Modals 1 B1

general notes; asking someone to do something; suggestions and offers; permission

Mr Kent, Maria and Alex work together. Where do you think they work? What are their jobs?

You are going to hear three conversations.

In which conversation:

Modal verbs: general notes

Modal verbs (e.g. can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are special auxiliaries which add to the meaning of other verbs.

They follow these rules:

He might help. (not he mights help)

I can help

We don’t put to before the second verb:

I can help

(notI can to help).

Negative form

That will not (or won’t) be necessary.

Question form

Could you sweep the floor?

Semi-modals

I/You/He/We/They ought to help. (not They ought help.)

They ought not to bring

need can be a modal verb and a normal verb.

The need to come before 7 for dinner tonight.

They needn't bring wine because we've already bought some.

They don't need to buy wine because we've already bought some.

We never use May you? to ask someone to do something.

(not May you help me?)

To make a suggestion, we can say:

Shall I/we move some tables outside?

I can make one of my special recipes if you like.

If we are less sure of what we are suggesting, we say

We could serve more interesting food perhaps.

We can also use these expressions:

Why don’t I/we move some tables outside?

Let’s move some tables outside.

How about / What about moving some tables outside?

When we offer to do something, we usually use shall:

Shall I put the advert back in the window? (not Will I put...?)

When we give permission or talk about having permission, we use can:

You can borrow my camera.

We can finish work early tomorrow.

When we refuse permission, we use can’t:

You can’t use the phone.