MODALS
Look at these sentences: ◦John can drive. ◦You should study every night. ◦They can’t run very fast. ◦We might travel to Italy in the summer. ◦You must not drink and drive. ◦You had better not cheat on a test. What is different about the verbs in these sentences?
All the sentences contain modals. Modals add to the meaning of the verb. ◦John can drive. ◦You should study every night. ◦They can’t run very fast. ◦We might travel to Italy in the summer. ◦You must not drink and drive. ◦You had better not cheat on a test.
THE FORM OF MOST MODALS: SUBJECT + MODAL + BASE FORM OF VERB He can drive a car. NEGATIVES: SUBJECT + MODAL + NOT + BASE FORM I couldn’t swim last year. QUESTIONS: MODAL + SUBJECT + BASE FORM...? Should I make 2 cakes or 1?
MEANINGS OF COMMON MODALS: Can = ability in the present and future Could = ability in the past Should = advice; your opinion about what is good Ought to = advice (stronger than “should”) Had better = advice (very strong!) May = possibility or permission Might = possibility Must = necessity, obligation, requirement Will = future Now write 1 sentence for each modal.
Modals with different forms and rules: Have to/has to/don’t have to/doesn’t have to We use regular present tense form for these modals. EXAMPLES: I have to work tomorrow. My sister doesn’t have to get up early. She has to pay her rent by May 4 th. Doesn't have to and don’t have to = it’s OK, but not necessary. Must not = forbidden, not allowed, not permitted
TO BE ABLE TO = ability in all tenses I’m not able to ski. Last year I wasn’t able to drive. I’ll be able to pick you up tomorrow. Doctor, I haven’t been able to sleep for 2 weeks! We weren’t able to study for the test. FORM Subject + be (+ not) + able to + base form of verb.
Now write some sentences with “have to” and “be able to.” Write some affirmative and some negative.