Справочная таблица по английскому языку на тему Модальные глаголы (10 класс)

FUNCTIONS MODALS EXAMPLES
OBLIGATION
DUTY
NECESSITY MUST
Express duty / strong obligation (subjective opinion) I must contact the authorities for further information.
HAVE TO
Express strong necessity / obligation (objective opinion) She said that we have to be at the airport by 9:00.
HAD TO
is the past form of must and have to He had to work late yesterday, so he didn’t go to the party.
SHOULD / OUGHT TO
Express duty / weak obligation They should clear away the mess in the kitchen.
You ought to be more careful.
ABSENCE OF NECESSITY DON’T HAVE TO / DON’T NEED TO / NEEDN’T
It isn’t necessary to do sth in the present or future The farmer needn’t / doesn’t have to / doesn’t need to buy any eggs.
DIDN’T HAVE TO
It wasn’t necessary to do sthHe didn’t have to invite everyone to the party. (We don’t know if he invited everyone.)
PERMISSION
PROHIBITION CAN / MAY
Ask for / give permission Can I go swimming? – No, you can’t. (informal)
May I have a look at this report? – Certainly. (more formal)
MUSTN’T / CAN’T
It is forbidden, against the rules or law, you are not allowed You mustn’t / can’t park here.
POSSIBILITY CAN + PRESENT INFINITIVE*
General or theoretical possibility Going to the gym can be boring.
COULD / MAY / MIGHT + PRESENT INFINITIVE*
Possibility in a specific situation
(We don’t use may in questions) John is late. He could be stuck in traffic.
COULD / MIGHT / WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE*
Sth in the past that was possible but didn’t happen He could have come with us, if he hadn’t missed the train.
ABILITY
INABILITY CAN
Expresses ability in the present or future He can fly a helicopter.
COULD
Expresses general repeated ability in the past He could run very fast when he was young.
WAS(N’T) ABLE TO
Expresses (in)ability on a specific occasion in the past I was(n’t) able to find all the answers to the questions.
COULDN’T
Expresses any kind of inability in the past, repeated or specific I couldn’t write when I was four.
I couldn’t / was(n’t) able to speak to him yesterday.
LOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS
DEDUCTIONS MUST
Almost certain that this is / was true He isn’t at work. So he must be on his way home.
Jack hasn’t come yet. Something must have delayed him.
MAY / MIGHT / COULD /
Possible that this is / was true Where’s Aunt Julia? – She may / might / could still be at work.
CAN’T / COULDN’T
Almost certain that this is / was impossible That can’t be Greg! Greg has blue eyes and blond hair.
Ann couldn’t have cooked dinner. She’s been at work since morning.
CRITICISM COULD / SHOULD / OUGHT TO You could at least be polite to her. (present)
You could at least have called to cancel it yesterday. (past)
He should call us back.
She should have told us. (but she didn’t)
You ought to be more careful.
OFFERS
SUGGESTIONS CAN / COULD / SHALL / WOULD
Can I give you a hand?
We could watch TV.
Shall I give you a lift?
Would you like a cup of tea?
ADVICE SHOULD / OUGHT TO You should revise for your test.
You ought to abide by the rules.
**THE FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE
PRESENT INFINITIVE play
PRESENT CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE be playing
PERFECT INFINITIVE have played
PERFECT CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE have been playing