Modal Auxiliaries

English III

Prepared by: Gerardo Molina

He should go to the doctor.

He should take an aspirin.

He should drink a cup of tea with two panadols.

Advice= SHOULD

Abilities= CAN/COULD

Present

Past

I could ride a bike when I was little but now I can’t

Can is used.- To express ability:He can speak Spanish but he can't write it very well.

To express permission:Can I talk to my friends in the library waiting room?

To express theoretical possibility:American automobile makers can make better cars if they think there's a profit in it.

could is used.- To express an ability in the past:I could always beat you at tennis when we were kids.

To express past or future permission:Could I bury my cat in your back yard?

To express present possibility:We could always spend the afternoon just sitting around talking.

To express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances:If he studied harder, he could pass this course.

Future

Will

Be going to

When we are not sure about the things we will do in the future:

e.g. My father will travel to Paris for business

When we are sure about the things we will do in the future:

e.g. I am going to study medicine next year

In the United States, we seldom use shall for anything other than polite questions (suggesting an element of permission) in the first-person: "Shall we go now?" "Shall I call a doctor for you?"

Shall

In England, shall is used to express the simple future for first person I and we.ExampleI/we shall be be with you in a minute

It is rarely used in modern English.

It is often used in formal situations (legal or legalistic documents, minutes to meetings, etc.) to express obligation, even with third-person and second-person constructions:

The board of directors shall be responsible for payment to stockholders.

The college president shall report financial shortfalls to the executive director each semester."

Obligations

Have/has to

Must

I have to study for my test tomorrow

I must do my homework if I want to get all the points.

Less strong Stronger than have or has

May

Could

CanPermissi

on

Very formal: May I go to the Bathroom?

Formal: Could I have a word with you?

InformalCan you give me one example using the verb go?

Do

Would

Do you want something to drink?

Would you like something to drink?

Informal

formal

Offer

POSSIBILITY: May & Might- It may rain today because it is very cloudy.- If you go to Hollywood you might see some famous actors in the street.

PERMISSION: Can, May- Can I go to the toilet?- May I go to the toilet? (more polite)

ABILITY: Can (past tense and conditional tense: Could)- I can play the guitar- When I was a child I could play the guitar, but now I can't.

ADVICE: Should

- If you want to be a doctor you should study more.

INTENTION: Will (past: Would)  [yes, this verb can be a modal or an auxiliary for the future)- Don't worry, I will help you.- He said that he would help me.

DEDUCTION:  Must ("can't" for the negative)- Who's that? - That must be John, because he is very tall.- No, that can't be John, John is younger.

SUGGESTION: Shall- Shall we go to the cinema?

INVITATION: Will- Will you come to my party tonight?- Sure, I will.

OBLIGATION: Must- You must stay here and you mustn't speak to anyone until I come back home

PROHIBITION: Can (in the negative)- I'm sorry, you can't park here, there is a yellow line on the road.

Ready for

exercises?

Summary

There are 10 modal auxiliary verbs.What are they?

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

ability

permission

possibility and certainty

necessity (obligation)

asking people to do things (requests)

suggestions offers and invitations

FunctionsModals are used to express functions. Some common functions are:

Example Function

Could you move your car, please? request

You can't smoke in most restaurants nowadays. permission

Would you like to come for dinner? invitation

It must be a mistake - I'm sure I said I wanted blue. possibility

You must not drink the water under any circumstances. necessity / obligation

He could ride a horse almost before he could walk. ability

Function

Can I help you? offer

He can speak Italian and Spanish. ability

Function

You can't smoke in here. permission

You're not allowed to take the books home. permission

Examples.Match the examples to the functions above.Note:(1) Each modal can express more than one function.(2) Each function can be expressed by a number of words and phrases including modals.

You're not allowed to make personal calls.

He can't have gone home - his bag is still here.

Do you fancy going for a walk?

You must be back by nine. Is that clear?

Do you think we could see the flat?

You have to get a visa to visit America.

You can't smoke in here, I'm afraid.

Can I borrow your pen a minute?

Can you give me a hand with this?

Would you like to go for drink?

Could you let me know as soon as possible?

It might rain - better take an umbrella.

He could dance better than any of the others.

She can run a kilometer in under three minutes

permission

possibility - certaintyinvitation

obligation - necessitypermission

obligation - necessitypermission

permission

request

invitation

request

possibility - certaintyability

ability

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