MODALS

   

   The same modal verb can be used in different ways, and with different meanings. We only know
   the meaning from the situation. For example, could:

   I could get to work in 30 minutes in my last job.    (ability: past time)

   Could you pass the salt, please?                              (request: present time)

   That could be difficult.                                         (uncertainty: future time)

   

                                              Ability

   

o       Can -- canīt/ cannot                           to be able to

   Can you deliver in two weeks? -- No, we canīt.

   

                                            Past Ability

   

     o Could describes past ability

   When I was young I could run very fast.

     o Was able to describes the ability to successfully complete an action.

   Marry was able to help us.            (She actually helped us)

   Marry could help us.                      (But perhaps she didn't)

   

                                                Will

   

     o When will expresses the idea of "willingness" -- such as in requests and offerings, it can
       be used as a modal verb

   Will you hold the lift for me, please?

   Will you have some more coffee?

   

   Necessity (obligation)

   

     o To say that something is necessary we use have to, need to and must.

   We must finish the meting by eleven at the latest.

     o To make a question, we avoid using must as we can sound annoyed then.

   Do you have to/ need to work this evening? x Must you work this evening?

   

                                           Past Necessity

   

     o had to and needed to

   

                               No necessity, permission, prohibition

   

     o When something is not necessary we use donīt have to and donīt need to

   You donīt have to pay right now, we can give you credit.

     o When something is permitted we use can and be allowed to. When something is prohibited we
       use canīt, be not allowed to and mustnīt. Mustnīt is more usual when telling someone what
       not to do.

   Youīre not allowed to park on a double yellow line.            (thatīs the law)

   You mustnīt talk about politics if they invite you to dinner.  (Iīm telling you)

   

   

     o Notice that have to and must have similar meanings in their affirmative forms but
       different meanings in their negative forms.

   I have to/ must leave now.       (it is necessary for me to leave)

   I donīt have to leave.     (it is not necessary, I have a choice whether to leave)

   I mustnīt leave now.                (it is prohibited, I cannot leave)

   

                        No necessity, permission and prohibition IN THE PAST

   

     o No necessity -- didnīt have to and didnīt need to.
     o Permission -- could, was allowed
     o Prohibition -- couldnīt, wasnīt allowed to

   

                                        Opinions and advice

   

     o To give an opinion, advice or recommendation about what is the best thing to do we use
       should, should not, ought to and ought not.

   You should speak to your boss.

     o Had better (not) is used for strong options. Had is usually contracted.

   Youīd better not interrupt him while he is on the phone.

     o When we use these verbs in the past (+ have + past participle) we mean that we didnīt do
       the right thing and now we are making a criticism.

   We shouldnīt have spent all the advertising budget on television spots.

   

                                     Certainty and uncertainty

   

   100 %           will, be certain to

   95%              must, can't

   80%                       should, ought to, be likely to, shouldn't, ought not to,
   be unlikely to

   30-70%         might, may, could, may not, might not

   0%               won't

   

                                   Past Certainty and uncertainty

   

     o Must have and canīt have -- these are used to make deductions about past actions. The have
       form does not change.

   I must have left my wallet in the car.

   Jim canīt have noticed you.

     o May have, might have and could have -- these express possibility and uncertainty about past
       actions. The have form does not change.

   He may not have received the letter.

   You could have been killed.

   



                                             REMEMBER:

                              Must                              muset

  Needn't                         nemuset



   May, be allowed to                  smėt

                              Mustn't                          nesmėt