Modal verbs (1) RECYCLING ADVANCED ENGLISH UNIT 3

RECYCLING ADVANCED ENGLISH

UNIT 3

Modal verbs (1)

The verbs will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought to and used to are called modal verbs, because they convey a particular meaning or mood. Modal verbs have some important grammatical features. 1 Apart from can and could they do not have past or future forms, or use any auxiliary verb (e.g. do/did) either to make a question or a negative: • Will she be there? • I couldn't help it. An exception to this is used to, which often takes did as an alternative auxiliary: • Did you use to be good at maths? • Used you to be good at maths? 2 Modal verbs (except ought to and used to) take the infinitive without to: • They can't have arrived yet. • You must have seen her. An alternative to can is be able to, which is used for all tenses: • They'll be able to book the tickets soon. Could is used as the past simple or conditional of can. An alternative to must is have to, which is used for all tenses: • Surely you didn't have to pay! See the study boxes below for differences in meaning of these verbs. Note the short forms will not ~ won't, shall not ~ shan't, cannot ~ can't. Dare and need can be used either as normal verbs: • I didn't dare (to) mention it. • He doesn't need to borrow any money. or as modal verbs: • She daren't tell him the truth. • You needn't cry. EXERCISES A Complete the sentences with the correct verb from the box. will be able ought used dare may should have 1 How________ you speak to me like that? 2 He really________ admit that he is to blame for the whole affair. 3 When she was younger, she never________ to wear make-up. 4 ________ I use your phone, please? 5 Do you think he’ll________ to come up with the money in time? 6 Steel yourself - it’s just possible you might________ to pay a heavy fine. 7 The authorities________ to have investigated the incident more thoroughly. 8 There’s every likelihood our candidate________ win the election.

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