Modal verbs past tense. Modal verbs in English and their equivalents. Modal verbs: rules and examples

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As you know, modal verbs are insufficient verbs (defective verbs), i.e. most of them do not have personal endings, separate forms for different tenses and do not need auxiliary verbs to form interrogative and negative sentences.

However, there is a need and necessity to use modal verbs when talking about guesses, assumptions, probabilities in the past. What to do in this case?

Expressing probability in the past

If you need to express an assumption, you should use probability in relation to the past tense after the modal verb Perfect Infinitive, which consists of the verb have and the past participle.

Example sentences

It must have rained. There are puddles in the street. It must have been raining. There are puddles on the street. They must have forgotten to send you the copy of the file. They apparently forgot to send you a copy of this file. The pizza must have been tasty. They didn't even leave a piece for me. The pizza must have been very tasty. They didn't leave me a single piece.

Example sentences

Jenny is late. She may have missed the bus. Jenny is late. She must have missed the bus. How could he buy a car? He might have borrowed some money. Where did he get the car? He must have borrowed money. He might have stolen the jewellery. I heard he was unemployed. He may have stolen jewelry. I heard he is unemployed

Example sentences

I can’t have left my mobile phone in a taxi. I was talking on the phone when I got out. There's no way I left my cell phone in the taxi. I was talking on the phone when I got out of the car. The children can't have played football. I took away their ball. The children could not play football. I took their ball.

Example sentences

You shouldn't have eaten junk food. You know about your stomach problems. You shouldn't have eaten unhealthy food. You know about your stomach problems. They should have informed us earlier about the inspection. They should have warned us earlier about the inspection.

Important!

If we want to emphasize that the intended past action was in the process of being performed, after the modal verb it is possible to use Perfect Continuous Infinitive . Let us recall that the formula for the formation of Perfect Continuous Infinitive: have + been + Ving, for example: have been doing, have been running. Thus, the modal verbs must and can with this infinitive will look like this: must have been doing and can have been doing

Example sentences

You might have been sleeping. I called you but there was no answer. You must have been asleep. I called you, but there was no answer. Where was your husband at 9 yesterday evening? - He must have been driving home at nine o’clock in the evening. Where was your husband at 9 pm yesterday? - He must have been driving home at 9 pm. It’s not good that you didn’t discuss the time. He may have been waiting for you. It's not good that you didn't discuss the timing. He may have been waiting for you.

Watch the video on past modals for possibility:

IN English In addition to verbal units that express action, there is a group of verbs that serve to fix modality in speech. In simple terms, they express not the action itself, but various kinds of relationships of a certain nature to these actions. Together with the infinitive, modal units form a compound predicate. In general, this is another group of “nasty” verbs in the English language. Modal form of the English verb The origin of these words is lost in the darkness of centuries. In any case, I was unable to come across a thread that would lead me to their origins. No matter how much I tried to find out their basis from various sources, I did not find anything unambiguous, but also no more or less intelligible explanation.

They differ from ordinary verbs in a number of features, which you can familiarize yourself with a little later. However, in my opinion, their most important feature is that they convey not the state or action of a person or object, but precisely our attitude: “I obliged know this table" or "I I want learn these words."

What is meant by the word "attitude"? The speaker can evaluate any action as necessary, possible, requested, permitted, very probable, unlikely, prohibited, ordered, etc. Depending on the speaker’s assessment of the situation and the structure of the sentence, one of the modal verbs is used in speech.

In total, linguists managed to fix 4 actual modal ones, 4 of their main analogues, as well as 6 units of a multifunctional type.

Modal verbs in English: Modal verbs in English

• Can/Could
• May/Might
• Be to
• Have to / Have got to
• Should
• Ought to
• Would
• Used to
• Shall

The first three are used most often in speech. These verbs sometimes replace other relational words because they have a more general meaning.

Formation of sentences

Modal verbs in English form interrogative sentences without the auxiliary unit to do, and the construction itself is in preposition: Shall I help you?

The negative form in a sentence is formed by placing the particle not in postposition. Often, especially in oral communication, they merge into one form and are reduced. See table:

If you want to learn how to construct sentences correctly, then you must remember that modal verbs, excluding have (got) to, ought to and be to, are followed by a bare infinitive, and the particle to disappears: I must go.

