Modal verbs in English do not follow the same general rules as other verbs. They are not used separately and have no independent meaning. Modal verbs "can", "could", "must", "may" express the attitude of the speaker to the main action. What does it mean? Some verbs express the degree of possibility, others - the obligation. After modal verbs, the particle "-to" is not used, with the exception of the verbs "to be able to" and "manage to". Examples:
I can swim. (I can swim).
She must obey her parents. (She must obey her parents.)
Who could see my cat? (Who could see my cat?).
Workers are not able to finish this building. (The workers are unable to complete the construction of this building.)
She managed to find her mobile phone immidiately when we went away. (She was able to find her mobile phone just after we left.)
Rules for using modal verbs
As it was beforeAs mentioned above, modal verbs have their own rules. But they are not difficult to remember, since the list of such verbs is small:
- to be able to - I can;
- manage to - I can;
- can/could - can, could;
- must - must;
- may - may.
As you can see, some of them have a synonymous meaning. There is a common misconception that the modal verbs "can", "could", "must" and "may" change in person and number, tense. Actually, it is not. That is, we do not add any endings to these verbs and do not change them. The exception is the verb "manage" - we can put it in the past tense by adding the ending "-ed" - "managed". And also, the verb "to be able to" - here the auxiliary verb "to be" changes according to the general rules.
Verbs "to be able to" and "manage to"
The verb "to be able to" is translated as "to be able, capable, able". For example:
These people are able to do the work in time. (These people are able to complete the work on time.)
The verb changes as follows:
| Present | Past tense | Future tense |
| I am able to | I was able to | I will be able to (I will be able) |
| He is able to | He was able to | He will be able to |
| She is able to | She was able to | She will be able to |
| They are able to | They were able to | They will be able to |
| We are able to | We were able to | We will be able to (We will be able) |
| You are able to | You were able to | You will be able to |
The meaning of the verb "manage to" - "I can". It changes according to the following pattern:
| Present | Past tense | Future tense |
| I manage to | I managed to | I will manage to |
| He manage to | He managed to | He will manage to |
| She manage to | She managed to | She will manage to |
| They manage to | They managed to | They will manage to |
| We manage to | We managed to (We werecapable) | We will manage to |
| You manage to | You managed to | You will manage to |
In a word, nothing complicated. The main thing is to understand these simple rules.
Verbs "can" and "could"
The next rule is harder, but not by much. The modal verbs "can" and "could" are translated as "I can, I can", have a common meaning. While "manage to" and "to be able to" are used mainly in special cases. Although, only in the main. In principle, the verbs "can", "could", "managed", "be able to" act according to similar rules.
| Present | Past tense | Future tense |
| I can (I can) | I could (I could) | I will be able to |
| He can (He can) | He could (He could) | He will be able to |
| She can | She could (She could) | She will be able to |
| They can | They could (They could) | They will be able to |
| We can (We can) | We could (We could) | We will be able to |
| You canyou can) | You could (You could / You could) | You will be able to |
Worth a look. The modal verb "can" has no future tense. Therefore, it is appropriate to use an analogue - "manage to" or "to be able to".
Verbs "must" and "may"
Next moment. The verbs "can", "could", "must", "may" have separate forms in different tenses. This makes them easier to use. The verb "must" has the sharpest degree of obligation. For example:
You must go home now, it won't be discussed! (You must go home and this is not discussed!)
If you want to use a softer degree of obligation, give advice or recommendation, then the verb "should" should be used. For example:
You shouldn't eat so much sweet, if you wont to be fit. (You shouldn't eat so many sweets if you want to be slim.)
The verb "may" is translated as "I can" and usually. used in polite requests. For example:
I'm sorry, may I take your pen for a minute? (Excuse me, can I borrow your pen for a minute?).
The verb "must" has no forms in tenses other than the present. Therefore, we substitute similar in value. In this case, it is appropriate to use the modal verb "have to" - "must, forced".
| Present | Past tense | Future tense |
| I must (I must) | I have to | I will have to |
| He must | He has to | He will have to |
| She must (She must) | She has to | She will have to |
| They must | They have to | They will have to |
| We must | We have to | We will have to (we will have to) |
| You must | You have to | You will have to |
The main thing is to figure everything out. Actually, nothing complicated.
The use of modal verbs in negative and interrogative sentences
The word order in English sentences is strictly fixed. This means that, regardless of the context, in an affirmative sentence, the subject will come first, then the predicate, then the additional members of the sentence. In a negative sentence - everything is the same. Only after the predicate does the negative particle "not" appear. This word order is called direct. The order of words in an interrogative sentence is called reverse. Here, at the beginning of the sentence is the predicate, then the subject,further - additional members of the proposal. In the case of modal verbs "can", "could", "may" and others, everything is according to the rules. They function as ancillaries. For example:
I can not (can't) swim. (I can't swim).
She must not (mustn't) do it, if she doesn't wont. (She shouldn't do this if she doesn't want to.)
They will not (won't) be able to cook the dinner without the light.
Can you help me with the dinner? (Can you help me with dinner?).
Shall I go with her? (Should I go with her?).
May I go for a walk, I'm tired. (Can I go for a walk, I'm tired.).
In special interrogative sentences, interrogative words are at the beginning of the sentence:
Who can speak English? (Who can speak English?).
Examples of modal verbs
Let's consider some short dialogues:
1). - I want to be a dentist in a future.
- So, you should study hard in the school.
- I want to be a dentist in the future.
- Then you should study hard at school.
2). - You must be gentle with your younger sister.
- I will try, but she is too noisy.
- You should be gentle with your little sister.
- I'll try, but it's very noisy.
3). - What abilities do you have?
- I can play guitar and piano.
- What are you good at?
- I can play guitar and piano.
Practical part
Try to translate the following sentences into English. Use modal verbs:
1). Can I open the window?
2). My parents should pay more attention to each other.
3). She couldn't have decorated this room better.
4). I was happy and able to do absolutely everything!
5). Were you able to find the keys?
Keys:
1) May I open the window?
2) My paretnts should put more attention to each other.
3) She wasn't able to decorate this room better.
4) I was happy and able to do absolutely everything!
5) Did you manage to find the keys?
