AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS
1.They have no infinitive with TO;
2.They are not followed by TO (except ought);
3.They are followed by the infinitive;
4.They don’t take -S in the 3rd person;
5.They don’t need another auxiliary (int. and neg);
6.No participle form (continuous or passive);
7.They show an intention. They have a meaning.(functions, speaker’s attitude.
With I as the subject (permission)
MIGHT I ... ?
MAY I ... ?(Yes) certainly / of course.
COULD I ...? Sure
CAN I ... ?
IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I ... ?
WOULD YOU MIND IF I...? No, I’d be happy to.
Sure. / Okay.
With YOU as the subject
WOULD YOU ... ?Yes, I’d be happy to.
WILL YOU ... ?Yes, I’d be glad to.
COULD YOU ... ?Certainly.
CAN YOU ... ?Sure.
WOULD/ DO YOU MIND ...-ing ... ?No, I’d behappy to
MUST present and future
obligation imposed by the speaker; personal
HAVE TO = NEED TO pres / past / fut
= HAVE GOT TO
external obligation
DO / DOES NOT HAVE TO = NEEDN’T TO
lack of necessity
MUST NOT
prohibition
Past and perfect forms:
mustn’t have / needn’t have + participle
didn’t have to / didn’t need to + infinitive
SHOULD = OUGHT TO suggestion fromresponsibility or duty
HAD BETTER stronger warning or threat ofpossible bad consequences
IF I WERE YOU I WOULD / SHOULD ...
WHY DON’T YOU
IT’S TIME YOU (+past)
MAY / MIGHT AS WELL (+infinitive)(less emphatic)
SHOULD HAVE (participle) regret
BE SUPPOSED TO = BE TO express theidea that someone expects something tohappen; express expectations about behaviour
Be supposed to – should
Be to – must strong expectations(rules, laws, orders, instructions)
Let’s + infinitive without TO
(neg.= let’s + not + verb)
Why don’t we / you / I ...?
Shall I / we ... ?
Could = why don’t we...
Why not ... ?
Colloquially: - What’s wrong with ... ?
- What’s the matter with + noun ...?
- What / How about + gerund / noun... ?
- Suppose I / we / you + pres. or past
Affirmative:
100% sure : He is sick.
95% sure : He must be sick
(logical conclusion)
50% sure : He could be sick.
-50% sure: He may be sick.
He might be sick.
(perhaps – a guess)
Negative
100% sure : He isn’t hungry.
99% sure : He couldn’t be hungry.
He can’t be hungry.
(my opinion)
95% sure : He must not be hungry.
(a best guess – logical conclusion)
-50% sure : He may not be hungry.
He might not be hungry.
(a possibility)
Affirmative:
100% sure : He was sick.
95% sure : He must have been sick.
50% sure : She could have been sick.
(one possibility)
-50% sure : She may have been sick.
She might have been sick.
(doubt)
Negative
100% sure: She wasn’t hungry.
99% sure: She can’t have been hungry.
She couldn’t have been hungry.
(impossible)
95% sure: She must not have been hungry.
(logical conclusion)
-50% sure: She may not have been hungry.
She might have been hungry.
(a possibility)
100% sure: He will do well in the test.
90% sure: He should do well in the exam.
He ought to do well in the exam.
(expectations, probably)
50% sure : He could do well.
(choice)
-50% sure: He may do well.
He might do well.
(guessing)
CAN – possibility and ability (be able to)
BE ABLE TO → simple present : uncommon butpossible → used with other modals
COULD → Past ability
WAS / WERE ABLE TO (affirm.) → one particulartime in the past (could)
WAS ABLE TO = MANAGED TO = SIMPLE PAST →after some effort (could)
Negative : couldn’t = wasn’t/weren’t able to
Future : will be able to
Used to (+infinitive) (only past habits)
Be used to = be accustomed to (+noun or –ing)
Get used to (+ing) (get = become)
I am used to (+ - ing) = I don’t mind / I amaccustomed to
To use = employ
Would → a regularly repeated action in the past)
He would do well in the exam.
Used to → a situation or action that existed inthe past
Would rather / would sooner + infinitive(without TO) + than
Neg. : I'd rather not
Past : would rather have (done)
Progressive : would rather + be + -ing
Prefer + noun + to + noun
Prefer + -ing + to + -ing
when the subjects are the same.
if the subjects are different:
I'd rather you paid cash.
I'd rather you didn't paint it.
I prefer hot weather to cold.
= I'd rather have hot weather than cold.
= I like hot weather better than cold.
I prefer skiing to skating.
= I'd rather ski than skate.
= I like skiing better than skating.
Progressive : MUST BE WORKING
(modal + be + __-ing)
Perfect: COULD HAVE DONE
(modal + have + past participle)
MUST BE ABLE TO