Distinctive Features

Their second name is insufficient, due to the fact that they do not have a number of grammatical forms that other words have - states or actions. Modal verbs in English have the following features:

• They are not conjugated by numbers and persons, that is, in the 3rd person singular they do not form the ending -s. The exceptions are need to, have to and be able to, since they have a conjugation paradigm
• They are used in speech together with semantic verbs, which at the same time lose the to particle, or can be omitted in the context of a text or conversation: I have to
• Lack of gerunds, participles and impersonal infinitives due to the lack of complex tense forms (see next paragraph)
• There is no future or past tense, and there are no continuous or perfect forms, with the exception of may (might) and can (could)

To make it easier to understand the rules for using modal verbs, carefully study this table:
Table of modal verbs Why do you need to know modal verbs?

Their correct use in spoken literate English confirms that you have mastered a level of English that has crossed the initial basic level of everyday communication. And if you don’t use them in your speech when communicating with an American or a British person, then this means that you are still at the initial stage of learning English and do not have sufficient competence.

Therefore, improve, grow, create a positive impression! Good luck!

Modal verbs in English belong to a special group of verbs. They denote the possibility, ability, necessity and probability of an action.

Meanings expressed by modal verbs in English

Modal verbs in English are not used independently, but in combination with the infinitive of the main semantic verb, they are not followed by a particle to(exception is ought).

I can do it. - I can do this.

You ought to be there. – You should be there.

Verbs can And may have the form of present and past tense could, might. Verbs must, ought And need They only have the form of the present tense.

Modal verbs in English have the same form for all persons and numbers. The interrogative form is formed without auxiliary verbs. The negative form is formed using a particle not.

I can't do it. - I can't do this.

May I use your phone? – Can I use your phone?

There are relatively few modal verbs in English and each of them has its own meaning.

1. :
   • used to express the possibility or ability to perform an action;
     

     I can type very fast. – I can type very quickly.

   • to express doubt, surprise.
     

     Can they arrive tomorrow? - Will they really arrive tomorrow?

2. :
   • to express possibility, ability in the past;
     

     I could type very fast. – I could type very quickly.

   • in the main part of conditional sentences.
     

     If I had much money I could buy a new car. – If I had a lot of money, I could buy a car.

3. :
   • to express permission;
     

     You may use my phone. – You can use my phone.

   • to express an assumption.
     

     He may know her. “Perhaps he knows her.”

4. :
   • to express an assumption in the present and future with a greater degree of doubt.
     

     He might know her. – He may know her (or maybe not).

5. :
   • to express obligation;
     

     You must do it. - You have to do this.

   • to express an assumption;
     

     It must be him. - It must be him.

   • to express prohibition.
     

     You mustn"t touch it. - You are forbidden to touch it.

6. :
   • to express moral duty, advice regarding the present and future.
     

     He didn't want to help me. - He must help me.

7. :
   • to express necessity. Used in the form in interrogative and negative sentences.
     

     Need I do it? – Do I need to do this?

     No, you don't need to do it. - No, you don’t need to do this.

8. used to express the need to perform an action according to a preliminary agreement. After it the particle is used to.
   

   My friend is to call you tomorrow. – My friend should call you tomorrow.

Unlike ordinary verbs, modal verbs do not carry either action or state in a sentence, but only reflect the attitude towards the speaker’s action. They reflect the probability, possibility, ability of an object to perform an action (to be able to). Features of modal verbs are:

1. They do not change over time (except can And may);
2. They are always followed by a semantic verb, together with which they form a compound predicate:
We should go to a hospital.- We need to go to the hospital.
3. Do not change in 3l. units h. (the ending is not added -s):
The girl may go first.- The girl can go first.
4. Modal verbs serve as an auxiliary verb in a sentence. That is, to form an interrogative sentence, the modal verb is placed before the subject, and when forming a negative sentence, the particle not is placed after the modal verb:
May I come in?- Can I come in? A woodsman must not rest until he does his norm.- A lumberjack cannot rest until he has completed his quota.
5. They cannot form impersonal forms of verbs (gerund, infinitive, participle).

Modal verbs also influence the semantic verb that follows them. The semantic verb after the modal verb is in the infinitive form, but no particle is added to it to. And also, since the verb is in the infinitive form, it does not change according to tenses, persons and numbers.

The most common modal verbs in English are: can, may And must. Let's look at them and some other modal verbs.

