Ought to are examples of semi-modal verbs.

Semi-modal verbs are composed of two or more separate words ending with ‘to’. Level: beginner Suggestions We use should and shouldn't to make suggestions and give advice: You should send an email. Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in? Modal verbs Suggestions and obligations Suggestions and obligations Learn how to use different modal verbs to make suggestions and to speak about obligations, and do the exercises to practise using them. I shall be in London on Monday (or I'll be.

I've revised so I should be ready for the test. You should take an umbrella in case it rains. You must be tired after your long journey. The President may come to our offices if the meeting finishes before 5 pm. The subject: Can you? NOT Do you can? MODALĬan I come with you? ('May' is also used.)Ĭharlie could swim when he was four years old.Ĭould you tell me the way to the station please? 5) Questions are formed by inversion with 4) The negative is formed by the addition of not / n’t:ĭon’t can. 3) They do not have a past form: He/she canted. Modal verbs have the following characteristics: 1) They do not have participle or infinitive forms 2) They do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular. Possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity. Note that these verbs, like all modal verbs, are followed by an infinitive without to.ĭo this exercise to test your grammar again.Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which express the mood of another verb. It can't be easy for him, looking after three kids on his own. We use can't when we feel sure that something is not possible. They all have the same meaning, but may is more formal than might and could. We regret to inform you that some services may be delayed due to the bad weather. We use might, may or could to say that we think something is possible but we're not sure. You must be freezing out there! might, may, could He must live near here because he always walks to work.Ĭome inside and get warm. We use must when we feel sure that something is true or it's the only realistic possibility. This page focuses on making deductions about the present or future. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility. We can use modal verbs for deduction – guessing if something is true using the available information. Modals – deduction (present): Grammar test 1 You can't be bored already! You've only been here five minutes. They might be at work or they could be in the car. Look at these examples to see how must, might, may, could and can't can be used.

Modal verbs for advice esl exercise