Modal verbs Выполнила: Бетанели Елена Евгеньевна, Учитель английского языка Одинцовской лингвистической гимназии

Functions of modal verbs and Synonymous Expressions PRESENT/FUTURE PAST ABILITY: CAN/BE ABLE TO He can read Arabic. She is able to run a marathon. He could/was able to read Arabic when he was four. (repeated action – ability in the past). He was able/managed to escape. (single action) POSSIBILITY: CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT; IT IS LIKELY THAT He can win the race. (90%) They could still be at school. (50% - it’s possible that they are still at school) Tom may be studying in his room (50%) He might want some more food (40%) It is likely that he will arrive tonight. She could have been killed in the car crash (Luckily, she is alive). He may have spoken to Jane yesterday. He might have forgotten. It was likely that he had arrived the day before.

PERMISSION: CAN/CAN’T, COULD/MAY/MIGHT, MAY NOT, MUSTN’T/ BE ALLOWED TO You can/can’t borrow my car (informal) Could I use your telephone? (more polite) You may use the phone. (formal). Might I speak to Mr. Jones, please? (more formal) I’m afraid you can’t/mustn’t see the patient. (informal) Children may not be left unaccompanied (formal –written notice) He wasn’t allowed to /couldn’t cross the border. He was allowed to enter the country. (not! could) DUTY: MUST/OUGHT TO Everyone must obey the law. People ought to be more tolerant. (it’s the right thing to do but they do not always do it). All the villagers had to obey the law. He ought to have been more tolerant. (it was the right thing to do but he didn’t).

NECESSITY: MUST/HAVE TO/NEED/SOULD/OUGHT TO I must buy a new jacket (I say so) He has to put some petrol in the car. (necessity due to circumstances) I’ve got to go to the bank now (informal) My car needs repairing/to be repaired . They don’t have to /don’t need to/needn’t come if they don’t want to I had to buy a new jacket. ( I was obliged to ) Since his car was being repaired he had to go to York by train. I had to go to the bank yesterday. My car needed to be repaired. She didn’t have to go there. She needn’t have worn such heavy clothes. (but she did) She didn’t need/didn’t have to buy any apples (and she didn’t).

OBLIGATION: MUST/HAVE TO/OUGHT TO I must go on a diet (I say so) I have to go on a diet (the doctor says so) We ought to help the poor (it’s the right thing to do) I had to go on a diet a month ago ADVICE: SHOULD/OUGHT TO/HAD BETTER/SHALL You should drink more water . You ought to respect the elderly. You had better finish it (advice on a specific situation) Shall I buy a car? (asking for advice) You should have gone to bed earlier last night (but you didn’t) He ought to have seen a doctor earlier ( but he didn’t) It would have been better if you had finished it yesterday. (but you didn’t) PROHIBITION: CAN’T/MUSTN’T/MAY NOT You can’t smoke here. (you aren’t allowed) You mustn’t smoke here (it’s forbidden) You may not smoke here (formal) They couldn’t smoke there.

LOGICAL ASSUMPTION: MUST/CAN’T/COULDN’T She must be working (90%- positive- I’m sure) She can’t be over forty (negative, I’m sure she isn’t) He couldn’t be at work (negative, I don’t think he is at work) She must have been working. She can’t have stolen the money. He couldn’t have been at work yesterday. REQUESTS: CAN/COULD/MAY/MIGHT/WILL/WOULD Can I borrow your book? (informal) Could I borrow your book? (polite) May I have a cup of coffee? (formal) Might I use your phone? (very formal) Will you phone Jane tonight? (very friendly) Would you mind sending this fax? (polite)

OFFERS: CAN/SHALL/WOULD Can we do anything for you? (informal) Shall I do it for you ? (informal) Would you like me to help you? SUGGESTIONS: SHALL/CAN/COULD Shall we dance? We can go now if you like. We could leave if you want. He could have consulted a lawyer. CRITICISM: COULD/SHOULD/OUGHT TO You could at least help me. You could have at least helped me last night. They should have tried harder (but they didn’t) You ought to have behaved yourself yesterday. (It was right thing to do but you didn’t do it).

Thank you for attention