Grammar: modal verbs I
Introducing modal verbs
Introducing modal verbs
Paco is still in the province of Ontario but he has already left Ottawa and has travelled to Toronto, where he is going to stay for a few days. It is a very touristic region, especially for people from the United States.
What is Paco going to do in this city? We don't know yet but here are some possibilities:
- He could visit the area called Yorkville, full of restaurants, galleries and shops.
- He may go for a walk around Toronto's Queen's Quay.
- Or he might experience the main tourist attraction in Canada: the Niagara Falls.
Let's discover it in this topic!
Reflexión
Let's study the examples of modal verbs we have seen in the previous sections:
1. It consists of 10 provinces and three territories as you can see in the map.
2. There are two official languages in this country, English and French, so Paco can communicate with Canadian people without any problem.
By robynejay, C. Commons 3. For example, all laws must be enacted in English and French
4. However, this does not mean people in the country can speak both languages.
5. Then he might go up to the north and visit the province of Nunavut.
6. Paco could meet some Inuit people there.
7. This makes him think he should buy some warmer clothes.
8. It must be freezing in the Arctic!
Let's learn about modal verbs in general. Pay attention to this video and then answer the questions below.
1- What are the modal verbs?
2- Why are they sometimes referred to as modal auxiliary verbs?
3- Complete these rules:
There is no _______ in the 3rd person singular.
There is no _____________ in the negative.
There is no _____________ in the question.
Modal verbs do not normally have_____________ forms.
Modal verbs do not have ______________ or -ing forms.
They are followed by an ____________ without 'to'. (Exception: ought to)
As we have just seen, a modal verb can express different meanings and different modal verbs can convey the same meaning:
MUST
All laws must be enacted in English and French. (obligation)
It must be freezing in the Arctic! (deduction)
POSSIBILITY
Paco might visit the province of Nunavut.
Paco could meet some Inuit people there.
What do these sentences express?
1. You mustn't smoke in this room.
2. I may go out with him.
3. May I open the door?
4. You ought to study more.
Table of modal verbs
Table of modal verbs
Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from other verbs. Learn here the most important characteristics:
- They don't take -s in the third person: She can play the piano
- "Not" is used to make modal verbs negative: She should not smoke
- Most modal verbs don't have past or future tenses: They will can change the tickets
Common Modal Verbs
|
Can |
Ought to |
The verbs "have to" and "need/needn't" are closely related to modals in meaning.
Have a look at this website in order to learn the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms of modal verbs.
Modal verbs expressing abilty and persmission
Modal verbs expressing ability and permission
As we have seen in the previous sections, different modal verbs have the same or similar uses. Let's begin having a look at the verbs expressing ability, request and permission.
| VERB | MODAL VALUE |
USE |
EXAMPLE |
| Can | ability in the present |
+ - ? |
She can speak Chinese Can you drive? |
| Could | ability in the past |
+ - ? |
Could you swim when you were three? I could play the piano when I was a kid |
| Will be able to | ability in the future |
+ - ? |
I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course |
| Can | request/permission in the present or near future |
+ - ? I |
Can I go to the cinema this evening? Yes, you can / No, you can't Can you lend me your computer? |
| May | permission in the present or near future |
+ - ? F |
May I leave the table now? You may not leave the table until you have finished |
| Could |
polite request, present or near future |
? F |
Could I have something to drink? |
+ = used in affirmative sentences
- = used in negative sentences
? = used in questions
F = formal use
I = informal use
Exercise
 |
| By David@UNT, C. Commons |
Dad, can I go on the Maid of the Mist please?
Yes, you can.
Dad, can you read this to me, please?
Tom can read too.
Excuse me, sir, may I take this chair?
2- What is the difference between 'can' and 'may'? Is there another way of expressing permission and request politely?
3- What is the past form of 'can' (both meaning ability and permission)?
Further practice
| Exercise 1 |
Exercise 2 |
Exercise 3 |