WHAT ARE MODALS?
- Modals are helping words that are used to express:
- possibility
- ability
- degree of certainty
- level of authority
- Kinds of modals such as:
- Can
- could
- may
- might
- must
- ought to
- shall
- should
- will
- would.
- Modals in the past form are used in the past time.They are could, would, should, and might.
- Formula of modals is:
- Modals + verb 1 + O/C.
- Can be used in every tenses
- Could is the past tense of can
- The modal auxiliary could is used:
- To express an ability in the past:
- I could always beat you at tennis when we were kids.
- To express past or future permission:
- Could I bury my cat in your back yard?
- To express present possibility:
- We could always spend the afternoon just sitting around talking
- To express possibility or ability in contingent circumstances.
- If he studied harder, he could pass this course.
- When could is used in the past, it means was able to. Example:
- I was able to find a parking space.
- Would is the past tense of will
- The modal auxiliary would is used:
- to express a repeated action in the past
- to express more polite (request)
- Would you (please) feed the dog?
- When would is used in the past, it means “used to”, for example:
- When I was younger, I would run two hours every day.
- This means that I used to run two hours every day and now I don`t.
- When would is used in the present, it show more polite.
- For unreal condition
- Mary would go to the Caribbean, but she doesn`t have enough money.(present)
- Mary would have gone to the Carribbean, but she didn`t have money.(past tense)
- Would, can is used in the past and present.
- Might is the past tense of may.
- Is used to express of granting or seeking permission.
- Might, I leave class early?
- To express future possibility.
- She might be my advisor next semester.
- To express past possibility.
- Ann came late this morning, she might have missed the bus.
- Might is considerably more tentative than may
- Should is the past tense of shall.
- Most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
- Example:
- When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Postdam. (recommendation)
- You should focus more on your family and less on work. (advice)
- I really should be in the office by 7:00 am. (obligation)
- By now, they should already be in Dubai. (expectation)
Leona : Hi Eka! Are you busy?
Poppy : No, I`m not busy. What`s happen?
Leona : Oh, good. I want you help me. Would you help me, please?
Poppy : Yes, why not? What can I do for you?
Leona : Hm, help me please, to clean my garden now.
Poppy : No. I won`t. Sorry.
Rizky : Oh. I miss grandchild. I want to meet him.
Fanny : Don`t be sad grandma, Andremight visit us on Saturday.
Rizky : Really? Oh, I`m so happy.
Fann y: Of course.
can't have
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certainty
e.g. I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I didn't)
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permission
e.g. When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted.
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general ability
e.g. Tom could walk by the age of 8 months.
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possibility, but did not happen
e.g. I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried.
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uncertainty
e.g. I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone.
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permission
e.g. When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted.
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general ability
e.g. I couldn't walk until I was 2.
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ability in a particular situation
e.g. I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us.
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possibility/ability
e.g. I couldn't possibly have passed my driving test, even if I'd tried harder.
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uncertainty
e.g. It couldn't have been Sandra on the phone, could it?
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with comparative adjectives
e.g. I couldn't have asked for better weather on my wedding day.
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unwillingness
e.g. I couldn't have left the dog in the car for long (so I didn't).
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unnecessary action not done
e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't).
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obligation (past form of must)
e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.
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uncertainty
e.g. I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.
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uncertainty
e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.
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possibility (didn't happen)
e.g. You might have been killed!
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uncertainty
e.g. I guess I might have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.
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annoyance at someone's failure to do something
e.g. You might have told me that you had invited all your colleagues round for dinner!
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might have known + would (idiom to ironically express that somebody's action was typical)
e.g. I might have known that he would finish with me as soon as he found out I wasn't wealthy!
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uncertainty
e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.
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certainty
e.g. He must have known how much it was going to cost. (I'm sure he knew.)
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with surely in exclamations
e.g. Surely he must have known how much it was going to cost!
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unnecessary action that was actually done
e.g. Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!
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criticism (more common is shouldn't have)
e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him.
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expectation (should have is more common)
Why is she late? She ought to have arrived by now!
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expectation
Why is she late? She should have arrived by now!
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should have + verbs of thinking
e.g. I should have thought you knew.
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with be and adjectives, describing chance
e.g. It was weird that you should have been staying in the same hostel last month.
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criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do)
e.g. The party was such fun last night! You should have come!
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criticism
e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him.
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polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour
"Here's a bottle of wine for you"
"Oh, you really shouldn't have!"
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events in the past that did not happen
e.g. I wouldn't have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me.
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assumptions
e.g. Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now.
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would not
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unwillingness
e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.
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