Escola Bsica e Secundria Prof. Dr.

Francisco de Freitas
Branco, Porto Santo
2006/2007 - Cidlia Alves

English - 10th grade - Level 6

Modal Verbs
MODAL VERBS have special characteristics:
they are followed by bare infinitive (infinitive without to);
no s on the 3rd person singular;
no ing form;
no auxiliaries in the interrogative and negative forms.

Modal Verb

Function

Can

Could

May

Might

permission (politeness) - May I open the window, please?

possibility - The chauffeur may be in the car.

ability - John can speak English, but he can't speak Spanish.

ability (in the past) - My mother could swim when she was younger.
possibility - I can learn English.
permission - Can I smoke in the room?
offer - Can I help you, madam?
request - Could you bring me a cup of tea, please?

Susan may not come tomorrow.

You might participate in the contest.
probability - It might rain.

Substituing verb

To be able to
To be capable of
To be (im)possible to
To be allowed to

To be allowed to
To be likely to
To be probable to
Perhaps will

Will

Would

requests (more polite) - Would you mind closing the door?

determination/intention - I will pass the exam.

To want
To desire
To be determined to

Shall

Should

Do you want?
Lets
To have to (morally)
To be the (moral) duty
To be better
would better

obligation/duty - You must do your homework, whether you want to or

not.

deduction - He has a great car. He must earn a lot of money.

necessity - You must go to the doctor if you can't see well.

To have to
To be obliged to
To have the obligation
To be certain

Must

offer - Shall I open the door for you?

suggestion - Shall we go to the cinema?
advice - You should eat more vegetables.
duty/moral obligation - Children should listen to their parents.

Mustn't

prohibition - You mustn't cross the road when the red light is on.

To be forbidden
To be prohibited to

Ought to

recommendation/moral obligation - You ought to study more.

To have to

Need/
/Neednt

(absence of) obligation/necessity - You neednt run. Its still early.

To be necessary
Dont need to
Dont have to

Dare

audacity or lack of it - How dare you?/He darent look at me.

To have the courage to

Exercise:
Rewrite the following sentences replacing some words or expressions by a modal verb and making
the necessary transformations.
1. The students are allowed to go to the zoo.
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2. Jane isnt able to eat food with garlic.
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3. It was impossible for the man to carry the heavy suitcase upstairs.
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4. Look at the sky. Perhaps it will rain.
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5. It is better for you to tell your father what happened.
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6. It is necessary for them to come this morning because its urgent.
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7. It isnt necessary for you to come. Theres no work to do.
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8. Ten steaks are likely to be enough for everybody.
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9. The government has the obligation of building houses for the homeless.
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10.

It is childrens duty to respect their parents.

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11.

My sister is forbidden to arrive home after midnight.

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12.

Lets go to a bar.

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13.

She is determined to go to the concert.

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14.

It is forbidden to smoke inside the building.

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15.

It is almost certain that Peter missed the train.

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