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 – can´t/ cannot                           to be able to

   Can you deliver in two weeks? – No, we can´t.

   

                                            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 don´t have to and don´t need to

   You don´t 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 can´t, be not allowed to and mustn´t. Mustn´t is more usual when telling someone what
       not to do.

   You´re not allowed to park on a double yellow line.            (that´s the law)

   You mustn´t talk about politics if they invite you to dinner.  (I´m 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 don´t have to leave.     (it is not necessary, I have a choice whether to leave)

   I mustn´t leave now.                (it is prohibited, I cannot leave)

   

                        No necessity, permission and prohibition IN THE PAST

   

     o No necessity – didn´t have to and didn´t need to.
     o Permission – could, was allowed
     o Prohibition – couldn´t, wasn´t 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.

   You´d 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 didn´t do
       the right thing and now we are making a criticism.

   We shouldn´t 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 can´t 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 can´t 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                  smět

                              Mustn’t                          nesmět