| ability
(mental or physical)
| can, be able to
(present)
|
| past repeated action
| could
|
| managing to do sth, using some efforts in the past
| was / were able to
|
| lack of ability
| can’t (present)
wasn’t / weren’t able to (past)
|
| asking for permission
| may /might /could (present)
|
| giving permission
| may /might
|
| obligation, command, duty, necessity
| must, have to, ought to, need
|
| absence of necessity
| needn’t (present)
needn’t have done (past)
|
| prohibition
| mustn’t
|
| probability
| ought to / should
|
| advice, instruction, moral obligation
| should / ought to (present)
should have done / ought to have done (past)
|
| possibility
| can / could / may / might (present)
can / could / may / might have done (past)
|
| talking about permission
| will be allowed / permitted to
|
| order, instruction or prohibition
| to be to
|
| logical deduction / assumption
| must / should
|
| impossibility
| can’t / couldn’t
|
| annoyance / criticism
| could / might
|
| negative possibility
| may /might not be
may /might not have been
|
| opportunity / free choice
| can / could
|
9. 
| This is a summary of modal verbs. Translate into Ukrainian.
|
1. Compare can / could etc. for actions:
| can
| I cango out tonight. (= there is nothing to stop me)
I can’tgo out tonight.
|
| could
| I couldgo out tonight, but I’m not very keen.
I couldn’tgo out last night. (= I wasn’t able)
|
| can or may
| Can (may)I go out tonight? (= do you allow me)
|
| will / won’t
| I think I’ll go out tonight.
I promise I won’tgo out.
|
| would
| I wouldgo out tonight, but I have too much to do.
I promised I wouldn’tgo out.
|
| shall
| ShallI go out tonight? (do you think it is a good idea?)
|
| shouldor
ought to
| I should (ought to) go out tonight. (it would be a good thing to do)
|
| must
mustn’t
needn’t
| I mustgo out tonight. (= it is necessary)
I mustn’tgo out tonight. (= it is necessary that I do not go out)
I needn’tgo out tonight. (= it is not necessary)
|
2. Compare could have…/ would have… etc. for actions:
| could
would
shouldor
ought to
needn’t
| I could havegone out last night, but I decided to stay at home.
I would havegone out last night, but I had too much to do.
I should (ought to) havegone out last night. I’m sorry I didn’t.
I needn’t havegone out last night. (I went out, but it was not necessary.
|
3. We use will / would / may etc. to say whether sth is possible, impossible, probable, certain etc. Compare:
| will
would
| ‘What time willshe be here? ’ ‘She’ll be here very soon.’
She wouldbe here now, but she’s been delayed.
|
| shouldor
ought to
| She sould (ought to)be here soon.
(= I expect she will be here soon)
|
| mayor
mightor
could
| She may / might / couldbe here now. I’m not sure.
(= it is possible that she is here)
|
| must
can’t
| She mustbe here. I saw her come in.
She can’tpossibly be here. I know for certain that she is away on holiday.
|
4. Compare would have…/ should have… etc. for actions:
| will
would
| She will havearrived by now. (= before now)
She would havearrived earlier, but she was delayed.
|
| shouldor
ought to
| I wonder where she is. She should (ought to) havearrived by now.
|
| mayor
mightor
could
| She may (might / could) havearrived. I’m not sure.
(= it’s possible that she has arrived)
|
| must
can’t
| She must havearrived by now. (= I’m sure – there is no other possibility)
She can’tpossibly have arrived yet. It’s much too early. (= it’s impossible)
|
| 10.
| Rewrite the following sentences, using can, may, must. The first one is done for you.
|
1. Try this juice, perhaps you will like it. Try this juice, you may like it.
2. Perhaps Andy saw a ghost. He looks so terrified.
3. Probably Ken left his bathing suit on the beach.
4. I don’t believe your boss cancelled the negotiations.
5. I don’t believe I lost my wallet. It was in my bag a minute ago.
6. Probably that tree on the cliff is a pine.
7. I don’t believe Greg suggested that stupid idea.
8. Perhaps your mother will be angry.
9. It is probably a very expensive car.
10. Perhaps the driver got a fright when the lorry blocked the road.
11. Archie looks so pale and worn out. Probably he is tired.
12. I am sure you are thirsty. It’s so hot today.
13. I don’t believe Nash said that. He is so well-mannered.
14. Perhaps Deidra has left her gloves at home.
15. I am sure this island is a delightful place in spring when the rhododendrons are in blossom.
| 11.
| Translate the words in brackets, using can, could, may, might, must, needn’t, to be able to. The first one is done for you.
|
1. I (можливо бачив) this film before but I am not sure. I may have seen this film before.
2. Trevor (вміє плавати) better than Nick but Andy (вміє бігати) better than Trevor.
3. Michael (напевно помилявся) then. He apologized but Aunt Betsy was angry.
4. The plane (міг зникнути) in the Bermudas. It is a very strange and dangerous place.
5. My parents (можливо відкладуть) our trip out of town. The weather is too gloomy.
6. We (треба поспішити) because we can miss our train.
7. Mr Watson (зміг вирішити) all the problems himself.
8. John (повинен принести) all the necessary drinks himself.
9. Anthony (не треба приходити) so early. The lecture will start at 19 a.m.
10. Her cousin (може приїхати) one of these days.
11. My brother (напевно повернув) this money long ago.
12. Sean and Tracy (вміють організувати) parties and they are always invited everywhere.
13. Pupils (повинні вивчити) these rules by heart.
14. Dennis (можливо загубив) his passport yesterday.
15. Sharon (не могла сказати) this to Andy. She is so well-mannered.
16. Mrs Bolton (змогла спекти) one hundred cakes for Ted’sparty.
17. They (можливо тоді помилялись), saying that.
18. Mr Walter (повинен був віддати) the resume to the boss an hour ago.
19. Andrew (не треба купувати) apples at all. We have bought some.
20. Simon (може прийти) when he wants.
12. 
