MODAL VERBS
|
Verb
|
Use
|
Example
|
|
CAN
|
Permission
|
Can I open the window, mum?
|
|
Ability
|
She can play the piano very well
|
|
|
General possibility
|
It´s cloudy. It can rain in a moment
|
|
|
CAN´T
|
Something is imposible to happen
|
Jane is in England now; you can´t have seen this
morning
|
|
COULD
|
Permission
|
Could I open the window, Sir?
|
|
Ability
|
She could play the piano when she was 4
|
|
|
Possibility
|
It´s a bit cloudy. It could rain if the sky is so
covered
|
|
|
MAY
|
Permission
|
May I ask you a question, Sir?
|
|
Possibility
|
I may go to Italy this summer; my family would like
to visit Rome
|
|
|
MIGHT
|
Possibility
|
I´m not sure but it might snow tonight although the
temperatures are a bit higher
|
|
MUST
|
Obligation
|
You must keep silence on the premises
|
|
Possibility
|
Open the door; it must be Paul, I am sure
|
|
|
MUSTN´T
|
Prohibition
|
You mustn´t smoke in this restaurant, it´s forbidden
|
|
HAVE TO
(semi-modal)
|
Obligation
|
I can´t go to the cinema with you. I have to look
after my little sister
|
|
DON´T HAVE TO
(semi-modal)
|
Lack of obligation
|
Why did you get up so early? You are on holiday. You
don´t have to go to work
|
|
SHOULD
|
Obligation
|
You should wash and feed your pets properly
|
|
Advice
|
You have a terrible toothache. You should see your
dentist
|
|
|
OUGHT TO
|
Moral obligation
|
My 82 year-old neighbour is sick. I ought to go
shopping for her
|
|
NEEDN´T
|
Something is not necessary
|
It´s enough! You needn´t bring any more pieces of
wood
|
|
WILL
|
Prediction
|
(a fortune teller): You will have three children
|
|
Request
|
Will you please set aside?
|
|
|
Decision taken at the moment
|
There isn´t any sugar in the jar. I´ll get some from
the kitchen
|
|
|
SHALL
|
Offer
|
Shall I help you? Your seem to be very busy
|
|
Suggestion
|
Shall we have a swim? It´s very hot
|
|
|
WOULD
|
Repetitive action in the past
|
When I lived in London, I would go to Hyde Park
every afternoon
|
|
Invitation
|
Would you like something to drink?
|