Modal verb Can

It means to be able and have the opportunity. One of the few modal verbs that has a past tense form - could. Let's look at the pronunciation of all its forms:

* - American pronunciation.

Pay attention to the negative form of the verb - it is written together. And the pronunciation of the negative form in American and British English is very different.

Modal verb can (could) used to express:

Abilities (mental or physical):

I can read this text.- I can read this book. My mother could cook my favorite cookies.- My mother could cook my favorite cookies.

Possibility of event:

It could happen today.- It could happen today.

And in modern English the verb can can replace a modal verb may, that is, expressions of permission or request:

You can take another chair.- You can take another chair.

Interrogative and negative sentences are formed using the modal verb itself:

These people cannot (can't) come closer.- These people can't come closer. The plumber could not (couldn't) fix a sink.- The plumber couldn't fix the sink. Can you give me your hand?-Can you give me your hand?

Modal verb May

Like the previous verb, it is in the past tense and means permission or approval. Let's look at the pronunciation of all its forms:

You may go.- You can go. May I come in?- Can I come in? In negative sentences the verb may takes the value of prohibition: They may not (mayn't) work without any instruments.- They cannot work without tools. pay attention verb might can express the probability of an action: A fisher might catch some fish.- A fisherman can catch a fish.

Modal verb Must

Translated into Russian - “must, obliged” and expresses the need to do something, or an order. Does not change either in time or in persons. In negative sentences, it expresses a prohibition on action. Let's look at the pronunciation of all forms:

We must finish building your boat.- We must finish building your boat. Must she visit my parents?- Should she visit my parents? I must not (mustn"t) go with you.- I can't go with you.

Modal verb have to

Verb have with a particle to forms a modal verb have to. This modal verb has the same meaning as the verb must, but in a less categorical form: it is necessary, must, should be done. And it changes from time to time.

The modal verb changes form in the third person singular - has to, in the past tense - had to and future tense will have to. Let's look at examples of using the modal verb:

My dog ​​has to go out for a walk every evening.- My dog ​​must walk every evening.
You have to go with us.- You must come with us.
Uncle had to take me from the hospital.- My uncle had to pick me up from the hospital.
We will have to pay for the bills every month.- We will have to pay bills every month.

Modal verb should

Translated - "need, should." The proposal plays the role of advice and recommendation. Let's look at his pronunciation:

They should follow my advice.- They need to follow my advice. Should I buy this ball?- Should I buy this ball? The child should not (shouldn't) do his homework now.- The child does not need to do it homework Now.

Modal verb ought to

Has the same meaning as a modal verb should, but is used less frequently in modern English. Negative and interrogative forms are practically never found. Let's look at the pronunciation of its forms:

Any forest ought to be protected from fires.- Any forest must be protected from fires. You ought not (oughtn"t) to climb that mountain.-You don't need to climb that mountain.

Modal verb Need

This verb can be either semantic or modal in a sentence. And it is translated into Russian - “need, need.” If the verb need plays a semantic role in a sentence, then all the actions that apply to other semantic verbs in English are applicable to it.

Modal verb need used mainly in interrogative and negative sentences - replaces modal verbs must And have to. Its forms:

Need uncle my help?- Does your uncle need my help? Alena need not (needn"t) go to work today.- Alena doesn’t have to go to work today.

Modal verb be to

It is used in the past and present tense, and shows the need to perform an action as a result of some kind of preliminary agreement or intention. Translated into Russian as “must, obliged.” Formed by placing the verb be in the appropriate form with the subject (usually a specific person or thing). Verb forms be you can look . Examples:

He is to come.- He must come. You were to run 3 kilometer every day.- You were required to run 3 kilometers every day.

In a negative sentence, a prohibition is conveyed: They are not to leave the city.- They can't leave the city.

Equivalent of the modal verb be able to

can, but can change in tense, person and number, thanks to the auxiliary verb be. Examples with verb able["eibl]

(to be able to): My girl is able to solve this quest.- My girlfriend can solve this puzzle. Policemen were able to catch a thief.- The police were able to catch the thief. The government will be able to accept the reforms next years.- The government will be able to adopt reforms next year.