| Fill in the blank with a suitable modal verb, using can, could, may, might, must, mustn’t, needn’t, to be able to. The first one is done for you.
|
1. Cecil was able to cover another 10 miles on weekends. We were really surprised at that.
2. Sheila ______ come whenever she wants. Mike will be very glad.
3. Donovan ______ cross that bridge at night. It’s a very dangerous place.
4. The Smiths ______ go there themselves tomorrow. Nobody wants to join them.
5. We ______ hurry now. We have plenty of time.
6. Mr Archer ______ be present at the Ambassador’s party. He was happy about it.
7. Wendy ______ been mistaken. There is no doubt.
8. Mrs Evans ______ do it herself. Nobody ______ do it instead of her.
9. They ______ written these documents a few days ago. Look, they are all ready.
10. My uncle ______ wake up so early. The taxi has been already ordered.
11. Ted ______ waste so much time on this job. It’s so easy.
12. Kevin ______ forgotten about it. He is so forgetful.
13. Lilian ______ leave the flat immediately. There is something wrong with the gas.
14. Mike and Susan ______ buy so much meat. We have chicken in the fridge.
15. Jeremy ______ lost all the money in the casino last night.
16. Mrs Donovan ______ to do all her chores by the next evening.
17. Her aunt ______ bought that old villa long ago.
18. My Granny ______ knit the clothes herself.
| 13.
| Complete the sentences.
|
1. You shouldn’t …
2. Michael should…
3. Your sister can …
4. They must …
5. I may …
6. Eric needn’t …
7. Mr Bolton had to …
8. They were able to …
9. Our children mustn’t …
10. Your dog ought to …
| 14.
| Choose the correct answer.
|
|
| Mr Finnegan … said that. He is a well-mannered person.
| a. could
b. can
c. couldn’t have
|
|
| Ashley … here in ten minutes. Let’s wait.
| a. might have been
b. may be
c. could be
|
|
| Mrs Morris … leave her cabin yesterday.
| a. couldn’t
b. may not
c. can’t
|
|
| Jason … in his room now.
| a. may be reading
b. may read
c. might have been reading
|
|
| Helen … visit her aunts more frequently.
| a. must
b. should have
c. should
|
|
| Mr Armstrong … done that. Everybody was surprised at his behaviour.
| a. mustn’t
b. shouldn’t have
c. shouldn’t
|
|
| Billy … that to Monty. He felt offended.
| a. mustn’t say
b. shouldn’t have said
c. shouldn’t say
|
|
| Peggy doesn’t know where her glasses are. She … them in the telephone box.
| a. may leave
b. could leave
c. may/might have left
|
|
| Mrs Lee … her manners. She speaks too loudly.
| a. should mind
b. must mind
c. should have minded
|
|
| Jim … such a silly thing. He is a clever boy.
| a. can’t do
b. couldn’t do
c. couldn’t have done
|
| 15.ó
| ®
| Work in pairs. Answer the following questions.
|
1. What can the members of your unit do?
2. May you lend all your money to anybody?
3. What must you do every weekend?
4. Will you have to change the group at the university next year?
5. Will you be able to organize a chess tournament at the university next year?
6. What mustn’t you do at all?
7. What shouldn’t students do at the tests?
8. Where are you to meet your friend every day?
9. What dare you say in your teacher’s presence?
10. What needn’t you do now?
11. What should people do at the parties?
12. What ought you to do every week?
13. What might you have said a minute ago?
14. What did you have to do last week?
15. What will you be able to do next week?
| 16.ó
| ®
| Work in pairs. Dramatize the following dialogue. Tell it to the class.
|
| N:
| Can you ski, Bob?
|
| B:
| Yes, I can. My parents were world champions in skiing and taught me to ski at a very early age. I could ski when I was three. At the age of six I was able to jump from the ski jump. Can you ski, Nigel?
|
| N:
| Well, I couldn’t when I was a child, but I can now. Can you teach me to jump from the ski jump? Will I be able to do it?
|
| B:
| Of course, you will. I could have taught you long ago, but you didn’t ask.
|
| 17.ó
| ®
| Work in pairs. Dramatize the following dialogue. Tell it to the class.
|
| W:
| I like this pullover, but it’size 20. All I need is size 14.
|
| J:
| Well size 20 might be huge. You may try on this one, in blue colour.
|
| W:
| Oh, I think it may fit me. Do you think they may have another colour? I don’t like blue.
|
| J:
| They may have. Should I ask the assistant?
|
| W:
| Do not bother, if it fits, I may take this one. I like the style.
|
| 18.ó
| ®
| Work in pairs. Dramatize the following dialogue. Tell it to the class.
|
| D:
| Kevin has the flue, Mrs Green. It’s rather serious and he must stay in bed for a few days. He needn’t stay in bed all the time, but you must keep him away from the baby as much as possible if you don’t want her to fall ill.
|
| G:
| Does he have to take some medicine?
|
| D:
| Yes, he must drink Tylenol and a lot of hot tea with lemon. You needn’t phone the doctor, Mrs Green. I’ll call you tomorrow morning.
|
| G:
| How long must he stay in bed if the temperature is high?
|
| D:
| I think, a day or two. You needn’t worry about that, everything will be OK, Mrs Green. Good bye.
|
| 19.ó
| ®
| Work in pairs. Make your own dialogues using all the modals. Report them to the class.
|
| 20.
| Work in pairs. Complete the text, choose the correct word in brackets.
|
