MODAL VERBS
Common characteristics:
1. They don’ take an “s” in the third singular person. “He can’t smoke”
2. They are followed by a bare infinitive. “I can swim”(Exception ought to)
3. Negative: they use “not” after the modal. I can’t speak German.
4. Questions: Can you speak German?
5. They can’t be used in all the verb tenses. We can use semi-modals (be able to, have to)
USES
Ability: Can (present). “I can speak German”
Could (past). “I could swim when I was 4”
Be able to. “I was able to swim”
Requests/Permission: May (formal) . “May I go to the toilet”
Can (informal) Can I go to the toilet?
Will/Could (polite) “Will/Could you help me?”
Would (polite) “Would you mind if I sit down”
Suggestions: Shall. “Shall we go know?”
Could. “You could visit the Prado Museum”
Advice/Recommendation: Should. “You should give up smoking”
Must. “You must read that book. It’s really interesting”
Possibility: Can (general). “It can snow sometimes in Madrid”
May (strong). “It may snow tomorrow”
Could/Might (weaker). “It could/might snow tomorrow”
Obligation: Must/have to (strong) “You must memorize the sentence”
Ought to/Should (mild). “You ought to tell the truth”
Lack of obligation/necessity: needn’t “You needn’t come today”
Don’t have to ”You don’t have to come”
Prohibition: Mustn´t. “You mustn’t smoke indoors”
Deduction/positive conclusion: Must. “He must be the teacher”
Should (less common). He left an hour ago. He Should be there by now.
Deduction/Negative conclusion: Can´t. “He can’t be rich. His house Is very old”
