Diapositiva 1

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MODAL VERBS
By Noelia Villafañe
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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING OBLIGATION
MUST expresses a personal obligation ( imposed
by the speaker ). The speaker thinks it is
necessary to do as he says
I must study harder if I want to pass the test
She must eat salad to lose some weight
I must help my mum with the housework
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HAVE TO expresses an impersonal obligation. It
is used for external rules
Do you have to get your hair cut to join the
army?
Students have to wear uniforms in this school
He has to put his seatbelt
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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING PROHIBITION
MUSTNT expresses prohibition it forbids
someone from doing something.

People mustnt drink alcohol if they are going
to drive
You mustnt park here
You mustnt jump a red light
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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING LACK OF OBLIGATION
DONT/ DOESNT HAVE TO NEEDNT/DONT NEED
TO express that is not necessary to do something
He doesnt have to make his bed. His mum does
it for him
You dont need o water the plants everyday. It
is enough to do it every four days
YOU neednt do the washing up. Those plates
are clean.
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Complete the sentences with the most suitable
modal
1. You (mustnt / dont have to) drive
a car if you dont have a driving license. 2.
They .. (dont have to/must) be quiet in
class 3. In France, you (have to /mustnt
) drive on the right 4. He .... (doesnt have
to/must) pay for the tickets. They are free 5.
John..(has to /mustnt) wear a tie at
work. 6. People .. (must /mustnt ) their
teeth after every meal if they want to prevent
tooth decay 7. You ..(mustnt / dont
have to) wash the car. Mum did it early in the
morning 8. Students (mustnt / dont have
to) run along the corridor 9. When you enter a
new country, you .(have to / dont have
to) show your passport
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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING PROBABILITY
COULD MAY MIGHT
are used to say that something is likely to
happen, but we are not completely sure. It is
uncertain
She likes studying Law. She may / might become a
lawyer some day
We could win the next match
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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY AND ABILITY
Can is used to say that ..
a. Something is possible or not
I CAN see the beach from this window
They CANt get on the bus. Its full
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b. Somebody has or doesnt have the ability to
do something
He CAN play the guitar.
She CANt draw very well.
CAN birds fly? Yes, they can
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Could is used to talk about ability and
possibility in the past
When I went to nursery , I COULDNT count up to
40.
He COULD run very fast when he was young
I COULDNT watch TV yesterday
COULD you speak when you were one?
Yes, I could No, I couldnt
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Be able to expresses ability in the other
tenses
Future - WILL BE ABLE TO Present
Perfect - HAVE/ HAS BEEN ABLE TO
She HAS BEEN ABLE TO pass all her exams
I will BE ABLE TO reach the shelf when I grow up
I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO write the letter
He will BE ABLE TO improve his English
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CAN, COULD or BE ABLE TO?

• In the future we ____________ use robots to do
  the housework
• a. could b. can c. will
  be able to
• She come tomorrow (-)
• a. cant b. wont be able to
  c. couldnt
• A hundred years ago, we _________ send spaceships
  to other planets.
• a. could b. couldnt a.
  can
• 4. For three days, I havent ______________ speak
  to him on the phone
• a. been able to b. could c. can
• 4. In the Bronze Age, families ______ go to the
  cinema or to a restaurant.
• a. could b. couldnt a.
  can

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CAN, COULD or BE ABLE TO?

• When my grandmother was young, she . surf
  the Internet, but she .. make beautiful
  pottery jars and vases
• After treatment he . to return to work
• The fire spread quickly but everyone escape
• Lora ..play the violin very well now, but
  with practice and effort, she . improve a lot.
• She lose weight with a new diet
• He used to . climb mountains when he was
  young.
• I havent . sleep well recently

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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING PERMISSION
CAN I.? COULD I? MAY I.?
Can I borrow your pencil? Could I open the
window? May I make a suggestion?
a. Asking for permission (requests)
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POLITE REQUESTS
You have a terrible headache. And your brother
is listening to music loudly
You left your mobile phone at home. You want to
call your mother.
May I...?
Youre a tourist in Rome. Ask somebody to
take a photo of you.
Your friend borrowed some money and he didnt
give it back.
Can you...?
Its cold and the fan is on
Youre feeling ill. You want to take a day off
from work
Could you...?
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b. Talking about permission
When we want to say that some things are
permitted or not (laws or rules), we use can(t)
or be (not) allowed to.
I cant/am not allowed to go to bed after 10,30

You can/are allowed to drive a car in America if
you are 16. (Thats the law.)
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I was allowed to play football last week
She wont be allowed to go out next weekend.
Shes punished.
I havent been allowed to go to the party
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Are you allowed to ...?
And how about you?

• watch late-night movies?
• get a tattoo?
• keep a pet at home?
• spend hours on Internet?
• go on holidays with friends?
• wear what you want?
• stay out until after twelve on Saturday night?

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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING LOGICAL
DEDUCTION/ CERTAINTY
Must expresses the idea that something is highly
probable because we are sure about it
He must be French
It must be my mother
Ive had no sleep for 22 hours You must be
exhausted.
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Cant expresses the idea that something is
imposible
Peter cant be from Rome. He doesnt speak
Italian
A Theres someone at the door. I think its
Bill. B. It cant be Bill. Hes on holidays
Pam is only in her forties. She cant be retired
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Complete the sentences with the most suitable
modal

• Nobodys answering and there are no lights. They
  ______ (cant/must) be out
• 2. Dont be long. The bus ____________
  (cant/may) be here any minute
• 3. Hes been working 12 hours a day. He ____
  (must/could) be exhausted
• 4. Take jacket! It ________________ ( must /
  might) be cold later.
• 5. Dad is late for lunch. He _________ (could /
  cant) be caught in traffic.
• She _________ (cant/could) owe you money. Shes
  very rich
• The teacher ________ (could / cant) punish you
  if you use your mobile

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• I _________ (cant/might) go to Lisbon next
  August but Im not sure yet.
• Tomorrows test _______ (cant/might) be quite
  easy. You never know
• He _______ (could/cant) be Spanish, judging by
  his accent
• We ____________( might / cant) get married in
  August but we are not sure yet
• My parents _______ (may/must) be away for the
  weekend but Im not sure
• Marta is really beautiful. She ________(might
  /cant ) become a model.
• Dad ______( must/might) lend you the car if you
  ask him.
• A heavy smoker ______( could / cant) stop
  smoking if he has enough determination

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MODAL VERBS EXPRESSING ADVICE
SHOULD and OUGHT TO are used to give advice and
to ask for advice
She SHOULDNT / OUGHT NOT TO eat too much
chocolate
SHOULD he visit the doctor?
You SHOULD / OUGHT TO take an umbrella. It might
rain
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HAD BETTER expresses that is advisable to do
something. It is also used to warn someone.
Id better go to bed. I have a meeting first
thing in the morning
Youd better hurry up or youll miss the bus.
He doesnt look well. Hed better not go to
work tomorrow
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Thank you for your attention!