REVISION OF MODAL VERBS FORM AND USE Ø Modals do not take a final –s, even when the subject is she, he, it (She can do it.). The only exception is have to: She has to do it. Ø Modals have the same form in all persons. Ø Modals are followed immediately by the simple form of a verb. (She can do it.) Ø There is no do or does in questions or negative phrases. (She can do it. – Can she do it? – She cannot do it.) The only exception is have to: She doesn’t have to do it. – Does she have to do it? Modal verbs Czech translation Use can can’t ability: Sue can dance quite well but she can’t sing. permission: You can’t come in here. Can we go home now? must need not necessity/obligation: You must clean your room. lack of necessity: He needn’t come. have to/has to don’t have to/doesn’t have to necessity/obligation: You can’t turn right. You have to turn left. = it’s not necessary: We don’t have to wear a uniform at my school. mustn‘t = it is necessary that you do not do it, you can’t, it’s prohibited/negative obligation: You must keep it a secret. You mustn’t tell anyone. should shouldn’t something is/isn’t a good idea/the right thing to do (to give advice, to make suggestion): You look tired. You should go to bed. You shouldn’t watch TV. would would not a hypothetical action or event in the present: I would go there if I had time. (But I don’t have it.) may, might may not, might not = it’s possible: It may/might be true. = perhaps it isn’t true: I’m not sure whether I can lend you any money. I may not have enough. PRACTICE 1 Choose the correct completion. 1 Mary can __________ to the meeting. a) comes b) to come c) come 2 Jack should __________ harder. a) studies b) study c) to study 3 The whole team must __________ together in order to win the game. a) work b) worked c) works 4 You have __________ an umbrella when you go out. It looks like it’s going to rain. a) take b) taken c) to take 5 We have a lot of food in the fridge so you needn’t __________ shopping. a) to go b) going c) go 2 Complete the sentences. Use must, mustn’t, don’t/doesn’t have to. 1 We haven’t got much time. We __________ hurry. 2 We have enough food at home so we __________ go shopping today. 3 Jim gave me a letter to post yesterday. I __________ remember to post it today. 4 Jim gave me a letter to post yesterday. I __________ forget to post it today. 5 There is plenty of time for you to make up your mind. You __________ decide now. 6 Jane __________ wash those tomatoes. They’ve already been washed. 7 This is a valuable book. You __________ look after it carefully and you __________ lose it. 8 “What sort of house do you want to buy?“ “Well, it __________ be big, that’s not important. But it __________ have a nice garden, because I love flowers.“ 3 Complete the sentences. Use mustn’t or needn’t. 1 The windows aren’t very dirty. You __________ clean them. 2 Keep these documents in a safe place. You __________ lose them. 3 We __________ forget to turn off the lights before we leave. 4 I __________ write the letter now. I can do it tomorrow. 4 Put a form of have to or should into each gap. Sometimes the verb forms are negative. 1 Your hair is too long. I think you __________ get it cut. 2 You smell, and you’ve got a cough. You __________ smoke. 3 I’m going to bed.I __________ be up early tomorrow. 4 I’d like to meet your boyfriend. You __________ invite him round. 5 You __________ come with me if you don’t want to. I”ll go on my own. 6 You __________ tell lies. It’s naughty. 7 Geoff works too much. I think he __________ take it easy. 5 Choose the correct completion according to the meaning. 1 She got the job because she __________ speak five languages. a. must b. can 2 “I have a toothache.” “You __________ go to a doctor.“ a. would b. should 3 They __________ finish the bridge in time for the holiday traffic. a. might b. would 4 I __________ go any farther. I am exhausted. a. cannot b. may not 5 If you asked me nicely, I __________ buy you that sweater. a. may b. would 6 You __________ make so much noise. He is trying to concentrate. a. wouldn’t b. shouldn’t 7 It __________ rain this evening. Why don’t you take an umbrella? a. must b. might 8 “My boss is always looking over my shoulder whenever I do anything.“ “That __________ bother you.” “But it does.” a. shouldn’t b. may not 9 “Is littering against the law?“ “Yes. There’s a law that says that you __________ throw trash on the streets.” a. don’t have to b. must not 10 “I need some help with this table. __________ you lift the other end, please?” “ Sure, just a second.” a. would b. may