MODALS
Before explaining the different uses of modals, there are several aspects to consider.
WHAT’S A MODAL
They are verbs which have special characteristics:
1. They are followed by infinitives without to (except ought to we consider it a modal
for practical purposes, but in English grammars, it is not, it has another name)
I must pay attention
2. They can act as auxiliaries, so they do not need auxiliaries for the negative and
interrogative forms.
I cannot go
Should I stay?
3. They need to be followed by another verb (bare infinitive), they cannot go alone
(except when the verb has been omitted to avoid repetition). Besides, it adds other
meanings to the verb (ability, possibility, prohibition…)
I play tennis
I can play tennis (can adds the meaning of ability to the verb play)
4. They cannot be used for all the tenses, so, when they cannot be used, other modals,
the auxiliary have or other verbs are used (I’ll explain later).
I can play
I could play (in this case, could, which is a modal, can be used)
I will be able to play (we don’t have a modal for the past, so we use the verb be able
to)
It can’t be Mary, the past of this is it can’t have been Mary.
5. Two modals cannot be together.
I will can go I will be able to go
These are the modal verbs: can, could, may, might, will, would, must, should, ought to
Now I will explain them, not one by one, because they have several meanings, but by the
meaning, that is, ability, permission… I will include modals but also the rest of verbs which are
used when these modals cannot be used.
NOTE: those modals followed by HAVE+participle are called PERFECT/PAST MODALS (these
are in the unit.
ABILITY (saber hacer algo)
Present CAN
