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Modal Verbs
Look at this sample situation:
A conversation between two friends:
Liam: You look really busy!
Ella: I know! I must finish this report before six or my boss will kill me!
Liam: You should take a break; you’ve been working all day.
Ella: I can’t stop now, but I might go for a walk later if I have time.
Liam: You must be joking! You never rest!
Ella: I know, but I had to stay late yesterday because the system crashed.
Liam: That’s awful. You must have been feeling really stressed.
Ella: Totally! I couldn’t believe it happened again.
Liam: Well, you should have called me. I could have helped you fix it.
Ella: Thanks! I’ll remember that next time; I won’t be able to survive another night like that!
You can see from these examples that:
Must and should express obligation and advice in the present or future.
Can and could show ability or possibility in different time frames.
Might expresses possibility in the future.
Must be + -ing describes a deduction about something happening now.
Had to expresses obligation in the past
Should have + past participle expresses the feeling that a mistake was made; criticism of a past action.
Must have been + -ing shows deduction about a continuous past action.
Will be able to expresses future ability.
Structure
The pure modal verbs are: must, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to and need. Need may also be used as a main verb and ought to is the only modal that is followed by a to-infinitive.
Pure modal verbs have a special form; they don't need auxiliary verbs (do, does, did) for negative and question forms and they don't need -s for he/she/it in the present.
There are also semi-modal verbs such as have to, be able to and need to. These are not pure modal verbs as they use auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and they change when used in present tenses like main verbs.
Pure modal verbs are followed by the base form of the main verb (without to).
Subject + modal verb + base verb
She can play the piano.
You should study more.
Negative: Simply add not after them.
He can’t drive.
You shouldn’t go out now.
Question: The order is inverted so the modal comes first and the subject follows it.
Can you swim?
Should I call her?
Note: Ought to and need are slightly different:
She ought to reply soon.
Ought is followed by to.
She ought not to smoke if she's pregnant.
To make it negative, not is added just like other pure modals but to is still used.
Ought we to call the police?
Ought to can be used in questions by inverting the subject and ought. However, this question form is very formal and rarely used; it is much more common to use should instead or to use Do you think I ought to...? to rephrase the question.
Need can be both a pure modal and a semi-modal:
You need to send the report.
is common but nowadays seen as a verb pattern (verb + to infinitive) rather than a pure modal.
You need not worry about it.
is possible but rather formal. You don't need to worry is much more common.
Need you be so rude?
is fomal and not very common. Do you need to be so rude? is much more usual.
Continuous Forms
Modal + be + verb-ing
Used to make deductions or talk about something happening now or around now.
You must be joking!
means I'm sure you're joking now.
They might be waiting for the bus.
means it's possible that they're waiting for the bus now.
Perfect Forms
Modal + have + past participle
Used to refer to past actions or situations.
She must have forgotten about it.
means I'm sure she forgot about it.
You should have called earlier.
means I feel you made a mistake and I'm criticising you for not calling earlier.
He could have come, but he didn’t.
means it was possible for him to come but it didn't happen.
Perfect Continuous Forms
Modal + have been + verb-ing
Used to describe ongoing past actions or to focus on duration.
They must have been working all night.
means I'm sure they were working all night.
He might have been waiting for hours.
means it's possible that she was waiting for hours.
Semi-Modals
As mentioned above, semi modals have alternative forms that show tense changes. Semi modals use auxiliaries in negative and question forms and their form changes for the third person singular (he, she, it) in the present.
I have to wear a uniform. / She has to wear a uniform.
Has is used for the third person singular.
I don't have to wear a uniform. / She doesn't have to wear a uniform.
Do/does (+ not) is used in negative forms.
Do I have to wear a uniform? / Does she have to wear a uniform.
Do/does is used in question forms.
Meaning
Modal verbs express possibility, probability, ability, obligation/necessity/prohibition, deduction, advice, permission, requests and suggestions.
Possibility
May, might and could can be used to express possibility in the present or future:
Tina may/could/might (not) be at home now.
George could be working late tonight.
Can is used when something is only is sometimes possible:
My neighbour can be very rude sometimes.
Note: To express possibility in the past, the perfect infinitive (simple or continuous) is used:
She could have left her umbrella in the taxi.
means maybe she left the umbrella in the taxi. But:
Be careful! You could have crashed into that tree!
means that the event was possible but it didn't actually happen.
