English Grammar – Modals

ABONE OL

English Grammar Modals: The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation and possibility.

Modals – Can, could and (be) able to

We use can to say that something is possible or allowed, or that somebody has the ability to do something. We use can + infinitive (can do/can see etc.):

• We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
• ‘I haven’t got a pen.’ ‘You can use mine.’
• Can you speak any foreign languages?
• I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
• The word ‘play’ can be a noun or a verb.
• I’m afraid I can’t (cannot) come to the party on Friday.

You can say that somebody is able to do something, but can is more usual: We are able to see the lake from our bedroom window.

But can has only two forms: can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to. Compare:

Could (do) and Could have (done)

We use could in a number of ways. Sometimes could is the past of can:

• Listenç I can hear something. (now)
• I listened. I could hear something. (past)

But could is not only used in this way. We also use could to talk about possible actions now or in the future (especially to make suggestions). For example:

• A: What shall we do this evening?
• B: We could go to the cinema.
• A: When you go to Paris next month, you could stay with Julia.
• B: Yes, I suppose I could.

Compare can and could:

• I can stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (realistic)
• Maybe I could stay with Julia when I go to Paris. (possible, but less sure)
• This is a wonderful place. I could stay here forever. (unrealistic)

We use could have (done) to talk about the past. Compare:

• I’m so tired, I could sleep for a week. (now)
• I was so tired, I could have slept for a week. (past)
• The situation is bad, but it could be worse. (now)
• The situation was bad, but it could have been worse. (past)

Must and can’t

Study this example:

• A: My house is very near the motorway.
• It must be very noisy.

You can use must to say that you believe something is certain:

• You’ve been travelling all day. You must be tired. (Travelling is tiring and you’ve been travelling all day, so you must be tired).
• ‘Jim is a hard worker.’ ‘Jim? You must be joking. He doesn’t do anything.’
• Carol must get very bored in her job. She does the same thing everyday.
• I’m sure Sally gave me her phone number. I must have it somewhere.

You can use can’t to say that you believe something is not possible:

• You’ve just had lunch. You can’t be hungry already. (People are not normally hungry just after eating a meal. You’ve just eaten, so you can’t be hungry).
• They haven’t lived here for very long. The can’t know many people.