, she

Yes / No questions Do you have to work tomorrow? Does she have to go to school today? doesnt

Can, Could and (be) able to

We can use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something. we use can +infinitive (can do/ can see etc..)

We can see the lake form our bedroom window.

Can you speak any foreign languages?

I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.

The negative
Is cant : cannot
I'm

afraid I cant come to the party on Friday.

Be able to is possible instead of can, but can is more usual.

Are you able to speak any foreign languages?

But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past), so sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to compare: I cant sleep. But I havent been able to sleep recently. (can has no present perfect) Tom can come tomorrow But tom might be able to come tomorrow. (can has no infinitive)

Grammar could
Use could and the base form of the verb to suggest an alternative or possibility.

The express bus in full. You could take the local instead.
Question
Could I take the 2:20? Yes, you cloud/ No, you couldnt.

Could and was able to

Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:

See, hear ,smell ,taste ,feel, remember ,understand When we when into the house, we could smell burning. She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.

We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something.

My grandfather could speak five languages. We were completely free. We could do what we wanted )we were allowed to do)

Grammar offers and requests with can and could

Offers

Can I help you? What can I do? How can I help?

Can you help me? Can you tell me how to get to the aquarium? Could you give me the directions?

Request

Must and cant

We use must to say that we feel sure something is true:

Youve been traveling all day. You must be tried. (travelling is tiring and youve been travelling all day, so you must be tried) Jim is a hard worker. Jim? A hard worker? You must be joking. Hes very lazy. Carol must get very bored in her job. She does the same thing every day.

We use cant to say that we feel sure something is not possible:

Youve just had lunch. You cant be hungry already. (people are not normally hungry just after eating a meat. Youve just eaten, so you cant be hungry Brian said he would definitely be here before 9.30. its 10 oclock now hes never late. He cant be coming

They havent lived here for very long. They cant know many people.

May and might

May vs. could

May and might

We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future

I havent decided yet where to spend my holidays . I may go to Ireland. (:perhaps I will go to Ireland) Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later. (: perhaps it will rain)

The bus doesnt always come on time. We might have to wait a few minutes. (: perhaps we will have to wait).

The negative forms are may not and might not (mightnt)

Anna may not come to the party tonight. She isnt well (: perhaps she will not come) There might not be a meeting on Friday because the director is ill. (:perhaps there will not be a meeting)

Must and have to

We use must and have to, to say it is necessary to do something, Sometimes it doesnt matter which you use:

Oh, its a later than I thought. I must go. Or I have to go. But there is a difference between must and have to and sometimes this is important.