This document provides an overview of the modal verbs should, could, and must. It discusses their meanings and uses, including advice/expectation for should, possibility for could, and strong certainty for must. Examples are given of each modal verb in different tenses and functions. The document concludes with exercises to practice using modal verbs to rephrase sentences.

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Modal Verb Overview
A Brief Review of
Should, Could and Must
with Practice

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Modal Forms
Modal + base form helper or main
verb
Simple I can go.
Progressive He should be going.
Perfect We would have gone if…
Perfect They might have
Progressive been going to go when…

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Modals’ Functions
• Expectation and Conclusion
• Suggestion/Advice
• Description
• Habitual Activity
• Requests/ Offers/ Permission/ Ability/
Possibility
• Disbelief/ Inaccuracy
• Frustration/ Annoyance
• Unfulfilled / Unrealized Actions (with
perfect)

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Present Past
May
Might
Could
May have
Might have
Could have
50 % Certainty
Must Must have
90 % Certainty
Overview Modal Meaning

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Present Past
Should Should Have
Advice or Expectation
Couldn’t Couldn’t have
Impossibility
Must
Have to
Had to
Necessary
Overview Modal Meaning

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Should
SHOULD/SHOULD HAVE
= ADVICE (GOOD IDEA)
or
= EXPECTATION

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Practice: Should
Make a new sentence with the
same meaning or comment on the
sentence below.
I didn’t bring a sweater, and
now I’m cold.

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Possible Sentences
I should have brought a
sweater.
I should have checked the
weather before I left the
house.
I should ask Mr. C for his
jacket.

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Practice: Should
Make a new sentence with the
same meaning or comment on the
sentence below.
I expect the bus will be
here soon.

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Possible Sentences
I should look out for it.
I should stand up.
I should pay attention.
I should get to work on time.

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Practice: Should
Make a new sentence with the
same meaning or comment on the
sentence below.
If you study hard, I expect
you can pass.

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Possible Sentences
I should study hard, so I pass
the class.
I should pass the class so I
must study hard.

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Practice: Should
Make a new sentence with the
same meaning or comment on the
sentence below.
The student didn’t study
hard for the test, so he
didn’t pass.

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Possible Sentence
He should have studied!
He should worked harder!

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Practice: Should
Make a new sentence with the
same meaning or comment on the
sentence below.
I took a shortcut going
home, but I got lost.

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Possible Sentences
I should not have taken the
shortcut.
I should have gone home the
normal way.

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Must / Must Have
MUST/MUST HAVE
= 90% GUESS
MUST HAVE
= PAST TENSE FOR STRONG GUESSES
ONLY
HAD TO
= PAST TENSE OF MUST
(necessary, need to)

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meaning present past
(guess) must must have
(necessary) must
have to had to
need to needed to
“must have” is only for past guesses
(or inferences) !!!

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Practice: Must
Make statements about the following
situations using must.
Example: Jim needs a loan to pay
his tuition.
- Jill’s father must not earn a lot of
money.
- Jim must think that education is
important.

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Make statements about the
following situations using must.
You notice that there are a lot
of advertisements and TV
commercials in the United
States for dog and cat food.
Practice: Must

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Americans must like dogs and
cats.
Americans must buy special food
for their dogs and cat food.
Americans must spend a lot of
money on their pets.
Possible Sentences

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Make statements about the
following situations using must.
You receive your telephone bill,
and it lists two calls to
Chicago. You don’t know
anyone in Chicago.
Practice: Must

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Someone must have stolen your
phone number.
Someone must be using your
phone without permission.
Possible Sentences

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Make statements about the
following situations using must.
A coffee shop near campus is
always crowded day and night.
Practice: Must

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Students must like their coffee.
Students must not have any
where else to go.
This must be a popular place.
Possible Sentences

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Make statements about the
following situations using must.
Most graduates of the
Computer Science Department
at State University get good
jobs after graduation.
Practice: Must

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Computer Science must be a
good job.
The State University must help
students get jobs.
Possible Sentences

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Could (1)
POLITE REQUEST
Could you open the window, please?

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Could (2)
PERMISSION
Could I borrow a dollar for a Coke?

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Could (3)
PAST ABILITY / INABILITY
I could swim 3 miles when I was
younger.
I couldn’t drive until I was 17 years
old.

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Could (4)
GUESS
Present: I didn’t see Chuck this
morning. He could be sick.
Present Continuous: I’ve been trying
to reach Keiko for an hour.
She could be talking to her
boyfriend.

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Could (5)
PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDN’T
HAPPEN
Mariko could have gotten an “A” on
the test, but she didn’t study.
Tom could have finished his essay,
but he went to the movies instead.

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Could (6)
IMPOSSIBILITY
Present:
A: Fred weighs 250 pounds.
B: He couldn’t weigh 250.
He’s only 5´2´´ and wears a medium.

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Could (6)
IMPOSSIBILITY
Past:
A: I saw Henry at the disco last
night.
B: You couldn’t have seen him at
the disco. I was studying with
him at the library all night.

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Could Uses
1. POLITE REQUEST
2. PERMISSION
3. GUESS / INFERRENCE
4. PAST ABILITY / INABILITY
5. PAST POSSIBILITY THAT DIDN’T
HAPPEN
6. PRESENT IMPOSSIBILITY
7. PAST IMPOSSIBILITY

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Could with Possibility
COULD / COULD HAVE
= POSSIBLE, BUT IT
DIDN’T HAPPEN
COULDN’T / COULDN’T HAVE
= IMPOSSIBLE

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Meaning Present Past
Politeness /
Permission
Can could
Ability Can could
Guess Could Could have
Possibility Could Could have
Impossibility Couldn’t Couldn’t have

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Modal Problems
1) Using the WRONG verb form with
modal
We must to come to class on time.
They can being late for class.
I could was late for class.
He should comes on time.

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Modal Problems
2) Using ENDING on modal
He musts come to class on time.
They coulded be late for class.

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Modal Problems
3) Using TWO modals together
He might can come to class on time.
They should could be on time for
class.

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Modal Problems
4) Using don’t with modals
He don’t can come to class on time.
They don’t should be on late for
class.

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Modal Problems
5) Using incorrect Past Part with
modals
He can’t have went to class on time.
They should have was on time for
class.

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Paraphrase Practice with Modals
Paraphrase each sentence using a
modal.
I’m not sure if they were going
steady when I met them, but it’s
possible.
They ...

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Possible Sentences
They could have been going steady
when I met them.

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Paraphrase Practice with Modals
Paraphrase each sentence using a
modal.
They told everyone that they were
happy, but we can only conclude
that they were lying.
They ...

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Possible Sentences
They must not have been happy.
They should not have said they were
happy.

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Paraphrase Practice with Modals
Paraphrase each sentence using a
modal.
It is unfortunate that they weren’t
seeing a marriage counselor.
They ...

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Possible Sentences
They should have been seeing a
marriage counselor.
They could have been seeing a
marriage counselor.

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Paraphrase Practice with Modals
Paraphrase each sentence using a
modal.
I can’t believe they were expecting
to settle this in one month!
They ...

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Paraphrase Practice with Modals
They should not have been expecting
to settle this in one month!
They must have been crazy to think
they could settle this in one month!

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