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MODAL VERBS
- Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs which indicate modality (likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation).
- They only exist in their helping form (they are always followed by another verb); they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.
- They do not add the suffix –s in the third singular person
- They are always followed by a verb in the base form (except ought to )
- They cannot be used in all moods and tenses and have to be replaced by other verbs or verb phrases.
CAN
- Can is used: a) to express a real possibility: e.g.: Smoking can cause lung cancer b) to express an ability: e.g.: Mary can’t drive John can speak Chinese c) to make a request (not very formal): e.g.: Can you close the window, please? Can you tell me your name, please?
d) to give or deny a permission :
e.g.: You can use my car, if you want You can’t go in there
e) with verbs of perception ( to see, to hear, to feel, to smell, to taste, to touch) :
e.g.: Can you see Jim’s cat over there?
f) with the verbs to find, to remember, to speak, to understand :
e.g.: I can’t remember her name That patient can’t understand Italian
With verbs indicated in e) and f) it is also possible to use the Simple Present but the use of can is more common.
g) to express speculations or deductions in negative sentences (present or past):
e.g.: You can’t be sleepy! It’s only ten o’clock! You can't have seen John in town yesterday! He is in New York!
MAY
a) to express a possibility based on a supposition (present or past):
e.g.: Ken may be at work She may have measles He may have gone home.
b) To make a request (more formal than can):
e.g.: May I speak to Dr Kenneth_?_ May I use your phone?
c) to give or deny a permission (more formal than can):
e.g.: I’m afraid, you may not smoke here You may go home, if you wish
COULD
a) to indicate an ability in the past:
e.g.: My grandfather could speak Japanese
b) to indicate a possibility in the past :
He might have been busy.
Exercise: Translate the following sentences into English
- (^) Solo gli studenti del primo anno possono sostenere l'esame di inglese. …………………………………………………………………………………….
- Mi scusi, signore. Posso farle una domanda? ……………………………………………………………....................................
- Posso comprare questa medicina senza prescrizione? ……………………………………………………………………………………..
- Mi dispiace ma non può usare il telefono qui dentro. ……………………………………………………………………………………..
- Jane sa parlare spagnolo molto bene. ………………………………………………………………………………………
- Non potete essere fratelli! Siete così diversi! ……………………………………………………………………………………….
- Può darsi che Mary non sia al lavoro oggi. ………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Susy è piuttosto calda. Potrebbe avere la febbre. ……………………………………………………………………………………………
- Posso parcheggiare la macchina qui? …………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Puoi darmi 50 centesimi per il distributore del caffè? ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Non riesco a trovare le chiavi della macchina. …………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Lo senti questo rumore? ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Non ricordo il suo nome. ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Questa medicina può avere effetti collaterali. ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Senza occhiali non vedo molto bene. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Exercise: Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence using a modal verb (choose among can, may, could, might ). In some cases more than one
possibility is correct.
- Please, take your shirt off in case the doctor wants to listen to your chest.
Please, take your shirt off. The doctor …………………….................................................
- Perhaps Jane has a temperature. She seems very hot.
Jane ……………………………………………………………………. She seems very hot.
- It is possible that Tom is arriving late.
Tom ………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Take my car if you need it.
You …………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Excuse me, is it possible to use the toilet?
Excuse me, …………………………………………………..................................................?
- Tim is not at home. Maybe he is at work.
Tim is not at home, he …………………………………….....................................................
- Why don’t we go to the cinema tonight?
We …………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Helen is very ill. I think she has a virus.
Helen is very ill. She …………………………………………………………………………..
- Don’t tell me you are hungry! It’s only 11 in the morning!
You ………………………………………………………………………………………….
- Excuse me, I am feeling very bad. I want to see a doctor.
Excuse me, I am feeling very bad. ……………………………………………………….…?
- If you need an injection ask a nurse. I'm sorry but I do not know how to give injections.
If you need an injection ask a nurse. I'm sorry but I …………………………………………..
- I need to take your blood pressure. You have to roll up your sleeve, please.
I need to take your blood pressure. ……………………………………………………….…?
