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    Modals Grammar

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    Sharkie
    The document discusses the uses of modal verbs in English including: can, could, may, might, must, need not, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate ability, permission, possibility, necessity, offers, suggestions, habits and other meanings.

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    Modals Grammar

    Uploaded by

    Sharkie
    30 views6 pages
    The document discusses the uses of modal verbs in English including: can, could, may, might, must, need not, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate ability, permission, possibility, necessity, offers, suggestions, habits and other meanings.

    Original Description:

    Explanation of Modal Verbs in the English Language

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    The document discusses the uses of modal verbs in English including: can, could, may, might, must, need not, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate ability, permission, possibility, necessity, offers, suggestions, habits and other meanings.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    30 views6 pages

    Modals Grammar

    Uploaded by

    Sharkie
    The document discusses the uses of modal verbs in English including: can, could, may, might, must, need not, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to indicate ability, permission, possibility, necessity, offers, suggestions, habits and other meanings.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 6

    1.

    can

    Use Examples

    ability to do sth. in the present (substitute


    I can speak English.
    form: to be able to)

    permission to do sth. in the present (substitute


    Can I go to the cinema?
    form: to be allowed to)

    request Can you wait a moment, please?

    I can lend you my car till


    offer
    tomorrow.

    Can we visit Grandma at the


    suggestion
    weekend?

    possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

    2. could

    Use Examples

    ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form:


    I could speak English.
    to be able to)

    permission to do sth. in the past (substitute


    I could go to the cinema.
    form: to be allowed to)
    Use Examples

    polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

    polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

    I could lend you my car till


    polite offer *
    tomorrow.

    Could we visit Grandma at the


    polite suggestion *
    weekend?

    possibility * It could get very hot in Montana.

    3. may

    Use Examples

    possibility It may rain today.

    permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to May I go to the


    be allowed to) cinema?

    polite suggestion May I help you?

    4. might
    Use Examples

    possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.

    hesitant offer * Might I help you?

    5. must

    Use Examples

    force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

    possibility You must be tired.

    advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

    6. must not/may not

    Use Examples

    You mustn't work on dad's computer.

    prohibition (must is a little stronger)

    You may not work on dad's computer.

    7. need not
    Use Examples

    sth. is not I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant


    necessary tonight.

    8. ought to
    simliar to should ought to sounds a little less subjective

    Use Examples

    advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

    obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

    9. shall
    used instead of will in the 1st person

    Use Examples

    suggestion Shall I carry your bag?

    10. should

    Use Examples

    advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.


    Use Examples

    obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

    11. will

    Use Examples

    wish, request, demand, order (less polite


    Will you please shut the door?
    than would)

    prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.

    promise I will stop smoking.

    Can somebody drive me to the station?


    spontaneous decision
    - I will.

    She's strange, she'll sit for hours


    habits
    without talking.

    12. would

    Use Examples

    wish, request (more polite than


    Would you shut the door, please?
    will)

    habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some


    Use Examples

    flowers.

    * These are no past forms, they refer to the future.

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