{%hackmd bywgECMyRta8Q0aMb8U5ZQ %} :::success # MODAL VERBS ::: ## CAN ### General ability (PRESENT) - I **can** speak English ### Ask for permission (informal) - **Can** I borrow your pen, please ? ### To request something - **Can** you help me, please ? ### Possibility - It **can** get very cold there at night. ### Offer to help someone - **Can** I carry your bags for you ? ### Cannot (can't) not allowed - You **cannot** smoke in this room. - You **can't** go to the party. **Examples:** | ? | + | - | | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ |:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Can I read ? | Yes, You can read. | No, You cannot (can't) read. | | Can You ride a horse ? | He would answer: Yes, I can ride a horse. | He would answer: No, I can't (You can't ride a horse). | | Can she dance ? | Yes, she can (She can dance very well). | No, she can't dance (not able to dance, somehow) | | Can he swim ? | Yes, he can swim. | No, he can't (He can't swim). | | Can it sing ? | Yes, it can (It can sing well). | | | Can we cook ? (as if you asked the house owner ) | Yes, You(plural) can cook here. | No, You(plural) can't (You(plural) can't cook. I(house owner) hate smell of food). | | Can they run and jump ? | Yes, they can. (They can run and jump very well) | | ## COULD ### General ability in the PAST - I **could** play the piano when I ***was younger.*** ### Ask for permission (more polite) - **Could** I use your bathroom, please ? ### To request something (more polite) - **Could** you pass me the salt, please ? ### Possibility in the PAST ( could + have + past participle(V3)) - You **could** have broken your leg. ### Suggestion (when asked what to do) - We **could** go to the movies, if you like. ### Conditional of Can (would be able to) - If we had some oranges, I **could** make you some fresh juice. (I **would be able to** make you some fresh juice.) ## SHOULD ### Advice or Suggestion - Your hair is too long. You **should** get a haircut. ### Situation likely in the PRESENT - Mary **should** be at home now. Give her a call. ### Likely in the FUTURE (prediction) - They **should** win tonight, they're a better team. ### Should + have + past participle (V3) > Meaning: The **subject** did **not fulfill** their **obligation in the past** or **did not act responsibly.** - You **should have given** your boss the report yesterday, when he asked for it. ### SIDENOTE: #### Should vs. Ought to > **Should** can be replaced by **ought to** without a change in meaning: - You **ought to** study more、 あだら先輩! == You **should** study more、あだら先輩! > NOTE: **Ought to** sounds more **formal** than **should** and is used **less** frequently. > We use **Should not (shouldn't)** to advice **not** to do something, usually because it is **bad** or **wrong.** - You **shouldn't** throw your litter onto the street. - He **shouldn't** play with those wires if he doesn't know what he is doing. - You **shouldn't** work so much. --- ## WOULD ### Would / Had better [description] [table here] > **would** - **だろう** > **had better** - **した方がよい** ### Affirmative | Pronoun | Form | Examples | | ---------------------------------------- | -------------- | ------------ | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **would** | be late | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **would** | be at home | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **would** | be at office | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better** | be late | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better** | be at home | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better** | be at office | ### Negation | Pronoun | Form | Examples | | ---------------------------------------- | ------------------ | ------------ | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **wouldn't** | have assets | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **wouldn't** | have friends | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **wouldn't** | have enemies | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better not** | have assets | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better not** | have friends | | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **had better not** | have enemies | ### Question | Form | Pronoun | Form | Examples | | --------- | ---------------------------------------- |:----------:| -------- | | **Would** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | - | say | | **Would** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | - | come | | **Would** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | - | sunbathe | | **Had** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **better** | say | | **Had** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **better** | come | | **Had** | I, We, You, They, He, She, It, Everybody | **better** | sunbathe | **Examples:** - It **would** be great! - We **would not** have a row with you - **Would** you sleep ? - I **would** drink a cup of coffee - I **had better** be late - You **had better** sunbathe - He **had better not** be at office today - You **had better not** have enemies - **Had** he **better** have many friends? - We **had better** come early --- ## MUST ### Obligation - You **must** wear a seatbelt when you drive. ### Deduction (certain something is true) - Look at all that snow. It **must** be cold outside. ### Emphasize Necessity - Plants **must** have light and water to grow. ### Strong Recommendation - You **mustn't** use your phone while driving. ### SIDENOTE: #### Must vs Have to > **Must** expresses ***obligation*** imposed by the speaker while **Have to** expresses external ***obligations***. Teacher: You **must** complete this essay by Friday. Student: We **have to** complete this essay by Friday. > It is more common to use **Have to** instead of **Must** in questions. - Does he **have to** do the test ? > We use **Had to** instead of **Must** in ***the past tense.