1. Prof Marcelo Pereira de Leão
Modal Verbs
Prof Marcelo Pereira de Leão

2. CAN COULD MAY MIGHT SHOULD / OUGHT TO MUST
MODAL VERBS
CAN
COULD
MAY
MIGHT
SHOULD / OUGHT TO
MUST

3. MODAL VERBS
Todos os modais são usados sem alteração de forma com qualquer sujeito,
não recebem a partícula "to" antes deles
os verbos colocados depois deles devem ficar no infinitivo sem "to " exceto com ought to

4. Form He can ski He cans ski or He can skis
There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative
He can ski He cans ski or He can skis
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
They can’t be serious
They don’t can be serious

5. Form We should have gone the other way
to can / caning to must /musting
She must study
We should have gone the other way
He could play football in his youth (general ability)
Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

6. Form Modal verbs do not have all the tenses
Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses
Can is completed with be able to
Must is completed with have to
You must come early
They can play the piano
They will be able to play the piano in the future
You had to come early yesterday

7. MODAL VERBS I can see You can see He can see
She can see → Can she see?
It can see She cannot/can’t see.
We can see
They can see
The students can see

8. MODAL VERBS NEGATIVE FORMS
CAN CANNOT CAN’T COULD COULD NOT COULDN’T MAY MAY NOT MIGHT MIGHT NOT MIGHTN’T SHOULD SHOULD NOT SHOULDN’T OUGHT TO OUGHT NOT TO OUGHTN’T MUST MUST NOT MUSTN’T

9. CAN → posso, pode... MODAL VERBS (present / future) INDICA: habilidade
capacidade (TO BE ABLE TO)
permissão informal
possibilidade

10. Examples of CAN We can speak Portuguese and English.
We ARE ABLE TO speak Portuguese and English.
Can I go to the restroom?
He can visit France when he travels to Europe.
You can go now.

11. capacidade ou habilidade no passado (TO BE ABLE TO)
COULD → podia, poderia...
INDICA
passado de CAN
capacidade ou habilidade no passado (TO BE ABLE TO)
pedido educado (FORMAL)

12. Examples of COULD
My brother could run 10 kilometers every other day when he was young.
He WAS ABLE TO run 10 kilometers...
The pilot couldn’t land because of the fog.
They could have visited France when they went to Europe.
Could you help me carry the baggage please?

13. MAY →posso, pode... (present / future)
INDICA
Permissão FORMAL
(TO BE ALLOWED / TO BE PERMITTED)
Probabilidade - GRANDE

14. Examples of MAY May I come in?
You may leave the room when you finish the test.
You ARE ALLOWED TO leave the room ...
We may see many important people at the international conference.
There may be many homeless people after the earthquake.

15. MIGHT→posso, podia INDICA passado de MAY permissão FORMAL no passado
(TO BE ALLOWED / TO BE PERMITTED)
Probabilidade – PEQUENA (present)

16. Examples of MIGHT My mom said I might go to the show.
She said I WAS ALLOWED TO go to the show.
Might you go out alone when you were 14?
Maybe they might come for my birthday. However I don’t believe it.
We might meet an ET at our backyard someday.

17. SHOULD → devo, deveria... (present / past)
INDICA
conselho
recomendação
sugestão
crítica (negative/ shouldn’t)

18. Examples of SHOULD You should answer your questions now.
He said we should come back tomorrow.
You should turn off your cell in classroom.
What should I do now?
You shouldn’t be so impolite!
They shouldn’t drink so much!

19. OUGHT TO→devo, deveria... único dos modais a usar "to" depois dele,
Sinônimo de SHOULD
conselho
recomendação
sugestão

20. Examples of OUGHT TO
You should answer your questions now.
You OUGHT TO answer your questions now.
He said we should come back tomorrow.
He said we OUGHT TO come back tomorrow.

21. INDICA obrigação forte necessidade dedução lógica sinônimo: HAVE TO
MUST → tenho que, devo...
INDICA
obrigação
forte necessidade
dedução lógica
sinônimo: HAVE TO

22. Examples of MUST We must respect traffic laws.
We HAVE TO respect traffic laws.
You must buy food for your children.
He looks sick, he must go to the doctor’s.
That man has a latest model car and a nice, big house. He must be well-off. (DEVE)
Susan is always sad, she must have a problem. (DEVE)

23. MUST - negative forms You must study for your tests.
You MUSTN’T study for you tests.
MUSTN’T = PROHIBITION
You MUSTN’T scream in a hospital.
You MUSTN’T run a read light.

24. MUST - negative forms You must study for your tests.
You DON’T HAVE TO study for your tests.
You NEEDN’T study for your tests.
NOT NECESSARY

25. HAD BETTER
GIVE ADVICE It is stronger than should and means that if the person doesn’t follow the advice, s/he can have negative consequences. You had better not eat so much. The doctor told you that you are overweight.

26. Functions of Modals WOULD RATHER
to show a preference I would rather work late every night than come in on Saturday.

27. Functions of Modals
WOULD LIKE
to express a desire I would like to go to music school.
To express a desire that was not realized I would have liked to have gone to music school. But I did not.

28. MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle
Modals in the Past
They are modals referred to actions that happened in the past
It must have been a difficult decision
They should have invited her to their wedding
MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle

29. Practise My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could
I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could c. ought to d. can
If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new diet.
a. Could b. mustn’t c. don’t have to d. had to
Johnnie’s fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will b. might c. may d. ought to
You _______ come too early. We won’t leave until 9 o’clock.
a. Has to b. must c. needn’t d. can’t

30. Practise Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. Ought to b. must c. would d. mustn’t
You _________ talk during tests. It’s forbidden!
a. don’t have to b. mustn’t c. couldn’t d. ought to
I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can b. would c. must d. have to
They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldn’t b. mustn’t c. shouldn’t d. couldn’t
You’ve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be serious!
a. Must b. had to c. can’t d. shouldn’t

31. Practise __________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?
a. Could b. may c. should d. would
You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. It’s a surprise!
a. mustn’t b. wouldn’t c. couldn’t d. can
__________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
a. Must b. May c. Would d. Need
He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have b. Should have c. Could have d. must

32. Possible answers
1. We could visit the Louvre / We should go up the Eiffel Tower
2. We have to buy a new notebook
3. She can speak 3 languages! / She is able to play the piano and the violin
4. I might stop working / I may buy a new car / I can travel to New York
5. You should see a doctor / You ought to drink hot tea
6. Can I borrow your car, please? or May I borrow your car, please?