Understanding Modal Verbs and Their Meanings
Learn about modal verbs and their various meanings, including abilities, permissions, possibilities, and more. Explore examples and understand how to use modal verbs correctly in English sentences.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Button-04-june.gif FORM FORM MODAL VERBS do not have a third person s Ex: She can swim. (not - She cans swim.) MODAL VERBS take the bare infinitive (without to ) Ex: I should go now. (not I should to go now.) MODAL VERBS take not to form the negative Ex: You can t smoke in here. (not You don t can smoke in here.) MODAL VERBS use inversion of the subject in questions Ex: Can I come in? (not Do I can come in?)
Button-04-june.gif USE USE MODAL VERBS can have more than one meaning. What does can mean in each sentence? He can speak five languages. Can I go to the cinema? In this case someone is asking for PERMISSION In this case someone is talking about ABILITIES
Button-04-june.gif ABILITY ABILITY CAN / COULD CAN / COULD ( (being being able able to do to do something something) ) ability in the present He can can run run quite fast. He could could run he was younger. run quite fast when ability in the past lack of ability in the present I can t can t speak speak English fluently. I couldn t couldn t speak speak English at all a year ago. lack of ability in the past
Button-04-june.gif PERMISSION PERMISSION CAN / COULD / MAY CAN / COULD / MAY Can Can / could could / may phone, please? may I answer answer the asking for permission to do something CAN (less formal) COULD (formal)MAY (more formal) Yes, you can may may answer answer your phone. can / may may. You can can / giving permission refusing permission No, you can t can t / may may not not. To give or refuse permission we use CAN/MAY but not COULD.
Button-04-june.gif POSSIBILITY (1) POSSIBILITY (1) MAY / MIGHT / COULD MAY / MIGHT / COULD There is someone at the door. It may may / might might / could to show that something is possible, but not certain could be Ann. MAY(more possible) MIGHT/COULD (less possible) to express a present/future uncertainty It may may not not / might might not not be Ann. We do not use COULDN T to express uncertainty in the present.
Button-04-june.gif POSSIBILITY (2) POSSIBILITY (2) CAN/ COULD CAN/ COULD It can can be (it is sometimes very cold) It could could be be very cold in winter. (sometimes it was very cold) be very cold in winter. to make general statements about what is/was possible SHOULD SHOULD ( (very very likely likely or or certain certain) ) to suggest something that is true or will happen It s nearly 6. They should here any minute. should be be
Button-04-june.gif POSSIBILITY (3) POSSIBILITY (3) MUST MUST to show that we are sure something to be true (we have reasons for it) You haven t eaten all day. You must must be quite hungry. be CAN T / COULDN T CAN T / COULDN T to show that something is impossible She can t can t be be in Italy. I saw her today. We knew it couldn t couldn t be be true.
Button-04-june.gif OBLIGATION OBLIGATION MUST MUST ( (strong strong obligation obligation) ) to say that it is necessary to do something You must stop must stop at a red light. SHOULD(N T) SHOULD(N T) ( (weak weak obligation obligation) ) He should should drive carefully. drive more to show what is right / appropriate to do You shouldn t shouldn t drink drink and drive drive.
Button-04-june.gif PROHIBITION PROHIBITION MUSTN T / CAN T MUSTN T / CAN T to show that something is prohibited / not allowed You mustn t mustn t / / can t here. . can t smoke smoke Can t Can t tells us that something is against the rules. Mustn t Mustn t is usually used when the obligation comes from the person who is speaking.
Button-04-june.gif ADVICE / SUGGESTIONS ADVICE / SUGGESTIONS SHOULD(N T) / COULD SHOULD(N T) / COULD You should send should send him an email. You should see should see a doctor. to make a suggestion and give advice to make a suggestion We could could meet meet at the weekend.
Button-04-june.gif REQUESTS REQUESTS CAN / COULD / WILL / WOULD CAN / COULD / WILL / WOULD Would Would you carry me please? carry this for to tell or ask someone to do something Could I have Could I have the bill please? Can Can you take please? Will Will you carry please? take a message can and will are less polite carry this for me
OFFERS / INVITATIONS OFFERS / INVITATIONS CAN / COULD / SHALL / WILL / WOULD CAN / COULD / SHALL / WILL / WOULD Can I Can I help you? Shall I Shall I call the police? We use Can I? / Shall I? Can I? / Shall I? to make offers I can do can do that for you if you like. I ll do I ll do that for you if you like. I could I could give him a lift. We say I can ... or I could ... or I ll (I will) ... to make an offer Would Would you like Would Would you like cinema? like my help? like to go to the We use would you like (to) ... for offers and invitations
