MODAL VERBS


Obligation, permission, ability, prohibition, advice, lack of obligation


can, be able to, can´t // could, was/were able to, managed to


            I can speak French.                 I could speak French when I was 7.

            I can’t play chess.                    I couldn’t play chess 2 years ago.

            I’m able to pass this exam        I was able to finish it / I managed to …

            I’m not able to say it.               I wasn’t able to say a word.


must, have to, need to // had to, needed to


            I must/have to/need to talk to her.                                I had to/needed to
talk to her.

            I must learn hard, I want to pass this exam.

            I have to pay my bills by the 15^th.


don’t/doesn’t have to, ~ need to, needn’t // didn’t have to, ~need to,


  need’t have done


            You don’t need to/don’t have to wear a tie and a shirt, it’s not a formal meeting.

            You didn’t have to/didn’t need to hurry, we have plenty of time.

            You needn’t have gone to the station, it was waste of time.


: may, can, be allowed to // could, was/were allowed to


            You can park your car here.                           You could park your car here.

            You are allowed to have a lunch break.           I could/was allowed to use my company

                                                                                  telephone for
personal calls.

            May I switch the TV on?

            I wonder if I might use your pen for a second.


can’t, mustn’t // couldn’t, wasn’t/weren’t allowed to


            You can’t/mustn’t smoke in here!

            You are not allowed to come into this office.

            I wasn’t allowed to smoke in my previous job.

            I couldn’t go to karate classes when I was little, my parents said it wasn’t for girls.


should, ought to // should have, ought to have

              have to, must

              had better, would rather


You should/ought to stop smoking.                  You should have stopped smoking long

                                                                       time ago.

You must/have to see your doctor, it’s really serious.

You’d better see your doctor.

I’d rather you saw your doctor.


Deduction: