Modal Verbs

Modals of deduction
Tense Form use Example








Present



must + infinitive



Certainty
1. He must live near here because he comes to
work on foot. (We dont know where he lives
but were sure its not far away.)
2. Youve been working in the garden all day.
You must be tired.
3. Being a sky diving instructor must be very
exciting.



can/could/may/might
+ infinitive



Possibility
1. Did you hear that? I think there might be a
burglar downstairs. (Shes not sure theres a
burglar but she thinks its possible.)
2. Well try to get there early but we may arrive
late if theres a lot of traffic.
3. Dont put it up there. It could fall off and hit
someone.


cant + infinitive


Impossibility
1. It cant be a burglar. All the doors and
windows are locked. (He doesnt know its
not a burglar but he feels sure its not.)
2. It cant be far away now. Weve been driving
for hours. Wheres the map?

Tense Form use Example








Past


must + have + past
participle


Certainty
1. You must have been delighted when you
heard youd won the lottery.
2. The thieves must have come in through the
window. Look its still open.
3. Oh no! Wheres my car? Someone must have
stolen it!


can/could/may/might
+ have + pp


Possibility
1. The thieves might have escaped by car but we
cant be sure.
2. He should be hour by now. He may have been
delayed by a traffic jam or something.
3. I cant find my purse. I could have left it in the
supermarket but I just dont know.


cant + have + pp


Impossibility
1. I thought I saw John in town this morning but
it cant have been him hes in Greece this
week.
2. I cant have left it in the supermarket I had it
on the bus on the way home.
3. You cant have read the instructions properly.
Theyre perfectly clear.
Modals of obligation
Tense Form Example



Present
have to /
don't have to + infinitive
1. Children have to go to school.
2. I don't have to work on Sundays.
must / mustn't +
infinitive
1. I must study today
2. You mustn't smoke here.
should / shouldn't +
infinitive
1. You should save some money.
2. You shouldn't smoke so much.
ought to + infinitive 1. You ought to finish your project before the deadline

Tense Form Example



Past
had to/didn't have to +
infinitive
1. I had to wear a school uniform when I was a child.
2. We didn't have to go to school on Saturdays.
*must also changes to
had to
1. You had to study English seriously during the previous
two years.
should / shouldn't + have
+ past participle
1. You should have gone to bed earlier, now you have
missed the train.
ought to + have + past
participle
1. You ought to have stopped when you feel tired.
Passive voice with modals
Tense Modals in the active voice Modals in the passive voice



Present
can + infinitive
She can play a violin.
can + be + past participle
A violin can be played
may+ infinitive
I may buy the computer.
may + be + past participle
The computer may be bought.
might + infinitive
Guests might play chess.
might + be + past participle
Chess might be played by guests.
should+ infinitive
Students should study all lessons.
should + be + past participle
All lessons should be studied by students.
must+ infinitive
You must learn the test-taking strategies.
must + be + past participle
Test-taking strategies must be learnt
ought to + infinitive
They ought to take the examination
ought to + be + past participle
The examination ought to be taken by them.

Tense Modals in the active voice Modals in the passive voice



Past
could + have + past participle
They could have made pancakes on a stove.
could + have + been + past participle
Pancakes could have been made on a stove.
may+ have + past participle
You may have availed the opportunity.
may + have + been + past participle
The opportunity may have been availed.
might + have + past participle
He might have eaten the sandwich.
might + have + been + past participle
the sandwich might have been eaten by him.
should+ have + past participle
You should have studied the book.
should + have + been + past participle
The book should have been studied by you.
must+ have + past participle
He must have started job.
must + have + been + past participle
Job must have been started by you
ought to + have + past participle
You ought to have helped him.
ought to + have + been + past participle
He ought to have been helped by you.

Complete the following sentences with the correct modals and with the appropriate forms of the verbs.
1. Take an umbrella. It (rain) . later.
2. People (walk) on grass.
3. You (be) . pleased when you passed your driving test.
4. Drivers (stop) .. when the traffic lights are red.
5. . Your mother (be) a great cook. You are always so keen to get back home to eat!
6. I don't know why I am so tired these days. I (be) . working too hard. Or maybe I am not
sleeping too well.
7. Do you know where Carl is? He (be) out - his car keys are on the table.
8. To give the promotion to Harold was silly. He (know) .. much about this
company after only a year working here.
9. Oh, the phone is ringing. Answer it. It (be) .. Kate. She always rings at this time.
10. That's the second new car they have bought this year. They (be) .. very rich!
11. Sarah (sell) .. her car because I saw her walking to work. Normally she hates walking.
12. We (visit) . her in such an early hour. She always gets up late.

1. Take an umbrella. It might rain later.
2. People mustn't walk on grass.
3. You (be) must have been pleased when you passed your driving test.
4. Drivers must stop when the traffic lights are red.
5. Your mother (be) must be a great cook. You are always so keen to get back home to eat!
6. I don't know why I am so tired these days. I (be) might be working too hard. Or maybe I am not sleeping
too well.
7. Do you know where Carl is? He (be) cant be out - his car keys are on the table.
8. To give the promotion to Harold was silly. He (know) cant know much about this company after only a
year working here.
9. Oh, the phone is ringing. Answer it. It (be) must be Kate. She always rings at this time.
10. That's the second new car they have bought this year. They (be) must be very rich!
11. Sarah (sell) must have sold her car because I saw her walking to work. Normally she hates walking.
12. We (visit) cant have visited her in such an early hour. She always gets up late.