MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS DEFINITION LIST STRUCTURE GROUPS PERFECT MODALS

DEFINITION

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS DEFINITION 1. They are part of the verbal phrase: I must get there before 7 o'clock. 2. They always accompany, assist or help other verbs. 3. They add abstract (modal) meanings like obligation, permission, advice, etc must get

LIST OF MODAL VERBS

can could *be able to must *have to need should *ought to may might LIST OF MODAL VERBS can could *be able to must *have to need should *ought to may might

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE 1. How do we use modal verbs? Affirmative: subject + modal + infinitive ex. She should stay Negative: subject + modal(n't) + infinitive ex: She shouldn't stay Interrogative: (Wh)Modal + subject + inf.? ex: Why should she stay?

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE 2. Modal verbs are used with infinitives without to (bare infinitives) with the exception of ought to: We must get there before 7 o'clock. She should study harder. I ought to go home now. (Have to is studied with modal verbs but it's not a pure modal verb as it needs auxiliary verbs and has -s in the third person singular)

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE 3. Modal verbs do not add -s or -es to the third person singular. They are invariable verbs. He can swim. He cans wim

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE 4. They don't need auxiliaries to form short answers or negative and interrogative sentences: She shouldn't eat salt. She doesn't should eat salt May I help you? Yes, you may. Do I may help you? Yes you do 5. They do not have infinitives or -ing forms. canning to might

MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE 6. Modal verbs do not have all the tenses. They use other verbs to complete the tenses: can > could, be able to They can swim now > She will be able to swim next year must > had to You must come early > You had to come early yesterday

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS We are going to study them from two points of view: a. number of meanings or concepts that they express: single, double b. modal meanings that they express: permission, ability, obligation ...

NUMBER OF MEANINGS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings) 1. The same modal verb can have different meanings depending on the context. May I come in? It may rain tomorrow 2. We can make two categories: a. Single concept modals: These modal verbs have 1 meaning b. Double concept modals: They have 2 meanings

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

MODAL MEANINGS

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) Modal verbs express a series of modal meanings like: - ability - obligation - prohibition - necessity - advice - possibility - certainty

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) ABILITY (can, could, be able to) 1. Present: can Two of my friends can play the guitar. 2. Past: could When he was a child he could ski well. saben sabía

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) ABILITY 3. Other tenses: be able to - Next week they'll be able to vote. (future) - We haven't been able to go on holiday this year. (present perfect) - We would be able to do it. (conditional) podrán hemos podido podríamos

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) OBLIGATION Present: must Applicants must answer the questions honestly Other tenses (including present): have to - I have to study hard this year - I will have to work hard as a lawyer - I have had to stay at home lately Tienen que He tenido que Tengo que Tendré que

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) PROHIBITION We use mustn't to express prohibition - You mustn't eat too many sweets - You mustn't cheat in exams No debes / no puedes

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) NECESSITY / NO NECESSITY Affirmative: need to (it's not a modal verb) You need to do this to pass the subject Negative: needn't (no obligation) = don't have to You needn't do it = You don't have to do it Interrogative: need Need I do this? Hay que, es necesario que No es necesario

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) ADVICE You can use ought to, should, shouldn't to express advice or recommendation. - Candidates should be friendly - You shouldn't worry too much about exams - Candidates ought to be friendly deberían No deberías

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) POSSIBILITY Present & future: may, may not, might, mightn't, could: - It may be time for Linda to go - They might choose Danny - They could be on the train Past: may / might / could + have + past perfect He might have received our message Puede que, tal vez

GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (b. modal meanings) CERTAINTY / LOGICAL DEDUCTION Positive: must It must be quite late, because it's getting dark Negative: can't That can't be true Debe de No puede

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES When they refer to the past, certain meanings must be expressed with a modal + perfect infinitive (have + past participle): 1. certainty / logical deduction positive, negative 2. possibility 3. advice / recommendation

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES 1. CERTAINTY / LOGICAL DEDUCTION Positive: must have + past participle Danny must have felt disappointed when he didn't win the prize Negative: can't have + past participle She can't have passed the exam, she didn't study at all Debió de (haberse) No pudo (haber)

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES 2. POSSIBILITY When we talk about possibility about the past we can use: might / may / could + have + past participle: -They might not have received our message - He may have gone to the cinema - The government could have acted more quickly Podría haber / no haber Puede que haya / no haya

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES 3. ADVICE / RECOMMENDATION When we express criticism or regret about a past action we can use should / shouldn't - Linda shouldn't have talked so much - We should have gone to see that film while it was still on at the cinema No debería haber / debería haber

PRACTICE Click on this link to practice modal verbs: http://mimosa.pntic.mec.es/~jherre23/