Equivalent to the modal verb be allow to

Used in the same cases and with the same meaning as a modal verb may, but can, like the previous verb, change in time, person and number, thanks to the auxiliary verb be. Examples with verb allow[ə"laʊ]

(be allowed): We are allowed to swim here.- We are allowed to swim here. A driver was allowed to drive on this road before it was closed.- The driver was allowed to drive on this road before it was closed. A boy will be allowed to receive his passport in 2 years.- The guy will be allowed to get his passport in two years.

Modal verbs in English, these are verbs that in themselves do not denote an action or state, but reflect, as they say in textbooks, “the speaker’s attitude towards the action.”

What does it mean? Let's take the verb can(to be able to do something) - in itself it does not denote an action or state, like the verbs “fly”, “see”, “be scared”. But in combination with another verb it denotes the very attitude to action - in this case it is ability perform an action.

I can fix your TV in two minutes – I Can fix your TV in two minutes.

I can swim in cold water – I Can swim in cold water.

Modal verbs include:

• (could)- be able, be capable.
• - to be due.
• – should, must (e.g. “you should...”).
• (might)– expresses that there is permission (e.g. “I can…”)

Note: This article covers the most common modal verbs.

Why is it important to know modal verbs?

Modal verbs are used VERY often in spoken and written speech. Especially - it is one of the 10 most common verbs in the English language (see) and almost no conversation can take place without it.

In addition to the basic meanings, it is useful to know the basic nuances of using modal verbs. For example, in the phrase “You must help Bill” verb must expresses an obligation: “You must help Bill.” And in the sentence “You must be Bill” the same must has a completely different meaning: “You must be Bill.”

Features of modal verbs

Modal verbs are a special group of verbs (fortunately, very small in number) that live according to their own separate rules. Here are their main features.

1. Modal verbs in English are used with a semantic verb in, and the particle to is not placed between verbs.

Right:

• I canbuy you a candy – I Can buy candy for you.
• I mustdecline your offer – I must reject your proposal.

Wrong:

• I can tobuy you a candy.
• I must todecline your offer.

2. Modal verbs are not conjugated, no endings are added to them, including the ending -s in the third person singular.

Right:

• He can walk on a wire. - He can walk on a tightrope.
• She must go. - She should go.

Wrong:

• He cans walk on a wire.
• She musts go.

3. Modal verbs are not used in the future tense with an auxiliary verb.

In most cases, modal verbs can refer to action in the future, this becomes clear from the context.

• I can help you tomorrow. - I I can (I can) help you tomorrow.
• We must get back home by midnight. - We should be back home by midnight.
• He may pass his exam later with another group. - He may (can) take the exam later with another group.
• You should ask her out tomorrow. - You should invite her somewhere tomorrow.

4. The verbs can and may have past tense forms.

These forms are respectively:

I also note that should is the past tense form of a modal verb shall, which is used quite rarely in modern English, see.

5. The interrogative form is formed without an auxiliary verb - the modal verb is placed before the subject:

• I can drive - Can I drive?
• She could help us – Could she help us?
• We must go - Must are we going?
• I may ask - May I ask?
• You should try - Should I try?

6. The negative form is formed with the help of the particle not, it is placed after the modal verb (and is written together with the verb can). In colloquial speech, negative forms are usually shortened.

• cannot – can’t
• could not – couldn’t
• may not – may not
• might not – mightn’t
• shouldn't – shouldn't
• must not – mustn’t

Note:

Mustnot has not the opposite must meaning. For example:

You must not- does not mean “must not”, that is, “you have no obligation” (here “you don’t have to”), but “you cannot”, “you are prohibited”, “forbidden”. In Russian, sentences with a prohibition expressed as must not are often translated into impersonal sentences.

• You mustn't enter that room – To you forbidden go into that room.
• You mustn't smoke here – Here prohibited smoke.

May not also has the meaning of prohibition, but softer than must not.

• You may not go there - to you it is forbidden go there.
• You may not touch it – to you it is forbidden it's touching.

Cannot can mean both physical impossibility, inability, and a ban in a mild form.

• You can't take in all those kittens. - You you can't shelter all these kittens (this is impossible).
• You can't park here – Here it is forbidden park (this is prohibited).

Synonyms of modal verbs

Modal verbs have non-modal synonyms that are conjugated according to general rules.

These are the synonyms:

• Can = be able to (be able)
• Must = have to (to be due)
• May = be allowed to (have permission)
• Should = be supposed to (imply, be due) - not in all cases.

Modal verbs are considered insufficient - this means that they do not have future tense forms, some (must) do not have past tense forms. Using synonyms you can replace missing forms of modal verbs.

