Modal Verbs Исполнитель
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Modal Verbs
A. express the speaker’s beliefs about or interpretation of the main action
You should get more exercise. (The speaker thinks this is a positive or even necessary course of action.)
You might find work on a farm. (The speaker thinks there is a weak possibility of finding work.)
B. share certain grammatical features that make them grammatically, but not semantically, interchangeable
- invariable for all persons
- are followed immediately by the base verb without to, except for ought to
12 Formal Modals and general semantic areas (not exhaustive)
| semantic area: potere | semantic area: dovere | semantic area: futurity/conditionality/dovere | |
| can | must | will | need |
| could | should | would | dare |
| may | ought to | shall | |
| might |
Semi-modal forms
| can | be able to | must | have to |
| could | should | had better | |
| may | be allowed to | ought to | be supposed to |
| might |
Potere as:
| ability, capacity | present |
can be able to |
I can speak French. This glass can hold 400 centilitres of liquid. |
| past |
could was able to |
I could swim when I was 10. He was able to swim to shore when the boat sank. |
|
| permission | present |
may is allowed to can |
You may not park here. cannot are not allowed to |
| past | was allowed to | When I was a child, girls were not allowed to wear trousers to school. |
Potere as possibility/probability
|
present/ future |
may |
He may be at home. could might |
| could | ||
| might | ||
| past | may have |
They may have told Sue. could might |
| could have | ||
| might have |
Possibility/probability is an opinion
is will may could/might
factual certain prediction possible less possible
Jack is studying. (I know it for a fact.)
He will study all afternoon. (I feel very certain in predicting this.)
He may study all afternoon. (He has a test tomorrow.)
He could/might study all afternoon. (He has a test tomorrow but he is already well prepared.)
Dovere as obligation
| at the moment of imposing authority or in the formulation of rules and regulations | must |
You must finish in 30 minutes. (Teacher to students during an exam.) All vehicles must display a parking permit. (Sign at car park entrance.) |
| referring to imposed authority | have to | You have to have a parking permit to park here. |
| general necessity |
have to need (only neg and questions) |
He has to go to the bank. You needn’t worry, everything is ok. |
past –
must and have to both become had to
We had to finish in 30 minutes.
He had to go to the bank.
negative –
You must not use a dictionary. (It is forbidden.) vs. He doesn’t have to use a dictionary/He needn’t use a dictionary. (It’s not necessary, he knows the language well.)
Dovere as logical supposition/deduction
present -
He’s late. He must be stuck in traffic.
No one is answering the phone. They must not be at home.
They can’t be out. The car is in the driveway.
past -
They missed the concert even if they are big fans. They must not have been able to get tickets.
They love that group. They must have seen the concert.
Dovere as advice
You should stop smoking.
ought to
had better
NB. had better implies that there could be negative consequences if we do not follow the advice given us.
Dovere to indicate a wise, proper or morally correct course of action
present
You should never bet more money than you can afford to loose.
You should show respect to the elderly.
past
He should have called a lawyer before speaking with the police.
Dovere to indicate plans
He should be on a train to Rome now.
They are supposed to arrive tomorrow evening.
(This was the arrangement but the speaker is not 100% certain this is happening/will happen.)
He was supposed to call at 3 o’clock.
(This was the arrangement, but it didn’t happen.)
Will
futurity – most common use
obligation – the language of contracts
The renter will vacate the premises by 30 June.
The supplier will pay a penalty of 10% for deliveries effected more than 15 days after terms of contract.
would
- conditionals
I would buy a new car if I had more money.
- polite requests
Would you hand me that book, please?
- future in the past
It would be more than 3 days before we reached the coast of South America.
shall
- to offer to do something for someone
Shall I turn on the light?
- to make suggestions
Shall we go out for a change instead of sitting in front of the TV?
