Modal Verbs

We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability

to do something.

E.g. We can the ocean from our hotel window.

E.g. Can you speak any foreign language?

The negative of can is can not (can't).

E.g. I'm afraid I can't come to your party on Friday.

(Be) able to

Be able to and can  have the same meaning. We can use able to instead of can, be able to is formal

 can is informal and  more usual.

E.g. Are you able to speak any foreign language?

Sometimes it's necessary use be able to, because can has only two forms: present (can) and past (could).

E.g. I can't sleep. = I haven't be able to sleep recently.

E.g. Tom can come tomorrow. = Tom might be able to come tomorrow.

Could and was able to

 We use could specially with: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, understand.

E.g. When we went into the house, we could smell something burning.

E.g. Listen. I can hear something.

E.g. She spoke in a very soft voice, but I could understand what she said.

We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something.

E.g. My grandfather could speak five languages.

E.g. We were totally free. We could do whatever we wanted. = We were allowed to do.

We use could for general ability. But if we're talking about what happened in a particular situation,

we use was/were be able to or managed to (not could).

E.g. The fire spread through the building quickly, but everybody was able to escape.

                                   or

...everybody managed to escape (not could escape).

They didn't want to come with us at first, but we managed to persuade them.

                                     or

...we were able to persuade them (not could persuade them).

Compare:

• Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. = He had the general ability to beat anybody.

But Jack and Tom played tennis yesterday.

Tom played very well, but in the end Jack managed to beat him.

                                        or

...was able to beat him. = He managed to beat this time.

The negative could not (couldn't) is possible in all situations.

E.g. My grandfather couldn't swim.

E.g. We tried hard, but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.

E.g. Tom played well, but he couldn't beat Jack.

We use could in a number of ways. Sometimes could is the past tense of can.

E.g. Listen. I can hear something. (now)

E.g. I listened. I could hear something. (past)

We also use could to talk about possible actions now or in the future, specially to make a suggestion.

E.g. A: What would you like to do tonight?

E.g. B: We could go to the movies.

E.g. It's a nice day. We could go for a walk.

Can is also possible in these sentences ( we can go for a walk, etc...)

Could is less sure than can. Use could (not can) when you don't really mean what you say.

E.g. I'm so happy with him. I could kiss him. (not I can kiss him)

We also use could to say that something is possible now or in the future.

E.g. The phone is ringing. It could be Alex. (not it can be Alex).

E.g. I don't know when they'll be here. They could get there any time.

Can is not possible in these examples. In these sentences could is similar to might.

E.g. The phone is ringing it might be Alex. 

Compare could (do) and could have (done):

• I'm so tired. I could sleep for a week. (now).
• I was so tired I could have slept for a week. (past)

We normally use could have (done) for things that were possible but didn't happen:

• Why did you stayed at a hotel when you went to London?

You could have stayed with Grace. = You had the opportunity to stay with her, but you didn't.

• Bill fell off a ladder yesterday, but he's all right. He's lucky, he could have hurt himself

badly. ( but he didn't hurt himself).

Sometimes could means "would be able to".

E.g. We could take a trip if we had enough money. = We would be able to go away.

E.g. I don't how you work so hard. I couldn't do it.

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Could have (done) = would have been able to (do):

E.g. Why didn't Liz apply for the job? She could have gotten it.

E.g. We could have taken a trip if we would had enough money.

Must

We use must to say that we feel sure something is true.

E.g. You've been travelling all day. You must be tired. ( travelling is tiring and you've been travelling

all day, so you're probably tired).

E.g. Debbie must get very bored with her job. She does the same thing every day.

We use must not (mustn't) to say that we feel sure something isn't true.

E.g. Their car isn't outside their house. They must not be at home. = They must be out.

E.g. They haven't lived here very long. They must not know many people.

Study the structure

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Must (not) have done

For the past we use must (not) have done.

E.g. We used to live close the freeway. It must have been noisy.

