MODAL VERBS (present forms)
Pe
permission / prohibition / obligation / necessity ( lack of necessity)
1- OBLIGATION : must(need to) / have to/ have got to
a) We have to be at the airport at least two hours before the flight.
b) All students have to study on monday. It’s on their schedule.
c) Students have got to wear their uniforms at school.
d) I must submit my assignment before the last deadline.
e) We need to revise our lessons regularly if we want to get better marks.
f) Bob needs to learn English if I want to communicate with english people.
2- LACK OF NECESSITY ( not have to ; needn’t ; not need to)
a) You don't have to wear a jacket. It’s hot.
b) Tommy has a car. He doesn’t have to take a bus.
c) You needn’t go to a mosque to pray. you can pray at home.
d) you don´t need to get up early. It is Sunday!
3- ASKING FOR /GIVING PERMISSION (can/could/may)
a ) Could I get out ? d) You could go out, but come back soon.
b) Can I make a phone call ? e) you can make a phone call.
c) May I ask a question ? f) you may ask a question any time.
4- PROHIBITION
a) Children under 16 mustn’t drive cars.
b) At school we mustn’t write on walls.
c) We can’t use a mobile phone at school.
Certainty Possibility Advice
5) CERTAINTY : must can’t
a_ Bachir must live near here because he comes to work on foot.
b_Tom can’t feel great after failing at the driving test.
c_Really? He has to work on cChristmas Day? He can’t feel excited about that.
6) POSSIBILITY : may might can could
a- Stop driving too fast. We may have an accident !
b- If we don’t run, we may arrive late to school.
c- If Tom’s friends keep making fun of him , he might get angry.
d- Being funny could make others consider you foolish.
7) ABILITY : can/can’t/ be able to
a- Laura is strong. She can support life challenges by herself.
b- comedians are funny. They can make an audience burst into laughter.
8) ADVICE (should – had better – ought to)
a- To lose weight, Arnold should eat less fatty food.
b- You ought to relax if you don´t want to get ill.
c- You shouldn´t be rude to anybody.
d- You oughtn´t to tell lies
MODALS (PAST)
1-OBLIGATION / NECESSITY (had to+infinitive)
Present:_Thomas is now a father. He must care for his child. He also has to accompany his
child to school.
Past: _When Thomas was Young, his mum had to care for him, too. She also had to
accompany him to school.
Present: Now, he has to work to earn a living for himself and his kids.
Past: When he was younger, his father had to work for him.
1- LACK OF NECESSITY (needn’t have+ past participle)
a) Jimmy had plenty of fruits at home. He needn’t have bought any more .(needn’t/buy)
b) Sara was rich. He needn’t have asked anyone for Money.(needn’t /ask)
c) Betty was excellent at English. She needn’t have atended any extra courses.( needn’t
/attend)
3.PROHIBITION (mustn’t have+past participle)
a) Peter didn’t stop his car at the red light. The policeman has arrested him. Peter mustn’t
have kept moving as the red light went on. ( mustn’t/ keep)
b) Jimmy had to pay a fine to the policeman. He mustn’t have parked at a public square for
more tan 10 minutes. (Mustn’t/ park)
4-CERTAINTY (must have/ can’t have +past participle)
a) Tom got angry. Something must have made him upset. (must/ make)
b) George got a high mark at the test. He must have worked hard .(must/work hard)
c) Catherine went to university. She can’t have failed the Bac exam. (can’t/ fail)
5-ABILITY (could/ was able to)+ verb (infinitive)
a) Edward is 50 years old, but he can run for long distances. Years ago, he could run
longer.(can / run)
b) Leila is now in france. She can speak French. She couldn’t speak it when she was in
Morocco.(can’t/ speak)
6-POSSIBILITY (could have+verb ( past participle)
a) Tom is not at home. He could have gone to the café.(can/go)
b) Hilary doesn’t have her keys, She could have forgotten them at the office. (can/ forget)
7-CRITICISM/SUGGESTION (should have/ shouldn’t have)+past participle
a) Peter was sick. He went to work. He should have stayed in bed.(should/ stay)
b) Beatrice is overstressed because of work. She shouldn’t have overworked (shouldn’t/
overwork).
