English Modal Verbs By Bahrom Almardanov

English Modal Verbs ? By Bahrom Almardanov

Section One Basic Information about Modal Verbs Section Two Section Five Simple Modal Verbs Final Test Section Three Past forms of Modal Verbs and their functions Section Four Compound Modal Verbs and their functions

What are Modal Verbs ? l Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person. EXAMPLES: He can speak Russian. She should go now. My wife may join us for the dinner. l

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past. EXAMPLES: You should not be late. I can not come to at 6 pm. He may not like this idea. You must not disturb him now, he is busy. They didn’t must do it. NOT CORRECT l

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses. l EXAMPLES: He will can go with us. NOT CORRECT She musted study very hard. NOT CORRECT It mayed show yesterday. NOT CORRECT

1 3 2

Which sentence has a modal verb? l We have been arguing over this issue for half and hour, let’s change the topic. l Do not turn on that computer, it is not working properly. We need to fix it. l Let’s visit our grandpa, we have not seen him since Christmas.

Well Done!

Back to the Rule

Please choose the correct sentence l He cans climb the rocks. l He canned climb the rocks. l He can climb the rocks.

Fantastic!

Back to the Rule

Please choose correct negative form of modal verb l I don’t can do it now, I am very busy till 5 pm. l You must don’t smoke here, this place is smoke free. l He should not procrastinate his assignments, he may not get good grades.

Great! Quit Continue

Back to the Rule

Section Two Simple Modal Verbs “Can” “Must” “May”

1. 2. 3. to express general ability to express possibility / impossibility to ask a permission (informal)

EXAMPLES: l l l I can sing and play the guitar. Anyone can learn how to use Computers if they want to. Can you help me to fix my door? Back to section two Take the test

1. 2. 3. to express possibility to ask or to give a permission (formal) to make requests

EXAMPLES: l l l He may come late today. You may use my Computer now. May I make a phone call? Back to section two Take the test

1. 2. 3. to express certainty to express necessity to make a strong recommendation

EXAMPLES: l l l You must be tired now, you have worked all day long. I must have a visa to go to Canada. CEP 811 is a very interesting class, you must take it too. Back to section two Take the test

Choose the best answer l If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront. Can Will Do

See the rules

Can May Must

Choose the best answer l Today is cloudy, it ________ rain. Does May Can

Can May Must

See the rules

Choose the best answer l Ted's flight from Uzbekistan took more than 11 hours. He ________ be exhausted after such a long flight. Can May Must

See the rules

If you have not studied one of these verbs, click on it. Can May Must If you have, click here Quit Continue

Section Three Past forms of Modal Verbs and their functions “Could” “Would” “Might” “Should”

1. 2. 3. 4. to express general ability in the past, because it is the past form of the “Can” to express possible future actions similar to “May and Might” in meaning to make a request or ask something to express unreal or impossible actions

EXAMPLES: l l l We tried hard but we could not persuade them to come with us. My grandfather could not swim. When you go to Uzbekistan, you could stay with me. Could you tell me what time it is? I don’t know how she works 14 hours a day in front of the computer, I could not do this. Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

1. 2. 3. to express future in the past because it is the past form of “Will” to express unreal action in the present to ask someone to do something (formal), (structure: If + you + would+ verb)

EXAMPLES: l l He told me that he would come and fix this computer yesterday. I would be very frightened if someone pointed a gun at me. If we did not go to their party next week, she would be very upset. I’d be very grateful if you would come and help me move to my new apartment. Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

1. 2. 3. to ask or give advice or recommendation often after these verbs: suggest, propose, recommend, insist, demand. If you think that if person is likely to do something with less certainty or accidentally, you can use this structure: If + you + should+ verb or Should + you + verb

EXAMPLES: l l l I think you should stop smoking, drinking and messing around, instead you should do sometime useful. They insisted that we should have dinner with them. He recommended that I should apologize to her for what I said. If you should see Tom this evening, could you tell him to call me? or Should you see Tom…. . Don’t worry if I should be late tonight. Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

1. 2. 3. to give or ask permission, or possibility in the past, because it is the past form of “May” to express future or present possibility and probability Interchangeably with “May” quite often with no difference in meaning.

