Modals

CAN = BE ABLE TO

• can is more usual
• use „be able to“in the following situations:

I haven´t been able to sleep recently.

Tom might be able to come to the party .

I won´t be able to lend you my car tomorrow.

COULD= WAS / WERE ABLE TO = MANAGED TO

• use „could“ with the verbs: SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE, FEEL, REMEMBER, UNDERSTAND

I could smell burning when I went into the house.

My grandfather could speak five languages.

• use „was/were able to“ or „managed to“ for a particular situation

The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape.

They didn´t want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them.

MUST and CAN´T

• use „must“ when you feel sure that sth is true

You have been travelling all day. You must be tired.

Have you won the lottery? You must be joking.

• use „can´t „ when you feel sure that sth is not possible

You have just had lunch. You can´t be hungry already.

MAY, MIGHT, COULD 

• we use these modals to say that sth is a possibility
• use „might“ for the situation that is not real

The phone is ringing. It could be Tom.

It might not be true.

She may know.

Don´t phone me at 8:30. I might be watching the football match.

MUST = HAVE TO

• „must“ is personal, we use it when we give our personal feelings

I haven´t phoned Ann for ages. I must phone her tonight. 

• „have to“ is impersonal, we use it for facts, not for our personal feelings
• you can use „have got to“ insted of „have to“

You can´t turn right here. You have to turn left. /because of the traffic system/

I´ve got to work tomorrow.

!!!!!! mustn´t!!!!

You mustn´t smoke in this building. /it is forbidden/

SHOULD = OUGHT TO          HAD BETTER

• we use „should“ to give advice or to give an opinion, for things in general

I think the government should do more to help homeless people.

You shouldn´t believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Jack ought not to go to bed so late.

• use „had better“ only for a particular situation, not for things in general

It´s cold today. You had better wear a coat when you go out.

The film starts at 8:30. You had better go now or you ´ll be late.

COULD

MUST

CAN´T

MIGHT                     +   HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

MAY

NEEDN´T

SHOULD

• use this structure for the activities in the past

She couldn´t have seen me.

Yesterday, I wanted to visit my friends. I rung the doorbell but nobody answered it. They must have gone out.

Tom walked straight into a wall. He can´t have seen it.

I can´t find my bag anywhere. I might have left it in the shop.

I wonder why Kay didn´t come. She may have been asleep.

Joe wen out yesterday. He thought it was going to rain so he took his umbrella with him, but it didn´t. He needn´t have taken the umbrella.

I am feeling sick. I shouldn´t have eaten so much chocolate.