Review of Modal Auxiliary Verbs AND PARTICIPLES

 

For you to remember!

Most modals, such as can, could, may, might, should, must, will and would, are followed by the simple form of the verb to refer to present or future time.

• There is no -s in the modal or in the main verb.

• These modals are not followed by to.

These sentences are correct:

A good doctor should take time with his patients.

Anne can dance very well.

Negative forms are like this:

You should not (shouldn't) do it.

Barbara cannot (can't) speak a foreign language.

Interrogative forms are like this:

Can you help us?

Should I buy it?

There are a few expressions that act as modals, for example: have to, have got to, be able to and ought to. These expressions include to, and are followed by the base form of the verb:

I have to go now.

You've got to stop smoking.

I'm not able to pay that bill this month.

We really ought to give more money to charity.

This is a chart of the main modals. It summarizes their principal uses.

 

Modal auxiliary	Use	Example
can	ability informal permission informal request informal prohibition (in negative) possibility	I can speak Spanish. Yes, you can borrow $5. Can I have it by 5 p. m. please? You can’t turn left at a red light, you’ll get a ticket.
could	polite request possibility suggestion	Could 1 please use your phone? Luis could be at home, or he could beat the mall. Well, you could use more vanilla in this cake for a better taste.
be able to	ability	Sorry. I’m not able to help you.
may	very polite request formal permission, or lack of permission possibility	May I call you? No you may not borrow my car.
might	possibility	It might rain tomorrow, or it might not.
should	strong suggestion/advisability	You should exercise, Alice - you'll feel much better.
ought to	strong suggestion/advisability	You should exercise, Alice - you'll feel much better.
must	strong obligation possibility	Everybody must ем in order to live.
have got to	strong necessity	You've got to study harder if you want to pass thiscourse.

 

Remember!

Modal auxiliaries must, can, could, may, might are often used to express possibility. The difference in their use is in the degree of certainty.

Must – almost certain – должно быть

Can, may – 50/50 – может быть

Could, might – almost uncertain – возможно, но маловероятно

 

 

Now, keeping in mind the meanings of these modals, try the Quick Check.

QuickCheck

Select the correct word or phrase to complete each conversation.
1 " _____ I come with you to have lunch? "

" Sure. Do you mind if I stop at the bank first? "

a May

b Must