2021
COMPACT FIRST: UNIT 3
GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL
MODAL VERBS
ABILITY
-To express ability in the PRESENT, we use CAN or BE ABLE TO (You can see the mountains
from my balcony; I’m not able to read without my glasses).
- To express general ability, we use COULD or BE ABLE TO (The sea was warm, so we were
able to swim all year round; In the old days you could buy everything at the local market).
-To talk about ability on a specific occasion in the past, we only use BE ABLE TO (Luckily we
didn’t get lost because Alice was able to get directions from someone).
POSSIBILITY
-To say that something is possible in the PRESENT, we use COULD, MAY or MIGHT (Without
treatment, your health could be at risk; I may be able to join you later, but I can’t say for sure).
-To talk about possibility in the PAST, we use COULD HAVE/ MAY HAVE/ MIGHT HAVE +
PARTICIPLE (She could have let us know about the charge, but she forgot).
IMPOSSIBILITY
-To say that something is impossible in the PRESENT, we use CAN’T (You can’t cross the river
here because the bridge is closed).
-To say that something is impossible in the PAST, we use CAN’T HAVE/ COULDN’T HAVE +
PARTICIPLE (You can’t have seen James in town today because he was at home all day).
CERTAINTY
-For the PRESENT, we use MUST (You must be exhausted after walking such a long way).
-For the PAST, we use MUST HAVE + PARTICIPLE (They must have been terribly worried
when their children didn’t come home).
OBLIGATION
-For the PRESENT, we use MUST when the obligation is by the speaker (Everyone must report
to me before they go home).
-When the obligation comes from outside, we often use HAVE TO (The new law means that we
have to pay more for public transport).
-For both kinds of obligation in the past, we use HAD TO (We had to come home by train because
the airport was closed).
NO OBLIGATION/ UNNECESSARY
-When there is no obligation to do something, or when it is unnecessary, we use DON’T HAVE
TO, DON’T NEED TO or NEEDN’T (You don’t have to bring your own towel because
everything is provided).
-DIDN’T NEED TO: when something was unnecessary in the PAST, and didn’t happen (We
didn’t need to pay because the concert was free -> we didn’t pay).
Mª José González López
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