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Modal verbs from A1 to C2

ability · permission · obligation · advice · deduction

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# 8 Modal verbs ## A1 - can / can't for ability - can for permission and requests (Can I…? Can you…?) - How modal verbs work: no -s, no to, no do (She can swim) ## A2 - must vs have to - mustn't (not allowed) vs don't have to (not necessary) - have got to (informal) - had to for past obligation - should / shouldn't for advice and opinions - could for past ability - be able to (will be able to, have been able to) - Could you…? May I…? (polite requests and permission) - may / might (not) for possibility - might vs will (less certain) - Suggestions: Let's…, Shall we…?, Why don't we…?, How about + -ing?, We could… - Offers: Shall I…? I'll… Would you like…? - can / could with verbs of perception (I can see it; I could hear voices) ## B1 - Deduction now: must (sure), might / may / could (possible), can't (impossible) - should for expectation (He should be home by now) - had better (strong advice, warning) - ought to - be supposed to - need to / don't need to / needn't - be allowed to / be permitted to - could vs managed to / was able to (one success in the past) - Would you mind + -ing? / Would you mind if I…? - Do you mind if I…? - I wonder if you could… - would for polite requests (Would you…?) - could for possibility, offers and suggestions (It could rain; I could help; You could ask her) - can / could for general possibility (It can get very cold in November) ## B2 - Deduction about the past: must have, can't / couldn't have, may / might / could have - should have / ought to have (criticism, regret) - could have (a possibility that didn't happen) - would have (unreal past) - needn't have vs didn't need to - You might have told me! (reproach) - Modal + be + -ing (He must be working) - Modal + be + past participle (It should be done) - Modal + have been + past participle - dare (I don't dare / I daren't) - need as a modal (Need I…? You needn't) - be able to in all tenses and after other verbs (I'd love to be able to…) - won't / wouldn't for refusal (The car won't start) ## C1 - may / might / could well - may / might as well - will for assumptions (That'll be John) - would for typical behavior (He would say that) - shall for formal offers, suggestions and rules - could do with - I dare say / How dare you - Modal + have been + -ing (must have been waiting) - can't (deduction) vs mustn't (prohibition) - be to vs have to - Combining modal meanings (will have to be able to) - will for orders and formal instructions (You will report to reception at nine) ## C2 - Putative should (It's odd that he should say that) - shall in legal and formal documents - You would say that! (criticism) - You might want to… (polite suggestion) - You could have told me! (irritation) - would-be (a would-be writer)

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