Modal verbs 1. Definition
Modal verbs are used to show the speaker's attitude towards the action. We use them with other verbs. There are 10 modals: can, may, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to, need, dare. Modal verbs are not "complete" verbs. They are called defective because they lack (except dare and need) component tenses, the passive voice and have some other peculiarities:
1. We can't use them as "to"-infinitives: to go, to speak.
2. We don't use the "to"-infinitives after modals:
□ You mustn't phone now. It's late.
3. There is no -(e)s in the 3rd person singular:
□ The boss can see you now.
in their first use modai verbs have basic meanings which are given in the dictionaries:
can/could - ability □ / can lift 25 kg/I can type.
may/might - permission □ You may leave early.
shall/will/would - prediction □ It will rain soon.
should/ought to - duty □ You should do as you are told.
must - total obligation □ You must be quiet.
needn't - no obligation □ You needn 't wait.
The second use of modal verbs is to express degrees of certainty or uncertainty.
QUESTIONS AND NEGATIVES
Can you play chess?
Could you swim when you were a child?
I can't understand a word.
Must I go there now?
THE CONTRACTED FORMS
can't [ka:nt] couldn't [kudnt] needn't [ni:dnt] shouldn't [Judnt] oughtn't [o:tnt] mayn't [memt] mustn't [mAsnt]
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2. CAN
FORMS AND MEANINGS
| MODAL VERB | DDCCCMT | PAST | FUTURE | |
| Equivalent |
| |||
| can to be able to ... | can am is are | able to... | could was 1 able to... were 1 | will be able to ... |
IN ITS FIRST MEANING 'CAN' EXPRESSES:
| 1. Mental, physical, circumstantial ability | Can you lift this box? He can solve the most difficult problems. They can get there by bus. |
| 2. Permission | You can go now. You can play with the boys here. |
| можете + инф . | |
| 3. Request | Can you do me a favour? Could you get me a glass of water? |
| 4. Prohibition | You can't cross the street here. |
| нельзя + инф . |
NOTES:
We use could/couldn't to describe "generalability" in the past:
□ I could run very fast when I was a boy.
□ I could read when I was 5.
But if we mean that someone managed to do something in the particular situation, you have to use:
was/were able to do smth (not could)
□ The fire spread throughout the building very quickly but everyone was able to escape (= managed to escape).
□ They didn't want to come with us at first but in the end we were able (= managed) to persuade them.
was/were able to = managed "смог", "удалось"
The negative couldn't is possible in all situations:
□ My grandfather couldn't swim.
□ We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them. 2. We use could (do) in a number of ways:
a) it is a past of can (do), expressing general ability in the past:
□ My grandfather could speak five languages.
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b) sometimes we use could to speak about possible future actions. In this case it has a present or future meaning:
□ What shall we do this evening? We could go to the cinema. Мы могли бы пойти в кино.
□ When you go to New York, you could stay with Linda. ... ты могла бы остановиться у Линды.
3. The past of could (do) is could have (done). We use could have (done) to say that we had
the ability or opportunity to do something but did not do it:
□ We didn't go out last night. We could have gone to the cinema but we decided
to stay at home.
... могли бы пойти в кино, но решили остаться дома.