When expressing possibility in the past in negative sentences, only may not or might not can be used (not could not):
I'm surprised to hear Jim was not at the party. He may/might not have known about it.
Probability
Should and Ought to can be used to express probability in the present or future:
There are plenty of flats available for rent in town. It should be/ought to be easy enough to find a place to live.
When followed by the perfect infinitive (simple or continuous), should/ought to can be used to show that something was expected to happen in the past but either didn't happen or it is not certain if it happened:
She has been working very hard lately; she should/ought to have been promoted.
Ability
Can, could and be able to can be used to express ability.
Mary can play/is able to play the guitar.
shows ability in the present/future. Can is more common for present ability. But:
Mary will be able to go back to work after she has recovered from her illness.
For future ability, be able to is the best option as it can be adapted to all tenses by changing the verb to be as required. Can cannot be used after will.
Note: Can't or Cannot can also be used to express prohibition:
You can't park here.
Could expresses general ability in the past:
He could swim at the age of six.
Was/Were able to is used to express ability at a particular situation in the past:
When the boat sank, George was able to swim to the shore.
Note: Both forms (could and was/were able to) can be used in negative sentences with no difference in meaning.
She couldn't see us.
is the same as:
She wasn't able to see us.
If the action was difficult, we can use managed to/succeeded in instead of was/were able to:
He had a terrible accident but he managed to survive/he succeeded in surviving.
Perfect and future tenses are formed only with be able to.
Nick hasn't been able to find a iob yet.
I think Sandra will be able to pick you up from the airport.
Obligation & Necessity
Must, have (got) to and need can be used to express obligation and necessity.
Must expresses strong obligation now, in the future or generally; the speaker feels that he or someone else is obliged to do something:
I must repair the roof before winter comes.
means it is really important for me to do that.
You must get up early tomorrow.
means it is really important that you get up early tomorrow.
Have (got) to expresses obligation now, in the future, generally or in the past (had to); it comes from facts, such as rules or laws, not from the speaker's opinion or feelings:
Policemen have to wear a uniform.
is an obligation
I've got to see my dentist tomorrow.
means I have an appointment.
Have (got) to can also be used with adverbs of frequency:
Do you often have to work at weekends?
Need expresses necessity and has different patterns. When need is a main verb, interrogative and negative sentences are formed with do/did:
She needs a new pair of gloves.
Need + noun
This room needs painting.
Need + -ing
Do I need to take an umbrella?
Need + to-infinitive
Need I take an umbrella?
Need + bare infinitive
Note: Must is used only for the present; for the past and the future we use the forms of have to, expressing either internal or external obligation:
He had to leave earlier yesterday.
is obligation in the past.
They will soon have to tell him the truth.
is obligation in the future.
When used in the negative forms (mustn't, don't/doesn't have to, needn't and don't/doesn't need to), the meaning changes completely:
You mustn't enter this room.
is stronger than
You can't enter this room.
I don't have to/haven't got to cook dinner tonight; we are going to a restaurant.
means it's not necessary for me to cook tonight.
You needn't take your jacket. It isn't cold.
means it's not necessary for you to take your jacket.
He doesn't need to work that hard.
means it's not necessary for him to work that hard.
Needn't + perfect infinitive vs. Didn't need to + infinitive:
You needn't have bought any magazines; I've got plenty.
means that the action wasn't necessary but it was done. You bought the magazines but it was not necessary.
They didn't need to pay anything extra for the tour.
means that something (paying anything extra) was not necessary, and it most likely was not done.
Deductions
Must and can't/couldn't can be used to express certainty in deductions.
John must be at the dentist's; he was complaining about a toothache.
Must + present infinitive (simple or continuous) is used for positive deductions about the present/future. We're fairly sure that something is true.
The 6:30 train to Liverpool can't be leaving yet; it's only 6.10.
Can't + present infinitive (simple or continuous) is used for negative deductions about the present/future. We're almost certain that something is not true.
Note: To express positive and negative deductions in the past must, can't/couldn't are followed by the perfect infinitive (simple or continuous):
I can't find my glasses; I must have left them at the office.
is a positive deduction about the past. This means I'm pretty sure I left my glasses at the office.
