Modal Verbs: Uses and Past Forms

Modal Verbs: May, Might, Can, Must, and Could

Present and Future Possibility

We use may, might, or could to express that something is possible in the present or the future.

• They may be out.
• They could be here soon.

Impossibility

We use cannot (can't) to indicate that something is impossible.

Example: I am not highlighting you. You can't be serious!

Certainty

We use must to express certainty that something is true.

Example: It must be great to have liberal parents.

Past Modals

We use may, might, can, must, and could + have + past participle to refer to the past.

Modal Verbs: Should, Ought To, and Need

Duties and Advice

We use should and ought to to discuss duties and give advice.

• You should respect your parents.
• You should not smoke many cigarettes.

Necessity

We use need to express that something is necessary.

• You need to study more.
• You need to eat something.

Lack of Necessity

We use need not (needn't) to indicate that something is unnecessary.

Example: You needn't help me.

Past Actions: Unnecessary or Criticized

• We use needn't have + past participle to say that a past action was unnecessary.
• We use should (not) have / ought (not) to have + past participle to criticize a past action.

Have Something Done

This structure is used to describe when we arrange for someone else to do something for us.

• Present Continuous: I'm having it repaired.
• Past Simple: I had it repaired.
• Present Perfect: I've had it repaired.
• Will: I'll have it repaired.
• Going to: I'm going to have it repaired.
• Past Perfect: I'd had it repaired.
• Past Continuous: I was having it repaired.

Example: She always has her photograph taken.

Other Useful Phrases and Vocabulary

• Unless: Used in conditional sentences (similar to "if not").
• In spite of: Despite.
• Let: Let me, let your...
• Persuade: To convince someone (persuade + to + infinitive).
• Want: To desire something (want + to + infinitive / want + object + to be).

Editorial Vocabulary

• Firstly
• On the one hand
• Whereas
• Besides
• In conclusion
• To sum up
• So as to
• It seems to me
• Also
• As well as
• Furthermore
• Moreover
• Too
• In my opinion
• While