1. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

2. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS
DEFINITION
LIST
STRUCTURE
GROUPS
PERFECT MODALS

3. DEFINITION

4. 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

5. LIST OF MODAL VERBS

6. 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

7. MODAL VERBS STRUCTURE

8. 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?

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS

14. 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 ...

15. NUMBER OF MEANINGS

16. 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

17. GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

18. GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

19. GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

20. GROUPS OF MODAL VERBS (a. number of meanings)

21. MODAL MEANINGS

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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

32. 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

33. 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)

34. 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

35. 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

36. PRACTICE Click on this link to practice modal verbs: