MODULE 2 GRAMMAR- SECTION B
Modal verbs
CAN:
Uses:
Can expresses ability or capacity to do something (know) and possibility (can), and is also used to
ask for permission or favours (can).
Structure:
-Affirmative: subject + can + verb in the base form. Ex: I can swim very well / We can go to
the cinema tonight.
-Negative: subject + cannot or can't + verb in the base form. Ex: My brother can't ride his
bike.
-Interrogative: Can + subject + verb in the base form. Ex: Can you do me a favour?
-Short answers: We use the personal pronoun subject + can or can't. Ex: Can I use your
phone? Yes, you can. /No, you can't.
COULD:
Uses:
Could expresses ability or capability and possibility in the past and can also be used to ask
permission or favours in a more polite way than with can.
Structure:
-Affirmative: subject + could + verb in the base form. Ex: I could talk when I was one year
old. / The weather was warm, so we could eat outdoors.
-Negative: subject + could not or couldn´t + verb in the base form. Ex: We couldn´t solve the
maths problem.
-Interrogative: Could + subject + verb in the base form. Ex: Could you take the train?
-Short answers: We use the personal pronoun subject + could or couldn´t. Ex: Could you take
me home? Yes, I could. / No, I couldn´t.
SHOULD:
Uses:
Should is used to give or ask for advice and to say what should or should not be done.
Structure:
-Affirmative: subject + should + verb in the base form. Ex: I should go to bed early.
-Negative: subject + should not or shouldn´t + verb in the base form. Ex: Schools shouldn´t
sell fizzy drinks.
-Interrogative: Should + subject + verb in the base form. Ex: Should we come again
tomorrow?
-Short answers: We use the personal pronoun subject + should or shouldn´t. Ex: Should I
leave the door open? Yes, you should. /No, you shouldn´t.
MUST:
Structure:
-Affirmative: subject + must + verb in the base form. It expresses the obligation and the
necessity or desirability of doing something and means "deber". In addition, it can be used to
give advice and to recommend something (tener que). Ex: I You must study for the test. / You
must go to the new restaurant. It´s great.
-Negative: subject + must not or mustn´t + verb in the base form. It expresses prohibition, that
something is not allowed, and that something should not be done because it is not convenient
or right. It can also be used to give advice. Ex: You mustn´t eat at the library. / You mustn´t lie
to the teacher.
-Interrogative: Must + subject + verb in the base form. In this case, must expresses obligation
or necessity, although this modal verb is not usually used in the interrogative form. Ex: Must I
call the police?
-Short answers: We use the personal pronoun subject + must or mustn´t. Ex: Must you leave
now? Yes, I must.
HAVE TO:
Structure:
-Affirmative: subject + have to/has to + verb in the base form. It expresses the obligation and
the necessity or desirability of doing something and means "deber". In addition, it can be used
to give advice and to recommend something (tener que). Ex: I You must study for the test. /
You must go to the new restaurant. It´s great.
