Could                      ability in the past

 

Modal verbs     Meaning

Can                   ability

                                   permission

                                   possibility 

 

Could                      ability in the past

                                   possibility

                                   Polite permission

                                             

Must                       obligation

                                   Logical conclusion

Must not          prohibition    

May              possibility

                                   Permission

Might              polite permission

                                   Possibility

Should           advice                     

Ought to           logical conclusion

                                   weak obligation

Need not        absence of necessity

Had better     advice

 

 

õ Complete the sentences with the appropriate modal.

1) You …………………………. smoke in the hospital.

2) …………….. I borrow your red dress for the party.

3) He is so pale , he …...……………… visit the doctor.

4) I ………………………….….. speak four languages.

5) You …………………...……… respect your parents.

6) They ………………….………… arrive this evening.

7)  We……………. meet each other in the bus station.

8) She ……………….... come to the party, she was ill.

9) It’s a cloudy day, it ………....................... rain today.

10) Sam isn’t at home, he ……………..be in his office.   

11) …………………………you close the door, please?

12) This cheese is so salty, you ……….………….eat it.

13) Tina ……………….…buy new toys, she has many .

14) I …………….….go on holiday to Malta next week.

15)  She……………….……………..revise her lessons .                                    

 

                                               

 

                      

 

 

                          

 

 

              

                 

 

 

 

                                                                                        

 

 

Modal verbs + bare infinitive

                  ( infinitive without to )

Examples:

1) You must keep quiet.

2) He should stop smoking.

3)May I go with my friends to the cinema , Mum?                                                                       

               

 

õ Choose the correct answer.

1) Drivers ................ speak on the phone while driving.

      a) couldn’t b) mustn’t   c) need not

2) ................. I ask you some questions about your life?

     a) should      b) must       c) could

3) I ............................ see a dentist , I have a toothache.

   a) ought to    b) can             c) might

4) Drinking a lot of alcohol .................cause addiction.

  a) must            b) couldn’t     c) can

5)  He ................. play with his brother than going out.

  a) need not     b) may              c) had better

 

                                                                                        

 

 

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