Mastering English Modals: Ability, Possibility, Obligation

English Modal Verbs: Ability, Possibility, and More

Ability:

• Can (present)
• Could (past, specific time)
• Was/Were able to (past, general moments)

Possibility/Deductions:

• Must (99% sure)
• Cannot (99% sure)
• May, Might, Could (approximately 50%)

Obligation:

• Must (orders from someone)
• Have to (imposed by law)

Prohibitions and Necessity:

• Mustn't (prohibited)
• Don't have to / Don't need to (not necessary)
• Needn't (not necessary, similar meaning)

Advice:

• Should (generally applicable)
• Ought to (less commonly used)
• Had better (less formal)

Permission:

• May, Can, Could, Be allowed to (ranging from formal to less formal)

Modal Perfect:

• Could have (suggestions)
• Must have (past logical deductions)
• Cannot have (past impossible facts)
• Should have (opinion on past facts)
• Should not have (criticism of the past)
• Might, May, Could have (possible past events)

Sentence Structure:

• Its possible / impossible / perhaps / maybe / likely = Might, May, Could
• Its not necessary / you do not need to = Don't have to or Needn't
• Its a good idea / advisable / a mistake = Should, Ought to, Had better
• Its compulsory / obligatory / there is a law that says = Have to (law)
• Its necessary / you need = Must (personal obligations)
• I'm sure / certainly = Must (99% sure)
• I'm not sure / not certainly / its impossible = Cannot (99% sure)

Vocabulary: Prefixes

• Rewrite (reescriure)
• Misunderstand (malentendre)
• Overwork (massa feina)
• Undercharge (no hi ha prou)
• Non-stop (sense pause)
• Oversleep (quedar-se adormit)
• Redo (tornar a fer)
• Non-fiction (not fictional)
• Underpaid (pagat malament)

• Had better: more subtle than should

Quality Adjectives:

• Caring or Kind (comprensiu)
• Cooperative (contributor)
• Energetic (enèrgic)
• Imaginative (imaginatiu)
• Reliable or Dependable (fiable)
• Sociable or Friendly (sociable)
• Flexible (flexible)
• Hard-working or Industrious (treballador)

Example Sentences:

On an average day, she might be leaping off skyscrapers, running across rooftops, or practicing martial arts.

I did not think I could earn a living doing what I loved, she says.

Although I already had many of the skills I needed for the job, I was amazed how much I still had to learn.

It might be the perfect job for Diane, but it would not suit most of us.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning.

• Annie should not have handed in the notice.
• I might not study engineering.
• Andrew's boss cannot have been angry.
• Candidates during the examination mustn't talk.
• You should look for a part-time job.
• All employers must respect health and safety laws.
• She needn't.
• She could.