*** - I **had to** pay my speeding ticket yesterday. __Have to:__ shows that the obligation comes from a source other than the speaker, as it is some sort of __rule.__ - David wanted to go to the party but would __have to__ work that night. __Must:__ The obligation comes from the speaker. - I __must__ stop eating so many cheeseburgers. --- #### Mustn't vs Don't have to :::danger :warning: There is a difference in meaning between **MUST NOT** and **DO NOT HAVE TO.** ::: :::info __MUST NOT__ _MEANING:_ - It is __prohibited__ - It is __not allowed__ - It is important that you __do not__ do something ::: - You **must not** drink that. It's **forbidden to drink that.** **Don't drink that**, it is not **allowed.** - You **mustn't tell John.** Do **NOT** tell John. You are **not allowed** to tell John. :::info __DON'T HAVE TO__ _MEANING:_ - There is no **obligation;** - You are not **required** to do something, especially if you don't want. ::: - You **don't have to** drink that. You **don't need to** drink that but **you can** if you want. - You **don't have to** tell John. You **can tell John** if you want to but it is not **necessary**. ## SHALL ### Suggestions - **Shall** I get a pizza for dinner tonight ? ### Offers / Volunteering - That bag looks heavy. **Shall** I carry it for you ? ### Instructions (asking for or giving) - What **shall** I do with your mail when it arrives ? ### Promise - You **shall** be the first person to know. ### Confirmation (statement of fact) - I **shall** meet you there at 7. ### SIDENOTE: > The modal verb **SHALL** is not used much nowadays. It may still be found > in formal speech and some legal documents. >   > The most common use of **shall** in everyday English is in questions that offer > or suggest. ***-Shall I ... ? - Shall we ... ?*** In all of the examples above, **shall** can be replaced by another **modal verb:** - Suggestion/Instruction - **Should** - Offers - **Can / Could** - Promises / Confirmation - **Will** ## May / Might ### Expressing wishes > **May** is a modal verb that has different uses. One of its uses is to express your wishes for someone. - **May** the New Year ***bring*** you happiness. - **May** you both ***have*** a happy life together. - **May** all your wishes ***come*** true. ### Possibility - It **might** rain later so take an umbrella. ### Give permission - You **may** have another cookie if you like. ### Ask for permission - **May** I borrow your pen, please ? ### Speculate about PAST action - She is late. She **may** have missed her plane. ### SIDENOTE: > **MEANING:** > **May** and **Might** can normally be interchanged without a significant difference in meaning. > However, **Might** often **implies a smaller chance** of something happening (when expressing possibility). > - It **may** rain. (70% chance) > - It **might** rain. (40% chance) > > When expressing wishes or giving permission, only **May** is used. ``` [--- May the odds be ever in your favor ---] [----------------------------------------------------------------------------] [-- *May* *the odds *be* *ever* in your favor.* --] [-----|-----------------|------------|--------------|-----------|------------] [--Modal verb--------chances------Base form---------|----------to------------] [--to express----------of---------of the infin.---always------your-----------] [--your wishes-------winning------[to] be-------------------advantage--------] [-----|-----------------|------------|---------------------------------------] [-- *May* *the Force* *be* with you. --------------------] [----------------------------------------------------------------------------] [--- May the Force be with you ---] ``` ## NOTES & EXAMPLES ### MAY #### PERMISSION | Sentence | + | - | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------- | | May I go out, mummy? | Yes, you may. | No, you mustn't | | May/Can I use your computer while you're away? | Yes, you may/can. | No, you mustn't/can't | - You may have a rest only when you've finished this work. ### MUST NOT (mustn't) #### PROHIBITION - You mustn't go out before finishing your work. - You mustn't touch anything in this room. - We mustn't eat or drink in the auditorium. ### SHALL (2nd / 3rd person) #### PROMISES, THREAT, INSTRUCTION - You shall have a delicious cake on your birthday. - Candidates shall stay in the room until the tests are collected. - You shall not park here or I'll fine you. 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