E.g. Dylan walked straight into a wall. He must not have been looking where he was going.

Study the structure

Can not (can't) and Must not (mustn't)

It can't be true = I believe it's impossible:

E.g. How you can say such a thing? You can't be serious.

Compare can't and must not:

• A- Joe wants something to eat.
• B- But he just had lunch. He can't be hungry already. = It's impossible that he's hungry because he just had lunch.

• A- I offered Bill something to eat, but he didn't want anything.
• B- He mustn't be hungry. = I'm sure he's not hungry. (otherwise he would eat something).

May and Might

We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future.

E.g. I haven't decided what I'm doing for Spring break. I may go to Mexico. = Perhaps I'll go to Mexico.

E.g. Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later. = Perhaps it will rain.

The negatives forms are may not and might not:

E.g. Ann may not go out tonight. She isn't feeling well. = Perhaps she will not go out.

E.g. There might not be a meeting on Friday, because the director is sick.

Study the Structure

Usually it doesn't matter whether you use may or might. So you can say:

• I may go to Paris or I might go to Mexico.
• Dylan may be able to help you or might be able to help you.

But we use only might ( not may) when the situation is not real.

E.g. If I knew them better, I might invite them to dinner. (  may isn't possible in this situation, the situation here isn't real because I don't know them

very well, so I'm not going to invite them ).

For the past we use may have done or might have done :

Andrew: I wonder why Amy didn't answer the phone.

Bill: She may have been asleep. ( = perhaps she was asleep).

Katie: I can't find my bag anywhere.

Anne: You might have left it in the store. (= perhaps you left it in the store).

Sarah: I wonder why David was in such a bad mood yesterday.

Tony: He may not have been feeling well. (= perhaps he wasn't feeling well).

Study the structure:

There is also a continuous form: may, might be + ing form.

Compare this with will be + ing form :

E.g. Don't phone me at 8.30. I'll be watching the basketball game on TV.

E.g. Don't phone me at 8.30. I might be watching

                or

I may be watching the basketball game. = Perhaps I'll be watching it.

We also use may/ might be/ + ing form for possible plans.

Compare:

• I'm going to New York in July. (I'm sure)
• I might be going /  or I may be going to Paris in July. (it's possible)

But you can also say " I may go or I might go to Rome " with little difference in meaning.

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Might as well / may as well

We might as well do something = we should do something because there's nothing better to do

and there is no reason not to do it.

You can also say may as well.

E.g. Oliver: What time are you going?

E.g. David: Well, I'm ready, so I might as well go now.

E.g. Rents are so high these days, you may as well buy a house.

Sometimes could has a similar meaning to may and might:

• The phone is ringing. It could be Matt. = it might / may be Matt.
• You could have left your bag in the store. = you may / might have left it there.

But could not ( couldn't ) is different from may not and might not.

Compare:

E.g. He was too far away so he couldn't have seen you. (= it isn't possible that he saw you).

E.g. David: I wonder why she didn't say hello.

E.g. Marie: She might not have seen you. (= perhaps she didn't see you;  perhaps she did)

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Has / have to and Must

We use have to do, to say that it's necessary to do something.

E.g. I have to get up early tomorrow. My flight leaves at 7.30.

E.g. This street ends at the next block, so you have to turn right.

E.g. Jason can't meet us this evening. He has to work late.

E.g. Last week Nicole broke her arm and had to go to the hospital.

E.g. Have you ever had to go to the dentist?

E.g. I might have to leave the meeting early.

In simple present and past simple questions, we use do/does and did:

• What do I have to do to get a driver's licence. (not what have I to do?)
• What she has to do to get a driver's licence ? (not what has she to do?)
• Does Kimberley have to work tomorrow?  
• Do you have to go tomorrow?
• Why did you have to go to the hospital?
• Why did she have to go to the work?

In negative sentences, we use don't/doesn't/didn't:

E.g. I don't have to get up early tomorrow. (not I haven't to get up)

E.g. Kimberly doesn't have to work on Sundays.

