|
WHICH ARE
THEY? |
|
The purpose of this grammar is to remind
you of the meaning and function of modal verbs (or just
modals). Additional work on meaning, plus a look at
modal verbs in the past, will be found in Unit 10, Lesson 1. |
|
This is a list of the 12 modals you
should have met before starting this FCE course: |
|
can |
could |
have to |
may |
might |
must |
|
need |
ought to |
shall |
should |
will |
would |
|
|
POSSIBILITY
AND OBLIGATION |
|
You can use a modal verb when you want to express ideas like
possibility and obligation, or when you want someone to
behave in a particular way, for example, to follow your advice: |
|
They
may have two holidays this year
►
POSSIBILITY |
|
You
must pay a deposit
if you make a reservation
►
OBLIGATION |
|
Your friend
should start
a course at OM Personal
►
ADVICE |
|
Please note that modal verbs are followed by the infinitive
without 'to', except for have to and
ought to. |
|
WHICH IDEAS
DO MODAL VERBS EXPRESS? |
|
Read these ten sentences and study the
ideas they express: |
|
1 |
He
has to travel round South America for his job. |
|
|
►
OBLIGATION: has to |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: must, should, ought to |
|
|
|
2 |
He
won't go to big hotels. |
|
|
►
UNWILLINGNESS: won't |
|
|
|
3 |
In our hotel children
could run around with
no danger. |
|
|
►
ABILITY: could |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: be able to |
|
|
NOTE: managed to + infinitive and
succeeded
in + -ing are used to express ability on a particular occasion in the
past. |
|
|
|
4 |
'You
can swim in the big pool if I am with you' |
|
|
►
PERMISSION: can |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: may |
|
|
|
5 |
It's hot in Rio, but you
needn't have air-conditioning. |
|
|
►
LACK OF NECESSITY: needn't |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: don't have to,
don't need to |
|
|
|
6 |
The family
will remember the holiday for a long time. |
|
|
►
PROBABILITY: will |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: must, can't (for
deductions) |
|
|
|
7 |
He
may go back to
Buenos Aires next year. |
|
|
►
POSSIBILITY: may |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: might, could |
|
|
|
8 |
'Shall I lend you the hotel brochure?' |
|
|
►
OFFER: Shall (at the beginning of a
question) |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: Can, Will |
|
|
|
9 |
'Could you give it back to me when you've read it?'
|
|
|
►
REQUEST: Could (at the beginning of a
question) |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: Can |
|
|
|
10 |
'You
should book a
room
several weeks in advance.' |
|
|
►
ADVICE: should |
|
|
►
MODALS WITH A SIMILAR IDEA: ought to, had
better |
|
On the next page you can practise
this grammar. |
