| Expressing | Modals | Use |
| Obligation/Duty/Necessity / | must/ have to/should/ ought to (/ ) | must: - . , - ( ). e.g. You must listen to your teacher. have to: / , -. e.g. We have to be at the airport at 9 oclock. had to: must/have to. should/ought to: . e.g. People should take/ought to take better care of the environment. |
| Absence of necessity | dont have to/ dont need to/ neednt ( / c) | dont have to/ dont need to/neednt: - /.e.g. You dont have to / dont need to/ neednt to work tonight. neednt have done: -, , ( , ). e.g. You neednt have bought any bread. Id already bought some. didnt have to: -, . , . e.g. She didnt have to take a taxi. |
| Permission/ Prohibition / | can/ may (/ ) cant/mustnt ( / ) | can/may: , -. May , can. e.g. Can I use your pen for a minute? You may make a phone call here. mustnt/cant: -; ; -. e.g. You mustnt/ cant drive over 60 km. |
| Possibility | can/could/ may/might () | can + present infinitive: . . e.g. The road can get very fast. could/ may / might + present infinitive: . , can/could/might , may. e.g. The roads could/may/might get very busy tomorrow afternoon because there is a demonstration. could/might/would + perfect infinitive: , , . e.g. He could have come with us, if he hadnt missed the train. (infinitive): Present simple:(to) play Present continuous: (to) be playing Present perfect simple: (to) have played Present perfect continuous: (to) have been playing |
| Ability/ Inability () / () | can/could/ was (were) able to ( / -) | can: /. e.g. I can speak Italian fluently. could: . e.g. I could run faster when I was young. was(nt) (were/werent) able to: / . e.g. Although it was dark, we were able to find the way. couldnt: , - , . e.g. He couldnt reach her on the phone. |
| Logical Assumption/ Deductions / | must/ might/ could/ may/ cant | must: , - . e.g. It is Sunday. He must be at home. may/might/could: , - .e.g. The computer is out of order. It may be broken. cant/couldnt: , - e.g. It is Sunday. He cant/couldnt be at work. |
| Criticism | could / should + (perfect infinitive) ( / ) | could / should:Youcouldat least be polite (present). You should call them back. |
| Offers/Suggestions | can I?/shall I?/can/could/would you? | would: Wouldyou like a cup o tea? shall: ShallI explain it again? can/could: Can/Could Igive you a hand with the preparations? |
| Probability | will/ ought to/ should | will/should/ought to: , - . He will call me tonight. (100% ) should/ought to (90 % , ) |
| Advice | should / ought to/ shall | should/ ought to: . : need=must had better=should have (got) to=must be able to=can used to=would e.g. Its late. You should go/ ought to go home as soon as possible. |
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