The document provides information on the different uses and examples of English modal verbs and modal expressions. It discusses modal verbs and expressions related to ability, permission, possibility, certainty, obligation, prohibition, advice, and the modal perfect. Examples are provided to illustrate the typical uses and meanings of each modal verb and expression.
2. CAN
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Ability —Jesse can run
– Request very fast.
– Possibility —Can I call you
tonight?
—Women’s sports
can be exciting
to watch.
3. BE ABLE TO
• USES: • EXAMPLE:
– Ability. —Her brother is able
to skate very well.
—They are able to go
to that shop.
4. CAN’T
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Certainty that —You can’t be 40
years old, you look
something is
much younger!
impossible.
5. COULD
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Past ability. — She could run fast
– Polite request. when she was a child.
– Polite suggestion. — Could you help me
– Possibility. with the suitcases?
— You could exercise
and eat healthier food.
— It could be dangerous
for women to compete
with men.
6. MAY
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Possibility —It may rain
tomorrow.
– Polite request —May I open the
window?
7. MIGHT
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Possibility. — She might win the
gold medal in the
competition.
8. WOULD
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Formal request. —Would you open the
window, please?
– Offer. —Would you like a
cup of tea?
9. MUST
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Obligation. —You must train hard
for the match.
– Certainty that —She’s got a great
something is true. job. She must be
very happy.
10. HAVE TO
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Obligation. • You have to buy
the tickets today.
– Necessity.
11. NEED TO
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Obligation. —You need to
practise harder.
– Necessity.
12. NEEDN’T
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Lack of obligation. —You needn’t bring
any cake to the
party, but you’ve
done it, so… lets eat
it!
13. DON’T HAVE TO
• USES: • EXAMPLES:
– Lack of obligation. —I don’t have to get
up early tomorrow,
so I’m not going to
do it.
18. MUST HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Certainly that • Linda has arrived
late. She must have
something was true.
been in a traffic jam.
19. MAY/MIGHT HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– A guess about a • She may/might
have taken the
past action.
wrong bus.
20. COULD HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Ability to have done • You could have
asked the doctor
something but in
before taking that
fact did not. medicine.
21. COULDN’T HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Certainly that • He couldn’t have
gone to the concert
something did not
because he was
happen. doing a test.
22. WOULD HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Willingness to have • I would have gone
to the party, but I
done something but
was too busy.
in fact could not.
23. SHOULD/OUGHT TO HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Criticism or regret • You should/ought
to have warned me
after an event.
earlier.
24. SHOULDN’T HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– Criticism after an • He shouldn’t have
forgotten about her
event.
birthday.
25. NEEDN’T HAVE
• USES: – EXAMPLES:
– An unnecessary • You needn’t have
brought anything to
action in the past.
my party.