modals: should can have to must

STUDY SHEET: MODAL VERBS We use modal verbs to give more meaning to what we are saying. We can express different things depending on the modal verb we choose. EXTERNAL OBLIGATION: HAVE TO / HAS TO PERSONAL OBLIGATION: MUST PROHIBITION: MUSTN’T LACK OF NECESSITY: DON’T HAVE TO ADVISABILITY: SHOULD / SHOULDN’T POSSIBILITY: CAN / CAN’T Examples: I have to start work at 8 am (It’s in my contract) She has to prepare the minutes of the Board meeting. (It’s in her contract) I must remember to call that supplier. ( I feel it’s important) You mustn’t smoke in the office. (It’s prohibited by law) We don’t have to finish the report today. (It’s not necessary. We can finish it tomorrow) You should go to that training course. ( I feel it’s a good idea) We can start the meeting now. ( I think it’s possible) We can also use modal verbs in different tenses, indicating different time frames. Look at the table below and put the examples above into different tenses. PAST PRESENT FUTURE HAD TO/DIDN’T HAVE TO HAVE TO/DON’T HAVE TO WILL/WON’T HAVE TO MUST(n’t) SHOULD(n’t) COULD(n’t) CAN(n’t) WILL/WON’T BE ABLE TO MODAL VERBS PRACTICE Can you say the same in a different way? It was really necessary for me to drive to work in my last job. I _______________________________________________in my last job 2. I think it is a good idea to fix the machines with ATC. I think we___________________________________________________ 3. It’s prohibited to operate machines without safety equipment. You_______________________________________without safety equipment. 4. It’s possible for them to make more investment this year. They _________________________________________________this year. 5. It’s her obligation to report accidents to the supervisor. She______________________________________________________ 6. It’s not a good idea to offer them a higher discount. We________________________________________________________ 7. It will be necessary for us to look for other solutions to the problem. We________________________________________________________ 8. It’s impossible for him to meet that deadline. He________________________________________________________ 9. It’s not necessary for her to check that report. She_______________________________________________________ 10. It will be possible for us to provide a good service to them. We________________________________________________________