MODALS and MODALS PERFECT

What have researchers said about Modal Verbs?

The use of modal verbs is one of the problematic areas of English
Grammar. (Randolph Quirk et al., 220)
In respect to the later developments of meaning carried by [modal
auxiliaries], the situation is exceedingly complex and no rules yet
formed seem adequate to mark out precisely their area of use.
(Peter Howard Fries, 175)

What makes it so difficult to account for the use ofmodal

auxiliaries or modalsis that their meaning has both a logical and a
practical (or pragmatic) element. (Geoffrey N Leech, 66)
The mood represented by modal verbs or auxiliaries expresses
certain attitudes of mind of the speaker towards the contents of the
sentence. (Jespersen)

Modal verbs express modality defined as the manner

in which the meaning of a clause is qualified so as to
reflect the speakers judgment of the likelihood of the
proposition it expresses being true. (Randolph Quirk et
al. 219)

Modals are mainly used when we want to indicate our

attitude to what we are saying, or when we are considering
how what we say will affect the person we are
communicating with.
They are Auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific
meaning to the main verb of the sentence.
Modal verbs are sometimes referred to as Modal Auxiliary
verbs because they help other verbs.

The modal auxiliary verbs or modal verbs are can, could,

may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to, must,
need and dare.

 We use modal verbs to talk about possibility, willingness,

ability, obligation, certainty and permission.
It might rain .(possibility)
You must be home by 11 oclock. (obligation)
Will you help me? (willingness)
You havent eaten all day. You must be hungry.
(certainty)
May I borrow your car? (permission)
Modals (except ought) are always followed by the base form
of the verb.
I might play tennis tomorrow.
You ought to tell her.
Modals never inflect or conjugate
no ing or ed forms, no
s in the 3rd person singular present.
He can ski

He cans ski X or He can skis X

Modals do not use do or did to form negatives.
They cant be serious
They dont can be serious X
The negative of can is written as one word.
She cannot (cant) come.
Could is sometimes the past of can (ability).
Louise can read.
Louise could read when she was three.
Modals do not use do or did to form questions.
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me? X
Talking about the past:
modal verb + have + past
participle.
Peter is late. He may have missed his bus.
(Perhaps he missed his bus.)

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The Meanings of Modal Verbs

Intrinsic = imply some kind of human control over events,
so they include meanings which are often described as
permission, willingness and necessity.
Extrinsic = involve some kind of human judgment about
what is or isnt likely to happen, so include meanings which
are described often as prediction or possibility.
All modal verbs have both intrinsic and extrinsic uses.
You can have a break now. (Intrinsic use)
Paris can be very hot in summer. (Extrinsic use)
I will see you tomorrow. (Intrinsic and extrinsic use)

How do we use modals?

S
Subject

V
Verb

What do they express?

They can have different meanings depending on the
situations they are used.
To understand it better we are going to divide them into 3
categories
1. Single Concept Modal: they have one meaning
2. Double Concept Modal: they have two meanings
3. Modals in past (Perfect Modals) : They are used to
express a situation in the past
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Single
concept
Modals

Double
Concept
Modals

Modals in
Past
(Perfect
Modals)

Will
Might
Should
Ought to
Had better

May
Must
Would
Shall
Could
Can

Would have
Could have
Might have
Should have
May have
Must have

Single Concept Modal

Mod
al

Concept

Examples

Will

Future

Joe will travel to NY next week

Might

Small probability

I might move to Canada some day

Should

Recommendation

You should go to the doctor

Ought
to
Had
better

Formal
recommendation
Warning

We ought to know about first aids

I had better study or I will fail the
test

Double Concept Modal

Moda
l

Concept

Examples

May (1)

Permission

May I come in?

May (2)

Good probability

We may visit Mexico this summer

Must (1)

Responsibility

Everyone must pay taxes

Must (2)

Assumption

She didnt arrive. She must be sick

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Would
(1)
Would
(2)

Modal
Shall (1)

Past (used to)

Present unreal

Concept

When I was young, I would play

soccer
I would buy the car but I cant
afford it

Examples

Educated
expression
Offer
Contractual
obligation

Excuse me, I shall go now.

Shall I clean it?

Could (1)

Unreal Ability

I could go if I had time

Could (2)

Past Ability

She could play the piano, not

anymore

Can (1)

Present Ability

We can speak English

Can (2)

Permission

Can I have a sweet?

