MODALS FOR GRADUATION EXAM

There are twelve modal verbs: can, could, shall, should, must, ought to, may, might, will, would, need to, dare FORM * Positive is formed by putting the modal between the subject and the

Modals

REMEMBER!

‘Modals’ are the small verbs like can, must, and might, which give certain meanings to main verbs

There are twelve modal verbs:

can, could, shall, should, must, ought to, may, might, will, would, need (to), dare FORM

* Positive is formed by putting the modal between the subject and the main verb

We should stay

¢ Negative is formed by adding not (or n’t) after the modal:

We shouldn’t stay

¢ Questions are formed by changing the position of the modal and the subject:

Should we stay? Shouldn’t we stay?

Notes

e need can be needn’t (modal form) or don’t need to (verb form)

¢ Negative questions generally use n’t If not is used, there is a different word order: Shouldn’t we leave? Should we not leave?

Check

Circle the correct word

This is a no-smoking area You (mustn’t/won’t) smoke here

(Can/Ought) I help you?

It’s very cold You (should/will) wear a coat

I can go home by train You (needn’t/couldn’t) wait for me

It’s very cloudy It (might/can) rain

(Could/Must) you help me, please?

It’s late We (ought to/shall) go

It’s eight o’clock He (will/dare) be here soon

(Would/Shall) | open the door for you?

10 She’s busy at the moment She (must/may) be late

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43 can, could, be able to: tense changes

¢ be able to is sometimes used instead of can:

Present | can or am able to Past could or was able to Future can or will be able to

Notes

® can indicates future when used with a time word

© be able to is used in all tenses (have been able to, had been able to, etc.)

e For can’t have and couldn’t have » Exercises 52 and 53

© could and was able to:

I could drive when I was eighteen

(= 1 knew how to.)

I was able to drive to college because my uncle lent me a car for the year

(= I knew how to and I did it.)

Practice

In your notebook, write these sentences using the correct form of can, could, or

be able to Where two answers are possible, write them both

1 To see you tomorrow

rll be able to see you tomorrow

| can see you tomorrow

2 It was too expensive - 1 buy it

It was too expensive — | couldn't buy it

It was too expensive — | wasn’t able to buy it

3 I have a word with you, please?

4 I generally leave work at six, but I leave earlier on Fridays

ĐÓ uc you help me carry this downstairs?

6 (she) come to the office tomorrow?

7 I tried to see her, but I

8 It was so heavy that 1 lift it

9 Lo come tomorrow, I’m afraid I’m too busy

10 (you) contact your parents yesterday?

II He (not) work since his illness

12 After I had tried for a few hours, I open the door and get out

13 Tw see you next Monday at ten

14 They didn’t come to the restaurant — they (not) afford it

15 When they came back from Paris they speak perfect French

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44 must, have to: positive and negative

e must and have to have similar meanings in the positive:

You must leave (= you can’t stay) You have to leave (= you can’t stay)

e must and have to have different meanings in the negative:

You mustn't leave (= obligation - you can’t go) You don’t have to leave (= no obligation - you can go or stay, as you like)

Notes

® have to is not a modal verb It is included in this section because it often has the same meaning as must, and is used instead of must in some tenses (» Exercise 45) It forms questions and negatives in the same way as all other main verbs

© have got to has the same meaning as have to:

I’ve got to go = I have to go

Match the pairs of sentences which are closest in meaning 1 You have to leave 7

2 You don’t have to leave

3 You mustn’t leave

4 You mustn’t take the money

5 You don’t have to take the job

6 You mustn’t take the job

7 You must go "= 8 Must you go?

9 You don’t have to take the money

10 You can stay if you like

11 Don’t take the money

12 You have to stay

13 Do you have to go?

14 You definitely shouldn’t take the job

15 You can decide whether to take the job or not

16 You can take the money or leave it, as you like

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45 must, have to: tense changes

¢ have to is used instead of must in future and past tenses, and sometimes in the present

Present must or have to

Present Perfect — have had to Future — will have to Notes

¢ have to can be used in all tenses

* must sometimes indicates future when used with a time word:

I must do this tomorrow morning

e For must have » Exercises 52 and 53

® Note the different forms for questions and negatives:

You mustn’t leave You don’t have to leave

Must you leave? Do you have to leave?

e For the difference in meaning between mustn’t and don’t have to » Exercise 44

Practice

Put the correct form of must or have to in these sentences Use the negative or question if necessary and put have to in the correct tense In some sentences, two answers are possible

1 |.had.t0 leave the party early last night - I wasn’t very well

2 I’m sorry, you ™¥9t"’t smoke in here

3 The children are happy because they do any homework today

4 You get up early tomorrow if you want to catch the bus

SS ueieececeescuceseesencees (you) have a visa to come here?

6 lf was a very bad accident You be more careful in future

7 He’s been ïill He stay in bed since last month

8 I’ve told the children that they come home before ten

on Saturday nights

DD ececceceteeceeeeneeeeeees (you) do military service in your country when you were young?

10 It was a lovely holiday We do anything

11 They were very rude They apologize the next day 66

Modal:

12 The teacher told us that We .cccecsecceseseeseeees work harder

13 You get a passport before you go abroad next month

14 WG c vs come back by boat because the airport was

15 YOU borrow my books without asking

46 should, ought to

¢ should and ought to have similar meanings

ought to always uses to, should never uses to:

We ought to stay here We should stay here

Ought we to go? Should we go?

You shouldn’t make a noise in here

You oughtn’t to make a noise in here

Notes

¢ should / ought to are not as strong as must / have to:

You must go now! (= you have no choice: go now) You should go now (= it’s your decision, but if I were you I would go now)

* Note the position of to in ought to:

You ought to go home now

You oughtn’t to go home now

Oughtn’t you to go home now?