EXAMPLES: l l l She told that he might come in and use her stove. He might be having lunch now. It might rain tomorrow. There may/might not be a meeting tonight, because the director is ill. I may/might go to Italy this summer. Back to section three Take the test #1 Take the test #2

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb l Your brother was ill, therefore he _____ go out for a walk. Can’t Mustn’t Couldn’t

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!! Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb l If he were here, he ____ help you. May Couldn’t Can Could

Back to the Rule

Terrific !!! Back to section three

# 1. Choose the correct verb l Mr. Bond said if she was busy at 10 o'clock, he ____ come to see her later. May Would Can Must

Back to the Rule

Super!!! Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb l This house ____ look better if they painted it and cut the grass and planted flowers. May Must Can Would

Back to the Rule Quit

Well done!!! Back to section three Quit Continue

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb l Oh, you are seriously ill. I think you. . . consult a doctor. Could Would Should May

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!! Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb l The Sheriff demands that all the eyewitnesses _____ be questioned immediately. Must Should Would Could

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!! Back to section three

# 1. Choose the correct modal verb l He said that I ____ play any CD from his collection while he was gone. May Should Must Might

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!! Back to section three

# 2. Choose the correct modal verb l Don’t call me at 8: 30. I ____ be watching the football match on television. Might Can Would Should

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!! Back to section three

Section Four Compound Modal Verbs and their functions Modal Verbs + Perfectives? Quit Continue

Modal Verbs + Perfective May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle Must + Have + Past Participle Should + Have + Past Participle Would + Have + Past Participle

May/Might/Could + Have + Past Participle l l l to express the possibility or probability in the past, it is not certain if it happened or not. Examples: When I was sleeping last night, it may/might/could have rained. I can’t find my notebook in my office, I may/might/could have left it in the cafeteria. Back to section four Take the test

Choose the incorrect answer l l A) Why didn’t Tom answer the doorbell? I am sure he was in the house at the time. B) He ____ have been in the bath. May Might Could Can

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!!

Must + Have + Past Participle l l l to express the certainty in the past. Examples: Amira made an excellent presentation, she must have prepared a lot for it. When I came home in the middle of the night, I unintentionally made a lot of noise, you must have heard me. Back to section four Take the test

Choose the correct modal verb l When I woke up this morning, the light was on. I _____ have forgotten to turn it off. Can Should Couldn’t Must

Back to the Rule Quit

Awesome!!! Quit Continue

Should + Have + Past Participle l l l to criticize some action in the past that did not happen. Examples: I feel sick now, I should not have eaten so much chocolate. I am so sorry to hear that you got a bad grade for this class, you should have studied more. Back to section four Take the test

Choose the correct modal verb l The driver in the front stopped so suddenly without warning, I drove into the back of his car. It wasn’t my fault. He ______ have stopped so suddenly. Can’t Shouldn’t Wouldn’t May not

Back to the Rule

Well Done!!!

Would + Have + Past Participle l l l to talk about unreal situations in the past, usually in If sentences. Examples: Why didn’t you call me? I would have come and helped you, and you wouldn’t have received this bill. If I had known that you were in Washington DC, I would have made arrangements to see you. Back to section four Take the test

Choose the correct modal verb l If you had been more careful, you _____ have broken this vase. Wouldn’t Can’t Shouldn’t May not

Back to the Rule

Yey!!!

Section Five Final Test I challenge you to take this Quit Continue

Choose a Test Question Number One Five Two Four Three

#1. Choose the best answer l You _____ break the body but you _____ break the spirit. may / can not could / can not must / should can / might not

Back to the Rule

Good Job!!! Back to section five

#2. Choose the best answer l He knew perfectly well that he ______ it but he wouldn't admit it. shouldn't have done Should do Must have done Can do

Back to the Rule

Outstanding!!! Back to section five

#3. Choose the best answer l Oh, Mary, you ______ a lie to your mother. She _______ you. shouldn't tell / could have helped should tell / might have helped mustn’t have told / could help shouldn't have told / could have helped

Back to the Rule

Bravo!!! Back to section five

#4. Choose the best answer l If I had gone to the University of Miami, I ____ participated in their Spanish immersion program. Could have Should have Must have Can have

Back to the Rule

Spot on!!! Back to section five

#5. Choose the best answer l You have no temperature now, so you needn't stay in bed any longer. You ___ eat what ever you like, but you. . . drink any alcohol until you have finished taking tablets. And you. . . stay indoors for three-four days. After you. . . go out for short walks. If you want to get well soon you. . . to follow all these instructions. could/need/don't have to/must might/could/had to/could/are able have to/might/had to/could/should can/mustn't/should/can/will have

Back to review section two Back to review section three Back to review section four

Wow!!! Back to section five

For more Information about English Modal verbs please Quit Click here