Таble IV Modal verbs

Modal verbs’ usage

Name of a modal verb

Cases of usage

An example

can,

could is the past of can

It expresses physical and mental ability

Canyouskate?

It expresses the ability to perform actions in the appropriate circumstances or in the future ( especially to do suggestions)

You can see the forest through the other window

It expresses permission or request

Can I use your car? You can use my car

It expresses doubt and uncertainty

Can it be true?

It expresses incredibility

It саn^, t be true

may,

might

It expresses permission

May I borrow your pen?

It expresses possibility

( perhaps)

Не maybeill

It expresses disapproval or reproach

You might have helped me

must

must

It expresses obligation to do an action

You must talk to your daughter about her future

It expresses prohibition

Не must not leave his room for a while

It expresses emotional

advice

You mustn’t miss the exhibition.

Itisverygood

It expresses probability bordering with assurance

Your father must be eighty now

to have to

It expresses obligation

Не had to do it

An absence of obligation

You don’t have to go there

to be to

It expresses necessity proceeding from a beforehand plan or an agreement

We are to discuss it next time

It expresses an order and instructions

(in indirect speech)

Не says I am to leave you alone

It expresses something what should be true

Не was to be my friend for many years to come

It expresses an advice or suggestion

You ought to say a word or two about yourself

ought to

It expresses that a desirable action has not been done

You ought to have called on him yesterday

It expresses that an undesirable action has been done

You oughtn’t to have married her, David. It "was a great mistake”

should

It expresses mild obligation, or advice

It’s late. You should go to bed

It expresses refusal to do an action in negative sentences

with a simple infinitive

The doctor knows I won’t be operated on

will

(would)

It is used with inanimate objects in order to show that these objects can’t do their meaning

My pen wouldn’t write

Моя ручка не пишет

It expresses usual frequently repeating actions

She will sit for hours under the old tree

need

It expresses necessity

in question and

negative sentencesconcerning

present and future tenses

You needn’t be afraid of me

It expresses an action which has been done but there was no need to do it

You needn’t have

Hurried