Shall (2)

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The company shall pay on

January 1st

Perfect Modals (Modals in the Past)

They are modals that refer to actions that happened in the
past
MODAL + HAVE + verb in past participle (V3)
It must have been a difficult decision
They should have invited her to their wedding

PERFECT
MODAL
MUST
MAY /
MIGHT
CANT

HAVE +
V3
HAVE +
V3
HAVE +
V3

COULD

HAVE +
V3

WOULD

HAVE +
V3
HAVE +
V3

SHOULD
(NOT) /
OUGHT TO
NEEDNT

HAVE +
V3

Modal

USE

EXAMPLES

Deduction in the past

Peter has arrived late. He must have

been in a traffic jam
Joe may / might have taken the
wrong train.
Mary is very sensitive. She cant have
passed a good time when her child
got sick.
You could have played better
I could have passed my exam but I
didnt study enough.
I would have visited you, but I forgot
your address
You should / ought to have warned
me earlier
He shouldnt have told them

Possibility in the past

Impossibility
(negative deduction)
in the past.
A possible action in
the past that was not
fulfilled
Unfulfilled wish in the
past
Regret about
something we did
wrong (didn't) in the
past.
Says that we did
something although
it was not necessary
to be done.

Concept

You neednt have bought it.

You neednt have come. Why have
you done it?

Examples

Would have

Past unreal action

I would have bought the car, but I didnt have

money

Could have

Past unreal Ability

She could have taken the flight

May have

Past unreal
Possibility

We may have passed the test, but it was in French

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Might have

Past Unreal Small

Probability

You might have sold the house, if you really

needed the money

Should
have

Past unreal
Recommendation

You should have listened to the doctor

Must have

Past unreal
assumption

We must have been crazy!

Modals-like verbs
There are few verbs which often serve as modals too.
These are modal-like verbs
They need to be conjugated
Modal
Like to
Want to
Need to
Have to

Example
I like to watch TV
John wants to buy a car
We really needed to talk to
you
Obligation Susan had to pay the rent

Have got to
Look forward
to

Have to
Future
plan

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Concept
Enjoy
Desire
Necessity

Ive got to go now

I look forward to seeing you
again

PRACTICE
EXERCISE 1

Choose the best answer: a, b, c or d

1. My son ___ be home by now. Where can he be?
a. Have to b. Would c. Should d. Could
2. I think your thumb is broken. You ___ go to the emergency room.
a. Might b. could
c. ought to d. can
3. If you are interested in losing weight, you ______ try this new
diet.
a. Could b. mustnt c. dont have to d. had to
4. Johnnies fallen down the stairs! I ________ call an ambulance!
a. Will
b. might c. may
d. ought to
5. You _______ come too early. We wont leave until 9 oclock.
a. Has to b. must
c. neednt d. cant
6. Children ________ be accompanied by an adult at the zoo.
a. Ought to
b. must
c. would d. mustnt
7. You _________ talk during tests. Its forbidden!
a. dont have to b. mustnt c. couldnt d. ought to
8. I can feel the heat. We _________ be near the fire.
a. Can
b. would c. must
d. have to
9. They ________ hear him because he was whispering.
a. Wouldnt
b. mustnt c. shouldnt
d. couldnt
10.
Youve never heard of Britney Spears! You ________ be
serious!
a. Must
b. had to c. cant
d. shouldnt
11.
__________ you like to have dinner with me tonight?
a. could
b. may
c. should d. would
12.
You _________ let him hear about the party tomorrow. Its a
surprise!
a. mustnt b. wouldnt
c. couldnt d. can
13.
__________ I speak to the Chief of Police, please?
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a. Must
b. May
c. Would d. Need
14.
He has arrived late. He _______ missed the bus
a. Must have
b. Should have c. Could have

d. must

EXERCISE 2

Fill in the blanks with dont have to, mustnt

1. You ________ smoke in a gas station.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
2. You ________ pass a test to ride a bicycle.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
3. You ________ open up the computer while it is plugged in.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
4. Shops ________ sell cigarettes to children.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
5. This bus is free! You ________ buy a ticket.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
6. You ____ live in Canada to study at the University of Victoria. You
can take a course by Internet.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
7. In the US, employers ________ discriminate against women or
minorities. It's against the law.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
8. You ________ buy the text book for this course -- you can borrow
mine.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
9. Puerto Ricans________ get a visa to travel to the US.
a) don't have to
b) mustn't
10.
You ________ be late for class, or the teacher will be angry.
a) don't have to
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b) mustn't

EXERCISE 3

Using the correct form of the modal verb in capitals, rewrite

the sentences so that the meaning is almost identical.
1. I'm sure he is in love with Mary.(MUST)
2. You are not allowed to walk on the grass.(MAY)
3. I don't believe it's ten o'clock (CAN).
4. You'd better call the police. (SHOULD)
5. Perhaps he works for the mafia.(MIGHT)
6. Why don't you bring me that book?(COULD)
7. Please stop talking. (COULD)
8. Please sit down.(WILL)
9. You cannot walk on the grass.(MUST)
10.
Peter, you study very little. (SHOULD)
11.
He wasn't able to lift the piano.(COULD)
12.
It's forbidden to enter the building.(CAN)
13.
It's just possible that the phone is out of order.(MIGHT)
14.
He used to smoke his pipe in the evenings. (WOULD)
15.
Let me help you.