E.g. We didn't have to pay to park the car.

You can use have got to instead of have to for the present. So you can say:

E.g. I've got to work now or I have to work now.

E.g. He has go to visit his aunt in the hospital tonight or he has to visit his aunt in the hospital tonight.

We can also use must to say that it is necessary to do something:

E.g. I must get to the store before it closes.

E.g. When you go to San Francisco next week, you really must visit Golden Gate Park.

Must is often used in written rules and instructions:

E.g. You must apply by April 15. (= your application won't be accepted after that date)

E.g. This medicine must be taken with food.

You can also use have to in these situations.

We use must to talk about the present or future but not the past:

• I had to get up early yesterday. (not I must)

Must not (mustn't) and don't/doesn't have to, are completely different in meaning

You mustn't do something = it is necessary that you not do it, so don't do it:

• You must keep it a secret. You mustn't tell anyone. (= don't tell anyone)
• I promised I would be on time. I mustn't be late. (= I must be on time)

You don't have to do something = you don't need to do it ( but you can if you want)

E.g. You don't have to tell him, but you can if you want to.

E.g. Sue isn't working tomorrow, so she doesn't have to get up early.

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Should

You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do. You can use should

to give advice or to give an opinion:

• You look tired. You should go to bed.
• The government should do more to help homeless people.
• Kim: "Should we invite Susan to the party?"
• Caroline: "Yes, I think we should."

Should is often used with: I (don't) think/ Do you think...?

E.g. I think the government should do more to help homeless people.

E.g. I don't think you should work so hard.

E.g. Anthony: " Do you think I should apply for this job?"

E.g. Margaret: " Yes, I think you should".

You shouldn't do something = it isn't a good thing to do.

E.g. You shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Should is not as strong as must:

• You should apologize. (= it would be a good thing to do)
• You must apologize. (= you've no alternative)

We also use should when something is not right or not what we expect:

• I wonder where Liz is. She should be here by now. (= she isn't here yet, and this is not normal)
• The price on this package is wrong. It should be £ 1.50 not 1.65.
• Those boys shouldn't be playing football right now. They should be in school.

We use should to say that we expect something to happen:

E.g. She's been studying hard for the exam, so she should pass. (= I expect her to pass)

E.g. There are plenty of hotels in this city. It shouldn't be difficult to find a place to stay.

(= I don't expect that it will be difficult)

You should have done something = you didn't do it, but it would have been the right thing to do:

• It was a great party last night. You should have come. Why didn't you?
• (= you didn't come, but it would have been good to come)
• I feel sick. I shouldn't have eaten so much chocolate. (= I ate too much chocolate)
• I wonder why they're so late. They should have been here an hour ago.
• She shouldn't have been listening to our conversation. It was private.

Compare should (do) and should have (done):

• You look tired. You should go to bed now.
• You went to bed very late last night.
• You should have gone to bed earlier.

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Ought to

You can use ought (with to) instead of should:

• Do you think I ought to apply for this job? (= do you think I should apply?)
• She's been studying hard for this exam, so she ought to pass.

Subjunctive ( I suggest you do)

Lisa: Mary, why don't you buy some new clothes?

Lisa suggested (that) Mary buy some new clothes.

The subjunctive is always the same as the base form ( I buy, he buy, she buy, etc...)

Structure - Subject + base form (do, buy, be, etc...)

The subjunctive is used after these verbs: suggest, recommend, insist, demand, propose.

E.g. I suggest (that) you take a vacation.

E.g. The doctor recommended (that) I rest for a few days.

E.g. They insisted (that) we've dinner with them.

E.g. I insisted (that) he have dinner with us.

E.g. He demanded (that) she apologize to him.

The negative is not + the base form ( I not be, you not leave, she not go, etc...)

E.g. The doctor recommended that I not go to work for two days.

E.g. They insisted that he not bring them a present.