Table: modal verbs and their synonyms

Present	Past	Future
I can fly / I am able to fly	I could fly / I was able to fly	I will be able to fly
I must go / I have to go	I had to go	I will have to go
I may ask / I am allowed to ask	I might ask / I was allowed to ask	I will be allowed to ask

Replacing a modal verb with a synonym is not entirely complete and accurate. For example, must can mean moral necessity, duty, and have to can mean forced necessity.

I must help my parents. - I must help your parents (duty, obligation).

My colleague is being late for the meeting, I have to wait for him. – My colleague is late for a meeting, I must(I have to) wait for him.

Basic uses of modal verbs

Modal verb Can (could)

The verb can is used for:

1. Expressions of opportunity, ability to do something, question, polite request:

Can is used in the present and future tenses, and could in the past tense.

Present tense:

I can show you new world - I Can show you a new world.

I can't believe it! – I can't believe it!

In interrogative form the request is:

Can I help you? - Can can I help you?

Can do you do me a favour? - You you can do me a favor?

Sentences with the negative form can’t can express not only impossibility, but also a prohibition:

You can't move this stone. - You you can't move this stone (it's too heavy).

You can't walk on the grass. – It is forbidden walking on the grass (this is prohibited).

Past tense:

He could play guitar - He knew how to play the guitar.

I couldn't forgive him - I couldn't forgive him.

Interrogative sentences with could express a polite request towards a second person. More polite than with can.

Could do you pass me that book? – Could you will you pass me that book?

Future tense– the verb can does not change in any way, its relation to the future is clear from the context:

I can talk to you later. - I I can (I can) talk to you later.

James can fix your car tomorrow. – James may (can) fix your car tomorrow.

2. “It can’t be that...”

This combination is also used in negative sentences when the speaker does not believe, does not allow the possibility that the action actually happened. When translating such phrases into Russian, the words “can’t be”, “couldn’t”, “really” are usually used.

Lara cannot have done it! – Lara I couldn't such do!

No, he cannot have said it! - No, he couldn't such say!

Can she have said it? – Really she is said?

Modal verb Must

1. Ought (to be obliged to do something)

You must be Peter - You, there must be, Peter.

These must be his footsteps - This, there must be, his traces.

You should have turned left! - You had to turn left! (and turned right)

You should have seen this place! - You needed to see this place! (but you didn’t see)

3. “In theory it should”

At the verb should there is also the meaning “in theory should”, that is, there is some expected, intended action, but it may not be carried out. In this case, the turnover is more often used be supposed to.

I should (am supposed to) be at work now, but the show is so damn interesting – I must be (supposedly) at work now, but this series is damn interesting.

Doctors say that we should (are supposed to) exercise if we want to stay healthy – Doctors say that we need to(we are supposed to) exercise to stay healthy.

Modal verb May (might)

1. Have permission, permission

In present and future tense

You may do what you want – You can do what you want (present tense).

You may play with your friends later. – You can play with your friends later (future tense)

May I ask you a question? – Can(may I) ask you a question?

In a negative form may not expresses a prohibition:

You may not play with them. - You it is forbidden playing with them (I forbid it).

In the past tense to express permission, it is not the verb might that is used (it expresses an assumption, see below), but the phrase be allowed to- have permission.

I was allowed to continue working on my project. - To me allowed continue working on my project.

We were not allowed to wear uniform. - Us not allowed wear a uniform.

2. Assumption

The verb used to make a guess is may or might, in this case it is translated as “possibly”, “maybe”, etc. The difference between may and might is that may expresses the speaker’s greater confidence in the assumption. However, this difference may be highly context dependent or may not be significant.

Present and future tense

Scheme: May / might + infinitive (without to)

You might know that place – You, Maybe, you know this place (present tense).

He may visit us tonight – He, May be, will visit us in the evening (future tense).

Past tense:

Scheme: May / might + have + Past Participle

She might have forgotten the documents at home. - She, maybe I forgot documents at home.

I may have seen you before. - I, may have seen you before.

Video lessons on modal verbs

In the grammar section of Puzzle English there are several video lessons on the topic of modal verbs, here is the first one: “The Verb Can”.

By going to the “Grammar” section on the Puzzle English service, you can watch the rest of the video lessons (they are available for free), as well as complete the exercises.