© should is used more often than ought to

-sxze= Practice

Write the second sentence, using should or ought to and the words given

1 It’s past the children’s bedtime (they / be / in bed) They should be in bed

They ought to be in bed

2 Can’t they see the ‘No Smoking’ sign? (they / not smoke / in here)

They shouldn't smoke in here

They oughtn’t to smoke in here

3 These windows are dirty (you / clean them / more often)

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7 I’m not sure what to wear at the wedding (I / wear / a suit?)

10 It’s their wedding anniversary next week (maybe we / send them / a present)

should, ought to, must, have to

Advice or recommendation: should and ought to have similar meanings (> Exercise 46):

You should tell your father about this problem

You ought to tell your father about this problem

Indicating a probable future event: should and ought to have similar meanings:

They should be here soon

They ought to be here soon

In reported speech, should is used instead of shall (» Exercise 62):

I asked if I should open the door

must and have to have similar meanings in the positive, but must is sometimes used to show a position of authority:

Parent to child: ‘You must be back by seven o’clock.’

(here, the authority comes from the speaker) One friend to another: ‘You'll have to get up early to catch the morning train.’ (here, the obligation comes from the situation)

» Exercises 52 and 53 for past tenses

Practice

Put should, ought to, must or have to in the sentences below, using negatives or questions if necessary Sometimes more than one answer is possible, but you should write one only

1 They should / ought f° be arriving in a few hours

2 We have.£2 go home at twelve because my mother wants the car

3 They insisted that we have a meal

4 There are no trains today, so We to go by car

5_ Ithink you tell your parents you’re going to be late They’ll be worried

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Modals

YOU never do that againl The manager suggested that we try to find another hotel YOU oe eececececseeeeeeeeneees see that film if you get the chance

According to our information, the President be re-elected

Do you think we ask before we borrow the car?

YOU come if you don’t want to

YOU be smoking at your age

He asked me anxiously what he do next

Do you think I tell the teacher what happened?

My boss told me that L be late

48 need + infinitive

© Positive:

I need to practise my English

© Negative:

a) don’t need to is generally used when the situation does not require

something to be done:

You don’t need to have a visa to go to France from Britain

b) needn’t is generally used when the speaker gives the authority for something not being done:

Teacher to students: ‘You needn’t do any homework tonight.’

* Questions:

a) Do I need to apply for a visa?

b) Need I do any homework this weekend?

Note the use of to in the examples

Practice

Write the correct form of need to complete these sentences

1

2 Do | need te have a licence to drive a car in this country?

(question) Ive told her that she to work harder (positive) ẲW€ cu take any equipment - the school provides i1 (negative)

¬ Í phone you before I come to see you? (question)

My mother says Ì do the washing-up today

(negative)

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Z_ YOU have more experience before you apply for this job (positive)

8_ You can go home now, you stay any longer (negative)

oe (0) 0 vi work here to be able to use the tennis court (negative)

1Ø YOU c 2 say any more: I agree with you (negative)

49 need as amain verb and need + gerund

¢ need can be used as a main verb:

I need some petrol

Do you need anything else?

* need can be used with the gerund, with the same meaning as a passive construction

My car needs cleaning (= My car needs to be cleaned.) Your hair needs washing (= Your hair needs to be washed.)

Practice

Rewrite these sentences using need with an object or a gerund It will be

necessary to change some words

1 I think it’s time for your house to be painted

Your house needs painting

2 How many people should we have for a full team?

How many people do we need for a full team? `

3 There’s a lot to do We should have more time

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Modals

9 The dog’s hungry It wants to be fed

50 need in the past

© Positive:

I needed something to eat

I needed to rest for a few minutes

The house needed painting

¢ Negative:

a) didn’t need to + infinitive

I didn’t need to get up early yesterday (= it wasn’t necessary, so I didn’t) b) needn’t have + past participle

I needn’t have got up early yesterday (= it wasn’t necessary, but I did it, and now I realise that it wasn’t necessary)

Practice

Write didn’t need to or needn’t have and the correct form of the verb to complete these sentences

1 | didn't need to catch (catch) the bus this morning, because Vic gave

already borrowed all the money he wanted

II (do) that homework - the teacher didn’t

YOU Q0 na (buy) such an expensive present, but

II (take) any money: they had already told

Na (count) the money: they had already told me that it was done automatically

much easier than I expected them to be

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Ắ ———= (get up) so early: I had forgotten it was Saturday

10 I had some friends in the town, so Ì HH kh kh ky : (stay) in a hotel

51 need

Check

In your notebook, put the verbs in the sentences below into the correct form, adding to where necessary

1 I (not need / fix) my bike yesterday - I could have used my father’s

| needn’t have fixed my bike yesterday — | could have used my father’s

2 Ithink the house (need / paint) now

| think the house needs painting now

3 You’re never here when I (need) you

You’re never here when I need you

You (not need / stay) any longer, boys - you can go home now

How much money (I need) for the weekend?

I (not need / take) the car ~ we could have used Jenny’s

I (not need / get up) early yesterday - I forgot it was Saturday

The room’s rather dirty, I’m afraid - it (need / clean)

I stopped at the hotel because I (need / have) a rest

10 You (not need / send) it by post - I could have picked it up

11 Pat’s a clever student, but she (need / work) harder

12 The prisoners were told that they (not need / do) any more work

13 There were no customs officers, so we (not need / show) our passports

14 (you need / have) a special licence to drive a lorry?

15 You (not need / worry) Peter, everything will be all right

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