(CAN)
16.
The Government is not creating enough work.(OUGHT)
17.
I insist that you do as I say.(MUST)
18.
We didn't call the doctor because it wasn't necessary.(NEED)
19.
Do you know how to make an omelette?(CAN)
20.
Why don't we go for a walk?(SHALL)
21.
Perhaps it is going to rain.(COULD)
22.
You're not allowed to look.(MUST)
23.
It's possible that she's visiting her parents.(MAY)
24.
You are not obliged to say anything.(NEED)
25.
I'm sure that this is not Peter. He is taller. (CAN)

EXERCISE 4

Complete the sentences with one of the modal verbs listed

below:
must, mustnt, can, cant, could, couldnt neednt, will, wont
1. Dogs ___________________fly.
2. You ___________________wear a coat, its quite warm.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Students ___________________be quiet when they write the test!

I ___________________go to school tomorrow because I am ill.
___________________you open the window, please?
You ___________________drive fast. Its dangerous!
When he was fifteen he ___________________run fast but he cant
now.
8. Shes a famous ballerina. She ___________________dance very
well.
9. She ___________________dance at the party because her leg was
broken.
10. If you go to bed so late every day, of course you
_________________feel tired.
11. Your father is sleeping. You ___________________be noisy.
12.Birds ___________________fly.
13. If you dont study, you ___________________do very well in the
test.
14. He is late; he . run to
school.
15. We . book a table in the restaurant. John has already
booked one for us.
16. Lions . sing.
17. He buy anything he wanted when he
was rich.
18.You .smoke. It is forbidden in here.
19.We ..leave now. We can stay for a while if you want.
20.I ... send you a postcard from Spain.

Answers,
EXERCISE 1
1. d
2. c
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3. a
4. a
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. d
10. c
11. d
12. a
13. b
14. d
EXERCISE 2
1. b
2. a
3. b
4. b
5. a
6. a
7. b
8. a
9. a
10.b
EXERCISE 3
1. He must be in love with Mary.
2. You may not walk on the grass.
3. I can't believe it's ten o'clock.
4. You should call the police.
5. He might work for the mafia.
6. Could you bring me that book?
7. Could you please stop talking?
8. Will you please sit down?
9. You mustn't walk on the grass.
10.Peter, you should study harder
11.He couldn't lift the piano.
12.You can't enter the building.
13.The phone might be out of order.
14.He would smoke his pipe in the evenings.
15.Can I help you?
16.The Government ought to create more work.
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17.You must do as I say.

18.We didn't need to call the doctor.
19.Can you make an omelette?
20.Shall we go for a walk?
21.It could rain.
22.You mustn't look.
23.She may be visiting her parents.
24.you needn't say anything or You don't need to say anything.
25.He can't be Peter.
EXERCISE 4
1. Dogs cant fly.
2. You neednt wear a coat, its quite warm.
3. Students must be quiet when they write the test!
4. I wont go to school tomorrow because I am ill.
5. Will you open the window, please?
6. You mustnt drive fast. Its dangerous!
7. When he was fifteen he could run fast but he cant now.
8. Shes a famous ballerina. She can dance very well.
9. She couldnt dance at the party because her leg was broken.
10.
If you go to bed so late every day, of course you will
feel tired.
11.
Your father is sleeping. You mustnt be noisy.
12.
Birds can fly.
13.
If you dont study, you wont do very well in the test.
14.
He is late; he must run to school.
15.
We neednt book a table in the restaurant. John has
already booked one for us.
16.
Lions cant sing.
17.
He could buy anything he wanted when he was rich.
18.You mustnt smoke. It is forbidden in here.
19.We neednt leave now. We can stay for a while if you want.
20.I will send you a postcard from Spain.

References
1. An Old English Grammar: Randolph Quirk,

Northern Illinois University Press, 1994.

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2. Meaning and the English Verb: Geoffrey N.

Leech, Pearson ESL, 3rd. ed. 2004.

3. On Subject and Theme :Peter Howard Fries,
John Benjamin Publishing, 1996.
4. The Philosophy of Grammar, Jespersen, The
University of Chicago Press, 1992.
5. Understanding and Using English Grammar. Azar, Betty.
Pearson Education: New York, 2007.
6. My communicative grammar study guide.

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