Modals in English Grammar
|
Use |
Examples |
|
ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to) |
I can speak English. |
|
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) |
Can I go to the cinema? |
|
request |
Can you wait a moment, please? |
|
offer |
I can lend you my car till tomorrow. |
|
suggestion |
Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? |
|
possibility |
It can get very hot in Arizona. |
The modal auxiliary can and
the negative forms cannot, can't
The auxialiary / modal can has the same form regardless the subject.
There is no -s in the 3rd person singular. The auxialiary / modal
can is used with a main verb in its infinitive
|
Affirmative sentences Negative sentences |
||
|
long form |
long form |
contracted form |
|
I can sing. |
I cannot sing. |
I can't sing. |
|
You can sing. |
You cannot sing. |
You can't sing. |
|
He can sing. |
He cannot sing. |
He can't sing. |
|
She can sing. |
She cannot sing. |
She can't sing. |
|
It can sing. |
It cannot sing. |
It can't sing. |
|
We can sing. |
We cannot sing. |
We can't sing. |
|
You can sing. |
You cannot sing. |
You can't sing. |
|
They can sing. |
They cannot sing. |
They can't sing. |
2. could
|
Use |
Examples |
|
ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to) |
I could speak English. |
|
permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed
to) |
I could go to the cinema. |
|
polite question * |
Could I go to the cinema, please? |
|
polite request * |
Could you wait a moment, please? |
|
polite offer * |
I could lend you my car till
tomorrow. |
|
polite suggestion * |
Could we visit Grandma at the
weekend? |
|
possibility * |
It could get very hot in Montana. |
3. may
|
Use |
Examples |
|
possibility |
It may rain today. |
|
permission to do sth. in the
present (substitute form: to be allowed to) |
May I go to the cinema? |
|
polite suggestion |
May I help you? |
4. might
|
Use |
Examples |
|
possibility (less possible than
may) * |
It might rain today. |
|
hesitant offer * |
Might I help you? |
5. must
|
Use |
Examples |
|
force, necessity |
I must go to the supermarket
today. |
|
possibility |
You must be tired. |
|
advice, recommendation |
You must see the new film with
Brad Pitt. |
6. must not/may not
|
Use |
Examples |
|
prohibition (must is a little
stronger) |
You mustn't work on dad's
computer. |
|
You may not work on dad's
computer. |
7. need not
|
Use |
Examples |
|
sth. is not necessary |
I needn't go to the supermarket,
we're going to the restaurant tonight. |
8. ought to
similar to should – ought to sounds a little
less subjective
|
Use |
Examples |
|
advice |
You ought to drive carefully in
bad weather. |
|
obligation |
You ought to switch off the light
when you leave the room. |
9. shall
used instead of will in the 1st person
|
Use |
Examples |
|
suggestion |
Shall I carry your bag? |
10. should
|
Use |
Examples |
|
advice |
You should drive carefully in bad
weather. |
|
obligation |
You should switch off the light
when you leave the room. |
11. will
|
Use |
Examples |
|
wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) |
Will you please shut the door? |
|
prediction, assumption |
I think it will rain on Friday. |
|
promise |
I will stop smoking. |
|
spontaneous decision |
Can somebody drive me to the
station? - I will. |
|
habits |
She's strange, she'll sit for
hours without talking. |
12. would
|
Use |
Examples |
|
wish, request (more polite than
will) |
Would you shut the door, please? |
|
habits in the past |
Sometimes he would bring me some
flowers. |
* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.
تعليقات
إرسال تعليق
اذا عجبك الموضوع شاركه مع اصدقائك