MODAL VERBS

Express:

Possibility

"The word SING
can be a verb or
a noun"

You can't pass the exam

Giving/Asking Permission

"You can use my
clothes if you dind't
bring anything"

"You can't take these
shoes without pay for
them"

Can I use your movile, please?

There's not double negative
in English

Abilitiy

" Whales can swim"

"I can't speak Japanese"

Desisions made now
about the future

"We can meet at the park
tomorrow, if you like"

"I can't come to the meeting, sorry"

Things that were impossible to do
or that happened, we use can + have

"They can't have bought today
because the shops are closed"

Its negative form is CAN'T

Sometimes is used as the past of can (by
extension it has all the uses that can has)
and its negative form is couldn't

I could play the piano when I was 15/
I couldn't play the piano

I can play the piano

Sometimes is used
to sugestions now or in the
future

We could go to Paris
on holidays

Also we can use it to talk
about actions that aren't
realistic

I could eat a million
of donuts right
now

We use it for
hypothetical situations

If I could be an animal
I would be a blue whale

We also can use
could + have (done) to say
that possibly something
happened in the past

The situation was bad,
but it could have been
worse

We also can use could+ have
for an opportunity that we didn't take,
or a possible result that didn't happen

She could have gone out with
her friends but she stayed at home

We use couldn't + have
to say that is impossible
that something happened

she couldn't have say a word,
she is out of voice

If we want to say that
something isn't possible
right now we use:

couldn't

I couldn't play the football
match tomorrow, I broke my leg

We use that modal to say that
somebody is able to do
something (is more specific than
CAN)

Somebody is able to do
something (is more specific than
CAN, because only has two forms
present and past)

The region will not be able to
withstand another war.

In a present tense is more
formal than CAN and by rule,
we have to use it after a modal verb
as well as to talk in present perfect and
to+ infinitive

You will be able to speak perfect English very soon.

I have been able to swim since I was five

In past we use was/were able to
or MANAGED TO say that the person
have confronted a difficulty
(NOT COULD)

He was able to get a job while
he was finishing his post-degree

Although he hadn't good marks
he managed to pass all the exams

They are both used to talk
about possibility and certainty

May

Is stronger than Might
talking about the possibility
and certain of something
but it's still non-certainty

It may rain...

+ have been to talk about
possibily events in the past

He may have forgotten
your birthday

We can also use it to asking or
refusing permission

May I go with you?
+Yes, You may
-Sorry, I'm afraid you may not

+ have been to talk about
possibily events in the past

she might have changed,
we never know how the
people are

Is weaker than May when we talk
about possibility and certanty and
its negative form is might not / mightn't

I mightn't finish the task for tonight

We could use them before an ING form
(be+ ING)

Maria might be playing volleyball

Maria may be playing volley
at the beach like every Sunday

+ not have

Possibly did not happened

I might not have bring my keys

She may not have arrived yet, it's too early

we use it for:

Predictions

We will go to the new amusement
park in the 5th avenue, it will be fun

I won't go to spain this year,
I won't have time

Offers

I'll bring the sandiwches
for the picnic

I'll carry your bags, Madame
-Oh no, you won't...are you trying to
distract me to steal my purse?

(I know isn't the best example,
but I tried to personified to a granny...
the grannys are always suspicious with her purses)

Invitations

Will you join us for a drink?

Will you come to the party next Friday?
-No, I won't (Won't is an strong refusal?

We use it for:

Past prediction

I thought it would rain so
I brought an umbrella

Offers

Would do you like
a cup of tea?

Invitations

Would you like to
come with us?

Polite request

Would you mind bring me the fields, please?

+ not or Wouldn't for a refusal

I wouldn't lie about my feelings for you

We use it

Instead of would
only with "I and We"

I should like to
meet your mom

To ask advice

Should I call him and apologize?

To give advice

You should wash your teeth after every meal

+ be + ING

I should be studying

We use it for generally permission

past

We were allowed to play
on the street until 7 pm on
summer

now

You are allowed to be absent
on the scholl, because you are
with flu

future

Will I be allowed to go away of the
country with a work visa?

We use it to talk about

Certainty

This must be the right phone number
he has had the same for five years

Necessity of the speaker

We must to pass all the exams

+ not = mustn't

as a strong prohibition

You mustn't be here, the notice
said "only authorized personnel"

To say that something
is a bad idea

You mustn't mix
water and hot oil

+ have + past participle

to talk about possible past events

It have rained like this before

Is used for

The situation makes
necessary something,
and we can use it

in present

I have to the school tomorrow

after a modal verb

Elias may have to run scared because
he doesn't understand the God's purpose for him

in present perfect

Jorge has had bought everything
that he had, to travel all around the world.

+ got

is more informal than have to

" I've got to buy food at the supermarket"

We use it to say that is
the better option to do in
a situation

My mom is calling me to have lunch,
I had better not be late

Is stronger than Should and Ought to
and the speaker sees the action as
necessary and expects that it will happen

I should be studying

it's too late, I had better go to study

We use it when we talk about normal or correct
way to do things

She is supposed to be here, in an hour ago

In past is

the party was supposed to be a surprise

We use it when something
is not necessary

You needn't water the plants, I've just done it

+ have + past participle

we use it when we say that someone needn't have done something, it means that they did it, but it was not necessary

I needn't have prepared all that food. They already have eaten in Maria's

we use it when: something was not necessary to do and we choose to do it or not

I didn't neet to water the garden today, I realized that it's going to rain tonight

we use it as Should.
it has the same function

People shouldn't lie/ oughtn't to lie each other