MODAL VERBS UNIT 3 2º Bachillerato IES VALMAYOR

OUTLINE  GENERAL FEATURES  MODAL VERBS/SEMI MODALS Different meanings and uses

GENERAL FEATURES  THEY ARE FOLLOWED BY BARE INFINITIVE (EXCEPT OUGHT TO/HAVE TO) Ex: She should be here by five o´clock  They do not have TENSES or forms (-ed, -ing, 3rd person singular –s) Ex: He can speak five different languages  They act as auxiliaries in questions and negative sentences. Ex: She might not come since she is very angry with me/ Should I speak to her?  We do not find those features in be able to, have to,need (this one can be modal or ordinary verb)

MODALS EXPRESSING ABILITY  CAN: PRESENT ABILITY EX: She can read minds.  COULD: PAST ABILITY  Ex: At the age of five, she could read and write.

SEMI-MODAL VERBS  BE ABLE TO  To express ability in all those tenses CAN, COULD can´t be used Ex: she hasn´t been able to find a job yet  Was/were able(managed just once) to vs could (general ability in the past) Ex: At the age of six, I could play the piano Ex: At the age of six, I couldn´t play the piano. But once, I was able to play the happy birthday song once.

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY AND CERTAINTY  100% SURE. must  50% POSSIBLE may/might  0% SURE / IMPOSSIBLE can´t

MODALS OF CERTAINTY  MUST (Guess, deduction) EX: Lucy must be the winner. She’s the fastest one.  CAN’T (Negative deduction) EX: Lucy can´t be the winner. She’s not very fast.

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY  MAY/MIGHT/CAN/COULD  (might and could are less probable  Might: past of may: The car looked like it might explode any time.  Ex: It may rain tomorrow. You might fall of the ladder.

MODALS OF OBLIGATION  MUST (Inner/speaker obligation) EX: You must study harder if you want to pass your exams  Have to (Rules) Ex: Girls have to wear uniform in private schools  That difference tends to disappear  Have to  Semi-modal in form  For all the tenses where MUST cannot be used. She had to get up early last Saturday since she had to attend a very important lecture

PROHIBITION/NO OBLIGATION  MUSTN´T (PROHIBITION) Ex: You mustn´t lie on your CV  NEED (NECESSITY) You need to take some time off  (NOT HAVE TO) NO OBLIGATION  Ex: you don´t have to pick me up if you don´t want to (it´s not compulsory)  NEEDN´T isn´t followed by to Ex:You needn’t study for this exam.

MODALS OF ADVICE  SHOULD/OUGHT TO  They are used to express advice Ex: You ought not to apply for that job. Ex: He should walk to school. Ex: You shouldn’t eat so many chocolates.

Permission  CAN/MAY/COULD  It depends on the degree of politeness (May is more formal) Can / May I come in? Could I come in Mr Robinson?

WILL/WOULD/SHALL  SHALL  OFFER/SUGGESTION:Shall I help you?  WOULD  Offer: Would you like a cup of tea?  Past habit: I would visit my grandparents every weekend. (used to) and past of will.

WILL  Future and predictions: We will be there on time.  Polite request: Will you please fetch me the book?

MODALS+PERFECT INFINITIVES  MIGHT/MAY/COULD HAVE +PAST PARTICIPLE (They refer to the past)  Something which was possible in the past but it didn´t finally happen EX: She could have taken the job but she didn´t. I might have phoned her

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES  Must have….  Logical inference about the past Ex: you must have seen John at the party. They must have felt very upset after the incident.

MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES  Can’t have….. ( It’s impossible that) Ex: She can’t have understood the question. That can’t be Tom, because Tom is taller.

SHOULD HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE  To express your opinions about something in the past that was not right or an advice that wasn’t followed. Ex: He should have apologised. Ex: You should have come with us.

SHOULDN´T HAVE  It´s used to express or show regret or express some criticism I shouldn´t have drunk that much He shouldn’t have behaved like that.

HAD BETTER  FORM  HAD BETTER+ BARE INFINITIVE  HAD BETTER NOT+BARE INFINITIVE Ex: We´d better stop for petrol soon. The tank is almost empty  Use: We use it for a particular situation and not for general advice  Warning: You’d better stop shouting.

WOULD RATHER  FORM  WOULD RATHER+BARE INFINITIVE  WOULD RATHER NOT+BARE INFINITIVE Ex: I´d rather not go out this evening if you don´t mind Ex: I´d rather stay at home than go out

WOULD RATHER  I´d rather you did something  Notice the difference: I´d rather cook the dinner now. I´m in a hurry  I´d rather you didn´t cook. You are a terrible chef

RATHER  Used together with prefer I prefer coke to water I prefer drinking coke to drinking water I prefer drinking coke rather than water