Chart of modals and similar expressions MODAL USES PRESENT/ FUTURE PAST May 1)polite request 2)formal permission 3)less than 50% certainty May I borrow your pen? You may leave the room - Where’s John? - He may be at the library. He may have been at the library. Might 1) less than 50% certainty 2) polite request (rare) - Where’s Mary? -She might be at home. Might I borrow your car She might have been at home. Should 1)advisability 2)90% certainty You should study tonight. She should do well on the test. (future only, not present) You should have studied last night. She should have done well on the test. Ought to 1)advisability 2)90% certainty You ought to study tonight. She ought to do well on the test. (future only, not present) You ought have to studied last night. She ought to have done well on the test. Had better 1)advisability with threat of bad result You had better be on time, or we will leave without you (past form uncommon) Be supposed to 1)expectation Class is supposed to begin at 10 a.m Class was supposed to begin at 10 a.m Be to 1) strong expectation You are to be here at 9.00 You were to be here at 9.00 Must 1)strong necessity 2)prohibition (negative) 3) 95% certainty I must go to class today You must not open that door. Mary isn’t in the class. She must be sick. (present only) I had to go to class yesterday. Mary must have been sick yesterday. Have to 1) necessity 2)lack of necessity (negative) I have to go to class today I don t have to go’ to class today. I had to go to class yesterday. I didn t have to’ go to class yesterday. Will 1) 100% certainty 2) willingness 3)polite request He will be here at 6.00. (future only) - the phone’s ringing. - I ll get’ it. Will you please pass the salt? Be going to 1) 100% certainty 2) definite plan He is going to be here at 6.00. (future only) He is going to paint his bedroom. (future only) Can 1) ability/ possibility 2)informal permission 3) informal polite request. 4) impossibility (negative) I can run fast You can use my car tomorrow. Can I borrow your pen? That can t be’ true. I could run fast when I was a child, but now I can’t. That can t have been’ true. Could 1) past ability I could run fast when I 2) polite request 4) less than 50% certainty 5)impossibility(negative) Could you help me? - Where’s John? - He could be at home. That couldn t be’ true! was a child. You could have talked to your teacher. He could have been at home. That couldn’t have been true! Be able to 1)ability I am able to help you. I will be able to help you. I was able to help you. Would 1) polite request 2)preference Would you please pass the salt? I would rather go to the park than stay home. I would rather have gone to the park than stay home. Used to 1) repeated action in the past I used to visit my grandparents every weekend. Shall 1) polite question to make a suggestion. 2) future with I or we as subject. Shall I open the door? I shall arrive at nine. (will is more common). Exercises 1.He …….leave early, didn’t he? (must/ had to/ has to/ ought to) 2. his eyes were so bad that he ……… read the number on the board. (shouldn’t/hadn’t to/ couldn’t/ can’t) 3. there’s the waiter. I …… ask him for the bill. (will/ shall/ am able to/ could) 4. ………….open the door for you? (Would you like that I / Do you want that I /will I / shall) 5. ……… you be able to come to the meeting? – I’m afraid not. (Can/ will/ May/ should) 6. My car broke down so I ……… come by bus. (had to/ must/should/ could) 7. …………….ask you some questions? – OK,go ahead.(shall I / will I / should I /may I ) 8. I ………….play tennis than golf. (like better to/ prefer/ ‘d rather/ ‘d better) 9. there are a lot of mistakes in this exercises. I …… go over it again with you. (will have to/ am able to/ would/ could) 10. he was a good swimmer, so he ………. Swim to the river bank when the boat sank. (could/ can/ would/ was able to) 11. he ……… live in the country than in the city.(would rather/ had better/ should/ might) 12. you ……… go now. It’s getting late.(had rather/ had better/ ought/ would rather) 13. You ……… fly to London this evening provided you don’t mind changing planes in Paris.(must/ have to/ can/ ought to) 14. I ……… to take advantage of this opportunity to thank for your co-operation. (would like/can/ am able to/ might) 15. you ………… add it up. I’m not good at figures.(a.have to/b. ought to/c. ‘d better/ both b and c) 16. the phone has been ring ing for a minute. Noone …………at home(must have been/ can have been/ should have been/ none of these) 17. she’s fainted. Throw some water on her face and she ………. Come round.(has to/ may/ must/ can have) 18. ……… you please refrain from smoking while the lecture is in progress? (May/ Might/ Would/ Should) 19. I ……………… persuade him as I said.(wasn’t able to/ can’t/ mustn’t/ ought not) 20. I’m sorry to bother you while you’re working, but I …………ask you a question.(can/ had to/ must/ may) 21. He couldn’t have mean it seriously. He ……….laughed at you. (would/ couldn’t/ had/ must have) 22. we …….ensure the telegram arrives in time. (had to/ must/ ‘d rather/ might) 23. he …… keep his family because his wages were too low. (couldn’t/mustn’t/ can’t/ didn’t have to) 24. the sea was too rough that we …………swim. (couldn’t/can’t/won’t/wouldn’t) 25. …………make an appointment to see the doctor? (May I / Could I / Will I/ Shall I ) 26. Perhaps there ………. A good pro gram on the radio. (might be/ will be/ can be/ should be) 27. I ……go swimming when I was young. (a. could/b.would./ c. used to/d. both b and c) 28. ……… take this letter to the post office, please?(May you/ Must you/ Would you/ none of these) 29. in our family my father ………sit at the top of the table. (used to/ had to/ ought to/ must) 30 Do it as well as you ……………. (must/ will/ can/ have to) 31. I …………swim in this water: it is much too cold.(mightn’t/ mustn’t/ can’t/ don’t have to) 32. you …………… imagine my surprise when I heard the news. (can/ ought to/ will/ all of these) 33. you do some work instead of sitting there reading the paper. (would rather/ ought to/ won’t/ don’t have to) 34. be careful how you hold that jug; it ……….break easily.(may/ ought to/will/ might) 35. I’m not sure where to go for my holiday, but I …… go to China. (should/ may/ have to/ needn’t) 36. we had free tickets, so we ……….pay to get into the concert. (didn’t have to/ couldn’t/mustn’t/ shouldn’t) 37. Now I’m feeling dizzy. I …………watched video film till midnight.(shouldn’t have/ can’t have/ couldn’t/ mustn’t) 38. Tom ……… drive . He is too tired. (would rather/ must/ needn’t to/ ought not to) 39. shall I clean the window today? – No, you ……. (mustn’t/ needn’t/ don’t have/ shouldn’t) 40. you’ve been traveling all day. You ………….a walk now. (could take/ can’t take/ can take/ may take)