The subjunctive is used for the present, past or the future:

• I insist (that) you come with us.
• They insisted (that) I go with them.

Note the subjunctive be (often passive):

E.g. I insisted (that) something be done about the problem.

E.g. The chairperson proposed (that) the plans be changed.

E.g. The airline recommends that the passengers be two hours early.

Other structures are possible after insist and suggest:

• They insisted on my having dinner with them.
• It was a beautiful evening, so I suggested going for a walk.

It isn't possible to use the infinitive after suggest:

E.g. She suggested that he buy some new clothes. ( not  suggest me to do)

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Had better / It's time...

Note that the form is " had better", usually I'd better/ you'd better, etc... in spoken English.

I'd better do something = it is advisable to do it.

If I don't, there will be a problem or a danger:

•  I've to meet Amy in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late.
• " Do you think I should take an umbrella?"
• " Yes, you'd better. It might rain."
• We'd better stop for gas soon. The tank is almost empty.

The negative is I had better not  (=I'd better not):

• " Are you going out tonight?"
• "I'd better not. I've got a lot of work to do."
• Are you coming. You'd better not be late.

Had is a past form, but sometimes is meaning is present or future, not past.

E.g. I'd better go to the bank now/tomorrow.

We normally say I'd better do...(not to do):

• It might rain. We'd better take an umbrella. (not we'd better to take)

Had better and should

Had better is similar to should, but not exactly the same. We use had better only for specific

occasions (not for things in general). You can use should in all types of situations to give an opinion

or to give advice:

• It's cold today. You'd better wear a coat when you go out. (a specific occasion)
• I think all drivers should wear seat belts. (in general - not had better wear)

Also, with had better, there is always a danger or a problem if you don't follow the advice.

Should means it's a good thing to do.

Compare:

• It's a great movie. You should go and see it. (but no problem if you don't)
• The movie starts at 8.30. You'd better go now or you'll be late.

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It's time...

You can say, it's time (for somebody) to do something:

• It's time to go home./ It's time for us to go home.

It's also possible to say:

• It's late. It's time we went home.

Here the past (went) is used, but the meaning is present, not past.

E.g. It's 10:00 and he's still in bed. It's time he got up. (not it's time he gets up)

It's time you did something = you should have done it already or started it.

We often use the structure it's time to criticize or to complain:

• It's time the children were in bed. It's long past their bedtime.
• The windows are very dirty. I think it's time somebody washed them.

It's also possible to say " It's about time..." this makes the criticism stronger:

• Gordon is a great talker. But it's about time he did something instead of just talking.

Can / Could / Would you...? ( requests, offers, permission and invitations)

We often use can or could to ask people to do things (requests):

• Can you wait a minute, please?

                   or

• Could you wait a minute, please?
• Liz can you do me a favour?
• Could you open the door, please?
• Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the airport?
• I wonder if you could help me.

Note that we say " Do you think you could...?" (not usually can)

• Do you think you could lend me some money until next week?

We also use will and would to ask people to do things (but can / could are more usual):

• Liz, will you do me a favour?
• Would you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.

Asking for things

To ask for something we use Can I have...? or Could I have...?:

• Can I have these these postcards, please?
• Could I have the salt, please?

May I have...? is also possible (but less usual):

• May I have the salt, please?

Asking for and giving permission

To ask for permission to do something, we use can, could or may:

• Hello, can I speak to Tom, please?
• Could I use your phone?
• Do you think I could borrow your bike?
• May I come in?

May is formal and less usual than can or could.

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Offering to do things

We use can I...? or May I...? when we offer to do things.

• Can I get you a cup of tea?
• May I help you?

Offering and inviting

To offer or to invite we use would you like ...? (not do you like) :

• Would you like a cup of coffee?
• Would you like to go to the movies with us, Saturday night?

I had like ( I'd like)... is a polite way of saying what you want:

• I'd like some information about hotels, please.
• I'd like to try on this jacket, please.

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