MODAL VERBS AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS
Modal verbs
Can / Could
Might / May
Must / Have to
Should / Ought to / Had better
Will / Would
Shall
Need
Similar expressions
Be able to
Be likely to
Be allowed to
Necessary (adj)
Probably (adv)
Used to
A. Forms
I. Present & Future:
Modals + V0
II. Past:
Modals + Have + V3
Ngoại lệ: Could, Would, Might + V0 có khi mang nghĩa quá khứ, cũng có khi mang
nghĩa hiện tại và tương lai.
Ex: They could swim well when they were 5 years old. (Past – Ability)
Could you show me the way to the hospital? (Present – Permission)
B. Uses
I. Ability:
1/ Present & Future: Can / Can’t + V0
Could / Couldn’t + V0
Similar expression: Be able to + V0
- So với can / could, “be able to” thường nhấn mạnh về sự nỗ lực; còn can / could thì
nhấn mạnh về bản năng, khả năng vốn có. Ngoài ra, “be able to” có thể được dùng ở tất
cả các thì.
Ex: We will be able to live on Mars in the future.
II. Possibility:
- Để diễn đạt SỰ DỰ ĐOÁN không chắc chắn (40% - 50%), ta sử dụng can / could / may
/ might. Dự đoán này thường VÔ CĂN CỨ.
1/ Present & Future: Can / May / Might + V0
2/ Past: Could/ May / Might + Have + V3
Similar expression: Be likely to / Be possible to….
Ex:
a. It is possible that my father is watching the football game.
-> My father might be watching the football game.
b. Possibly, he won that race yesterday.
-> He could have won the race yesterday.
Possible / Likely: Có cùng chức năng là đưa ra DỰ ĐOÁN, suy diễn, tuy nhiên sẽ khác
nhau về cấu trúc.
Đi với chủ ngữ giả:
It’s possible / likely for sb to do sth.
that clause (S+V)
Ex: It’s possible / likely that it will rain tomorrow.
-> It might / may / could rain tomorrow.
Đi với chủ ngữ thật: Chỉ được dùng “likely” -> Sb + be + likely + to do sth
Ex: She was likely to have taken the last train.
-> She could have taken the last train.
III. Probability:
- Khả năng diễn ra của một việc, mang ý nghĩa MONG ĐỢI một việc gì đó xảy ra. Đặc
biệt, việc này chỉ xảy ra trong tương lai. (80% - 90%)
1. Present & Future: Should / Ought to + V0
Ex: Don’t worry. You should get used to it soon.
Similar expression: Be expected to do sth
Ex: He is expected to be here at 8 p.m.
-> He should be here at 8 p.m.
-> It is probable that he will be here at 8 p.m.
2. Past: Should (not) + Have + V3
- Bạn lẽ ra đã nên làm gì/ không nên làm gì.
IV. Logical Assumptions:
- Thường là những dự đoán CÓ CĂN CỨ. Do vậy, lời suy diễn / dự đoán này có xác suất
xảy ra đến 90%.
1/ Present & Future:
a. Positive: Must + V0 (chắc hẳn)
Ex: He has been working all day. He must be really tired.
b. Negative: Can’t + V0 (không thể nào)
- Thường nói về một điều phi lý.
Ex: There is a domestic (nội địa) stamp on the letter, so it can’t be from another country.
2/ Past:
a. Positive: Must + Have + V3 (chắc hẳn đã)
b. Negative: Can’t + Have + V3 (không thể nào đã)
Ex:
A: I saw Mr. Peter on the way home last night.
B: No, he can’t have been Mr. Peter because Mr. Peter had died 2 weeks ago.
C: He didn’t study for the test. How could he pass the test with such a high score?
D: Yeah, he must have cheated in the test.
Similar expression: To be sure + that clause
Ex:
I’m sure he will fail the test because he is lazy.
-> He must fail the test because he is lazy.
-> He can’t pass the test because he is lazy.
I’m sure he is not a good guy because he flirts (tán tỉnh) with a lot of girls.
-> He can’t be a good guy because he flirts with a lot of girls.
-> He must be a bad guy because he flirts with a lot of girls.
For sure, they enjoyed the holiday.
-> They must have enjoyed the holiday.
I’m sure he didn’t do his homework.
-> He can’t have done his homework.
-> His homework can’t have been done.
V. Permission:
1. Asking for permissions:
Can / Could / May / Might + V0?
2. Giving permissions:
May / Can + V0.
3. Refusing permissions: May not + V0 (*)
Cannot + V0
Similar expression: To be allowed to do
Ex: “You may go out now.” He said to his son.
-> He allowed his son to go out then.
-> His son was allowed to go out then.
VI. Advice
1. Present & Future: Should / Ought to / Had better + V0 (nên)
- Nói chung, cả 3 modals trên đều mang nghĩa là “nên làm một cái gì đó”. Tuy nhiên,
“had better” mang nghĩa là “tốt hơn hết bạn nên làm gì” và nó ẩn chứa một lời đe dọa.
2. Past: Should / Ought to + have + V3 (lẽ ra nên làm gì)
Shouldn’t / Ought not to + Have + V3 (lẽ ra không nên làm gì)
- Cấu trúc này không đơn thuần chỉ là một lời khuyên, mà nó còn ẩn chứa sự phê bình,
hối hận, ăn năn.
Ex: It was my fault that I didn’t study for the test.
-> I should have studied for the test.
He’s hurt by your words. You shouldn’t have said that.
