Compiled By: MODAL VERBS
OUTLINE GENERAL FEATURES MODAL VERBS Classified according to the meaning they express We will include semi-modals or suppletive forms A modal verb can appear in more than one meaning
GENERAL FEATURES MOST OF THEM ARE FOLLOWED BY BARE INFINITIVE Ex: She should be here by five o clock They do not have inflections (-ed, -ing, 3rd person singular s) Ex: He can speak five different languages g They are negated by adding not Ex: She might not come since she is very angry with me We do not find those features in Be able to Have to Be allowed to
MODALS EXPRESSING ABILITY CAN: PRESENT ABILITY EX: She can read minds. COULD: PAST ABILITY, CONDITIONAL Ex: At the age of five, she could read and write
SEMI-MODAL MODAL VERBS BE ABLE TO: Suppletive form To express ability in all those tenses can, could can t express 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 POSSIBILITY AND CERTAINTY MUST EX: lucy must be at home. The lights are on May/might/could EX: Peter has come to class today. He might be ill Can t EX: Lucy can t be at home. The lights are off
MODALS OF OBLIGATION MUST ( Inner 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 Suppletive form for all those tenses must cannot express She had to get up early last Saturday since she had to attend a very important lecture
PROHIBITION AND NECESSITY MUSTN T Ex: You mustn t lie on your CV (NOT HAVE TO)Remember to use auxiliary verbs Ex: you don t have to pick me up if you don t want to (it s not compulsory) NEED You need to take some time off NEEDN T isn t followed by to Ex: you needn t study for this exam
Advice SHOULD/OUGHT TO They are used to express advice Ex: You ought not to apply for that job
Permission CAN/MAY/COULD It depends on the degree of politeness Can / May I come in? Could I come in Mr Robinson?
MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES MIGHT/MAY/COULD HAVE +PAST PARTICIPLE Something which was possible in the past but it didn t finally happen EX: She could have taken the job but she didn t
MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES Must have. Logical inference about the past Ex: you must have seen John at the party
MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES Can t have.. ( Impossiblitily in the past) Ex: She can t have understood the question
SHOULD HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE To express your opinions about something in the past. Now it s too late Ex: He should have agreed to come to the party. It was real fun
SHOULDN T HAVE It s used to express or show regret or express some criticism I shouldn t have drunk that much
HAD BETTER FORM HAD BETTER+ BARE INFINITIVE HAD BETTER NOT+BARE INFINITIVE Ex: We d better stop for petrol soon. The tank is almost emply Use: We use it for a particular situation and not for general advice
WOULD RATHER FORM WOULD RATHER+BARE INFINITIVE Ex: I d rather stay at home than go out WOULD RATHER NOT+BARE INFINITIVE Ex: I d rather not go out this evening if you don t mind
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
THANKYOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION