The document provides information on different modal verbs in English and their uses to express ability, advice, necessity, possibility, and past actions. It includes tables that define each modal verb under these categories and provide examples. It also includes practice questions for the reader to practice using the different modal verbs in sentences.

1. MODAL VERBS

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS Click here for extra notes in Spanish ABILITY ADVICE NECESSITY & OBLIGATION POSSIBILITY & CERTAINTY MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

3. STRUCTURE Modal + inifinitive without to I must stop smoking. No -s in 3 rd person singular He can play the guitar. No auxiliary verb ( do / does ) in negatives or interrogatives You should not say that. Can I help you? Can be contracted in the negative He can't speak German. You needn't come.

4. ABILITY: Present abilities: can / can't (cannot) Something is / isn't possible, or somebody has / doesn't have the ability to do something. Past abilities: could / couldn't Something was / wasn't possible, or somebody had / didn't have the ability to do something. For other verbal times: (not) be able to He hasn't been able to see her het. Maybe he will be able to see her next week. RETURN

6. Gary has travelled a lot. He _____ speak five languages.

7. I'm afraid I _____ come to your party next week.

8. Our holiday flat had a kitchen. We _____ cook our own meals, but we preferred to go to local restaurants.

9. I forgot my glasses so I _____ see the board.

10. Eddie broke his leg last summer, so he _____ swim.

11. I'm sure by next week I'll _____ finish the book.

13. Gary has travelled a lot. He can speak five languages.

14. I'm afraid I can't come to your party next week.

15. Our holiday flat had a kitchen. We could cook our own meals, but we preferred to go to local restaurants.

16. I forgot my glasses so I couldn't see the board.

17. Eddie broke his leg last summer, so he couldn't swim.

18. I'm sure by next week I'll be able to finish the book.

19. ADVICE should ought to It's a good thing to do or it's the ethically / morally right thing to do. shouldn't ought not to* *(normally not contracted) It isn't a good thing to do or it's not the ethically / morally right thing to do. RETURN

21. She never walks. She _____ use her car so much.

22. Your salary is very low. You _____ look for another job.

23. Jack always has difficulty getting up. He _____ go to bed so late.

24. You've hurt her feelings. You _____ apologize.

26. She never walks. She shouldn't/ought not to use her car so much.

27. Your salary is very low. You should/ought to look for another job.

28. Jack always has difficulty getting up. He shouldn't/ought not to go to bed so late.

29. You've hurt her feelings. You should/ought to apologize.

30. NECESSITY & OBLIGATION Obligation: must / have to *( have to is not a modal) It is mandatory to do something. Necessity: need to *( need to is not a modal) It is necessary to do something. Prohibition: mustn't It is against the rules to do something (so DON'T do it). *BE CAREFUL!!! Have to and must have similar meanings, but don't have to and mustn't have very different meanings. Absence of obligation: needn't / don't have to You don't need to do it (but you can if you like). RETURN

32. I've got plenty of time. We _____ hurry.

33. We've run out of soap. I _____ get some in the morning.

34. You _____ drive faster than 120km/hr on the highway.

35. You _____ wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike.

36. Tomorrow's Saturday. You _____ get up at 7:00 a.m.

38. I've got plenty of time. We needn't/don't have to hurry.

39. We've run out of soap. I must/have to/need to get some in the morning.

40. You mustn't drive faster than 120km/hr on the highway.

41. You have to/must wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike.

42. Tomorrow's Saturday. You needn't/don't have to get up at 7:00 a.m.

43. POSSIBILITY & CERTAINTY may might could When something is possible. It's a strange story, but it may be true. It's a strange story, but it might be true. It's a strange story, but it could be true . must When we believe something is certain. She never lies. Her story must be true. can't When we believe something is not possible. She's such a liar. Her story can't be true. RETURN

45. You _____ be exhausted after all that hard work.

46. You _____ be tired when you've just had a holiday.

47. You _____ hurt your back if you carry heavy things.

48. You _____ know Tokyo is expensive if you've lived there.

49. You _____ get sick if you eat all those cakes.

51. She looked rather tired. She _____ be asleep.

52. Her car isn't in the garage, so she _____ be at home.

54. You must be exhausted after all that hard work.

55. You can't be tired when you've just had a holiday.

56. You may/might/could hurt your back if you carry heavy things.

57. You must know Tokyo is expensive if you've lived there.

58. You may/might/could get sick if you eat all those cakes.

60. She looked rather tired. She may/might/could be asleep.

61. Her car isn't in the garage, so she can't be at home.

62. MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES must have + past participle Something we are certain happened in the past. I didn't hear the phone. I must have been asleep. can't have + past participle Something we are certain did not happen in the past. Sue didn't call me. She can't have got my message. might / may / could have + past participle Something that was possible in the past. I can't find my umbrella. I may have left it in the shop. should have + past participle shouldn't have + past participle Something we wish had / hadn't happend in the past. You missed a great party. You should have come. I'm feeling sick. I shouldn't have eaten so much. RETURN

64. I've lost one of my gloves. I _____ have dropped it somewhere..

65. I can't find Dave. He _____ have gone shopping.

66. Liz got lost. She ____ have understood my directions correctly.

67. I wonder why they're so late. They _____ have arrived an hour ago.

68. The light was red, but the driver didn't stop. He _____ have seen it.

69. I couldn't activate my email. I _____ have typed in the wrong password.

70. You should have studied more. You _____ have passed the test.

72. I've lost one of my gloves. I must have dropped it somewhere..

73. I can't find Dave. He may/might/could have gone shopping.

74. Liz got lost. She can't have understood my directions correctly.

75. I wonder why they're so late. They should have arrived an hour ago.

76. The light was red, but the driver didn't stop. He must not have seen it.

77. I couldn't activate my email. I must have typed in the wrong password.

78. You should have studied more. You may/might/could have passed the test.