Modal verbs have a number of

different functions.

Let’s look at modal verbs of:

1. Ability
2. Permission and requests
3. Prohibition
4. Obligation or no obligation
5. Advice and past regrets
When and why do we
use them?
 Function: When do we use them?
Ability
I can’t speak much German.
1. We use can, can’t, could, couldn’t, be able to for ability.
I was able to say a few words to
my new German neighbour
2. We use was able to, not could, for ability for a single event in the past. when I first met her.
3. We use be able to after another modal verb. I might be able to
practise more now!
Permission
1. We use may, can, be allowed to, be permitted to for permission. I can visit you next summer.

2. We use could or was/were allowed/permitted to for general permission in I wasn’t allowed to go on

the past. For specific events, we use was/were allowed/permitted to. the school trip last year.
No obligation
You don’t have May and be
1. We use don’t have to, haven’t got to, don’t need to, or needn’t for a to wear a permitted to are
lack of obligation. school uniform more formal.
Regrets about the past here.
I shouldn’t have argued with
1. We use shouldn’t have + past participle for past regrets. my brother. Now I feel bad.
 Function: When do we use them?
Prohibition
Here, you mustn’t skate in public
1. We use mustn’t, may not, can’t, not be allowed/permitted to for parks, but it’s ok on the street.
prohibition. We weren’t
allowed to have
2. For prohibition in the past, we use couldn’t or was/weren’t allowed/permitted to. fires on the
campsite where we
Obligation You must work went on holiday.
1. We use must, have to, have got to, need to for obligation. harder at school!

2. We use have to or need to for past or future forms. I had to speak to your teacher three times this
trimester. You will need to have extra classes.
Advice
You ought to speak more
1. We use should, shouldn’t, ought (not) to, had better (not) to give clearly when you talk in public.
advice.
2. We use should to ask for advice. Should I do the same?
Would is more
formal.
Requests Would you call my mum
1. We use will or would for requests. to pick me up, please? Form…
 Function: When do we use them?
I can’t speak much German, but I was We weren’t allowed to have fires
able to say a few words to my new on the campsite where we went on Look at the different
German neighbour when I met her last holiday. Here, you mustn’t skate in phrases with modal
Friday. I might be able to practise more public parks, but it’s ok on the verbs. Match the function
now! street. to the correct speech
Prohibition
Ability bubble. The first is done
for you.
You must work harder at
You ought to speak more clearly when you school! I had to speak to I shouldn’t have argued with
talk in public. Should I do the same? your teacher three times my brother. Now I feel bad.
this trimester. You will
Advice Past regrets
need to have extra classes
if you want to pass the
I can visit you next summer, but I’m exam.
only allowed to go if I take my brother Obligation
too! You don’t have to wear
Permission
a school uniform here.
Would you call my mum to pick me
up, please? I don’t feel well. No obligation
Requests
 Form: What form follows the modal
verbs? You don’t have to wear
You mustn’t skate in public parks.
a school uniform here.
I can’t speak much German, but I was
able to say a few words to my neighbour.
Would you call my mum to I shouldn’t have argued with
pick me up, please? I don’t my brother. Now I feel bad.
You ought to speak more clearly when
feel well.
you talk in public. Should I do the
same?
infinitive
past
Look at all the example sentences with modal/semi- participle
modal verbs again. What form of the verb follows
them? E.g. Now look at this example
I can swim; you ought to speak; you don’t have to wear. again. It’s a past modal to
express past regret. What
Past participle? Infinitive? Verb -ing? form of the verb follows
shouldn’t have?
Form: What form follows the modal verbs?
present modal/semi-modal verbs

can, could, will, would, should, must, be

permitted/allowed to, ought to, etc. modal verb + verb infinitive
This is without to.
e.g. You ought to speak more clearly.
e.g. I can swim.
past modals (e.g. for past regret)
I can to swim.
I ought to go.
should have should have + past I ought to to go.

e.g. I shouldn’t have argued with my brother.

participle

Some examples of past participles are:

The auxiliary verb have is weak
be – been
here when we speak, so we Let’s practise!
eat – eaten
pronounce it /əv/.
have – had
Practice activities
Use a modal verb + the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the gaps. Some
of the modals might be negative, or the sentence could be in the past, so look at the
context carefully.
1. My sister…………………….(play) football really well. I’m not very good at it, but with her help, I might

……………………………………..……..(improve) in the future.

2. We...........................................................(go) shopping alone when we went to Paris on the school trip last year.

3. I’m so tired today that I………………………….(concentrate). I……………………………..….(go) to bed so late last night.

4. Sit down! You……………………………(wash) the dishes! I’ll do it later when you leave.

5. ………………..I………………………(cut) my hair or not? What do you think?

6. My best friends………………………..(do) extra homework when they were badly behaved at school.

7. …………………you………………. (speak) to the teacher for me, please, and ask if I can have extra time?

8. We……………………………………(eat) chewing gum in school.

Practice activities
Use a modal verb + the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the gaps. Some
of the modals might be negative, or the sentence could be in the past, so look at the
context carefully.
can play
1. My sister…………………….(play) football really well. I’m not very good at it, but with her help, I might
be able to improve
……………………………………..……..(improve) in the future.
weren’t allowed to go
2. We...........................................................(go) shopping alone when we went to Paris on the school trip last year.
can’t concentrate shouldn’t have gone
3. I’m so tired today that I………………………….(concentrate). I……………………………..….(go) to bed so late last night.
don’t have to wash
4. Sit down! You……………………………(wash) the dishes! I’ll do it later when you leave.
Should cut
5. ………………..I………………………(cut) my hair or not? What do you think?
had to do
6. My best friends………………………..(do) extra homework when they were badly behaved at school.
Would/Will speak
7. …………………you………………. (speak) to the teacher for me, please, and ask if I can have extra time?
mustn’t eat
8. We……………………………………(eat) chewing gum in school.