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A1 · ⑧ Modals
Modal verbs
can, must, should — the verbs that never change, and the ones that make you polite.
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01 · First page · sorted by what they do
The family
Ability
cancan'tcould (in the past)
Permission
canmay (formal)could (asking politely)
Obligation
musthave tomustn't (prohibition)
No obligation
don't have toneedn't
Advice
shouldshouldn'tought to
Possibility
maymightcould
Offers and requests
Shall I…?Could you…?Would you like…?
modal verb: A modal verb never changes. No -s in the third person, no to after it, no do to make a question or a negative. He can swim, she must go, they should wait — the same word for everybody, and the verb after it is always bare.
bare infinitive: The bare infinitive is the verb with nothing attached: go, not to go. Every modal is followed by it. This is the rule behind the most common mistake in the whole family: I must to go has one word too many.
have to: have to is not a modal: it is an ordinary verb, so it does change and it does need do. That is exactly why it is useful — it lends the modals the forms they do not have: I had to go, do you have to go, I will have to go.
- She can speak four languages.
- You must wear a helmet here.
- You don't have to come.
- Could you help me, please?
- It might rain later.
| Right and wrong | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it never does | Correct | Wrong |
| takes -s in the third person | she can swim | she cans swim |
| takes to after it | I must go | I must to go |
| needs do for the question | Can you swim? | Do you can swim? |
| needs do for the negative | I can't swim | I don't can swim |
| has a past of its own | I had to go | I musted go |
Golden rule
A modal is a verb that gave up its endings in exchange for doing a job. It cannot conjugate, it cannot take to, it cannot borrow do — but it can turn a plain fact into a permission, an obligation or a piece of advice. If you find yourself adding something after a modal, you are almost certainly adding a mistake.
mustn't is not the negative of must. must says you have to, mustn't says you are forbidden — they are both strong, and they point the same way. The real negative of must, the one that means it is not necessary, is don't have to. You mustn't smoke here and You don't have to smoke here are two completely different sentences.
02 · Second page · saying it without sounding rude
The uses
can · ability
What you are able to do, now and in general. The past is could.
I can drive.She can't swim.I could read at four.
must · from inside
An obligation you give yourself, or a rule you are stating.
I must stop smoking.Passengers must show a ticket.
have to · from outside
An obligation that comes from someone else: the law, the boss, the timetable.
I have to work on Saturday.She has to wear a uniform.
should · advice
What is a good idea. Much softer than must, and far more common in speech.
You should see a doctor.You shouldn't work so much.
Asking for something
Could you is the safe everyday form; can you is fine with friends.
Could you help me?Can you pass the salt?
Asking to do something
Can I for permission, could I to be more careful, may I in formal places.
Can I sit here?Could I ask you something?May I come in?
Offering
Shall I offers your own help; would you like offers something to the other person.
Shall I open the window?Would you like a coffee?
Not certain
may, might and could all mean perhaps. might is the least certain.
It may rain.He might be late.That could be true.
Why «Give me a coffee» sounds rude in English
In many languages an imperative is a normal, neutral way to ask: the equivalent of pass me the salt is simply a request. In English a bare imperative sounds like an order, and the politeness has to be added with a modal: Could you pass the salt? Would you mind opening the window? I'd like a coffee, please. This is not English being fussy — it is where each language keeps its politeness. Some keep it in the tone; English keeps it in the words, and a speaker using perfectly correct English can sound abrupt without meaning to.
🌍 For everyone
In both languages the negative of an obligation simply means it is not necessary. In English mustn't means forbidden, and don't have to is the one that releases you. Confusing them reverses the sentence.
Non devi venire. / Nie musisz przychodzić. → You don't have to come.
Modals have almost no other forms, so when you need a past or a future you borrow them from have to and be able to: I had to leave early, I will have to call her, I have never been able to swim. There is no musted and no will can.
I must to go now. → I must go now.
Every modal takes the bare infinitive: no to.
She cans drive. → She can drive.
A modal never takes -s, not even in the third person.
Do you can help me? → Can you help me?
The modal makes its own question: it swaps with the subject, no do.
You mustn't come, it's optional. → You don't have to come, it's optional.
mustn't forbids; don't have to releases. Opposite meanings.
I musted work late. → I had to work late.
must has no past: have to lends it one.
Give me a coffee. → Could I have a coffee, please?
A bare imperative sounds like an order in English, however neutral it feels elsewhere.
I will can help you tomorrow. → I will be able to help you tomorrow.
Two modals never stand together: be able to takes over.
- You should take an umbrella — it might rain.
- I couldn't open the door.
- Shall I call you back later?
- We had to wait for two hours.
03 · Third page · now it's your turn
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