He can't/couldn't have been working yesterday; it was Sunday.
is a negative deduction about the past. It means I'm fairly certain that he wasn't working yesterday. Note that couldn't is possible too in this case.
Advice
Should, ought, shall and had better can be used to give and ask for advice.
I think you should/ought to see a doctor.
You shouldn't be watching TV now; you should be studying.
Should (not) and ought to (+ present infinitive simple or continuous) are used to give advice now or in the future and to say what is generally right or wrong. Should is much more common in spoken and written English than ought to.
Note: When should and ought to are followed by the perfect infinitive (simple or continuous) they can be used to express criticism; to show that something should have been done but did not eventually happen:
You shouldn't have lied to your parents.
means it was a bad thing to do; criticism.
They ought to have informed us earlier.
means it should have been done but it didn't happen.
Had better + bare infinitive can be used to give strong advice; it often
expresses a threat or warning and is stronger than should/ought to:
You'd better not argue with him.
He'd better study harder if he wants to pass the exam.
Shall I + bare infinitive can be used to ask for advice:
Shall I change my hair colour?
here Shall I...? means Do you think I should...?
Permission
Can, could, may and might (+base form of the verb) can be used to ask for permission:
Can/Could/May/Might I use your phone for a moment?
May and might are more polite and formal than can and could.
Can, may and be allowed to (+base form of the verb) can be used to give permission:
You can/may/are allowed to park here.
Note: To talk about permission in the past, we don't usually use could. Be allowed to is used instead:
I was allowed to go to the party.
sounds better than:
I could go to the party.
which sounds odd. However, in reported speech could might refer to permission in the past:
Dad said I could go to the cinema.
Requests
Can, could, may, will and would (+base form of the verb) can be used for requests:
Can and will are used for informal requests:
Can/Will you help me with the ironing?
Could, may and would can be used to make more polite/formal requests:
Could/May I have some coffee, please?
Would you pass me the salt, please?
Suggestions
Can, could and shall (+base form of the verb) can be used to make suggestions:
Can is used for informal suggestions:
We can go to the cinema, if you like.
Could and shall can be used to make more polite/formal suggestions:
We could go for a swim in the afternoon.
Shall we go shopping on Saturday?
Note: Shall is only used with the pronouns I and We.
Suggestions can also be expressed in other ways:
Let's + bare infinitive:
Let's play tennis.
Why don't... ?
Why don't we go for a walk?
How about + noun
How about some more coffee?
How about + -ing form:
How about having a pizza for dinner?
In the FCE exam
Modal verbs are very common and may appear in all sections of the FCE exam. Here are some areas where you may find them:
Reading and Use of English
You may find these forms in part 4, key word transformations.
I'm sure it wasn't Tim who called you because I saw him outside.
BEEN
It ___________________________ Tim who called you because I saw him outside.
Answer: can't have been
It wasn’t necessary for you to buy food.
HAVE
You ___________________________ any food.
Answer: need not/needn't have bought
Writing
Modals can help you sound polite, formal and clear, especially in essays, reports, reviews and articles.
In Essays and Reports, modals can add a formal tone, express obligation and suggestions:
Students should attend all their classes.
is advice.
Employees must follow safety rules.
is obligation.
The new system might improve communication in the school.
is a possibility.
Governments could invest more in renewable energy.
is a suggestion.
In Reviews and Articles, modals can help you express opinions, recommendations and polite suggestions:
You should definitely try this restaurant.
is a strong recommendation.
The film might be too long for some people, but I loved it.
is a possibility in the present.
It may have been one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
is a possibility in the past.
You must read this book! You won't regret it.
is a strong recommendation.
Speaking
Modals help make your speech sound natural and fluent an can be used in all parts of the Speaking paper. Let's have a look at some ideas:
In Part 1, you could use them to talk about your life (ability, possibility, preferences):
I can cook quite well, but I don’t do it often.
When I was younger, I could run very fast.
I might study abroad in the future.
In Part 2, modals are really useful for describing and speculating about the photos:
He must be travelling – look at his backpack.
They might have just arrived at the airport.
She could be waiting for someone.
In Parts 3 and 4, modals could be used for giving opinions and making suggestions in discussions:
We should focus on improving public transport.
People could use their cars less to reduce pollution.
Companies must take responsibility for the environment.
You must be joking if you think that’s easy!