doichik_oia_modal_verbs_theory_and_practice

To express courage / lack of courage we

use dare.

*

* Note

Modal:

dare can be used as a modal verb:

Dare you do it? – I daren’t do it.

- dare / daren’t / don’t dare + V1

Dared you do it? – I dared not.

(present reference)

I hardly dare(d) tell him about it

- dared / dared not / didn’t dare +

Anomalous forms:

V1 (past reference)

Do you dare tell him? – I don’t dare tell

dare can be used as a regular verb:

him.

- dare to / don’t dare to + V1

Did you dare tell him? – I didn’t dare

(present reference)

tell him.

- dared to / didn’t dare to + V1 (past

Regular verb:

reference)

Do you dare to tell him?

Did you dare to tell him?

daren’t / don’t dare (to) is used in the

I‟d like to ask for the day off but I

present (to refer to present or future) in the

daren’t / but I don’t dare (to) (= I‟m

meaning „be afraid to‟

afraid to).

I wanted to ask for the day off but I

didn’t dare (to).

She is the only one who dares (to) enter

that dark room.

To express challenging we use dare as a

I dare you to jump off that wall

full verb

I didn‟t want to do it, but he dared me

(to).

** Note

Daresay (or dare say) is used in the 1st

I daresay, this won‟t be easy

person in the present tense in the meaning

I dare say, this restaurant is expensive.

„I suppose / I believe‟

Ability.

Present

can

I can speak English, but I cannot

Capability

am/is/ are able to

speak French

Despite her poor eyesight she is able

to read a lot.

Past

could

Barbara could/couldn’t sing very

was/were able to

well when she was younger

Jim was able to/was unable to run

fast when he was a boy

Possibility

Present

can

Generally possible things:

Impossibility

could

Drinks in restaurants can be very

may

expensive

Antibiotics may lead to stomach

disorders

It can (could) be quite cold in Cairo

in January

Possibilities according to the

circumstances:

He can’t talk with you now. He‟s

busy

Impossible things:

You cannot get blood out of a stone

Past

could

Generally possible things:

It could be quite cold in Cairo in

January when I lived there

Future

can

It can / could be quite cold when

could

you get to Cairo

Probability

Present

could

Take your coat it could / may /

Improbability

may

might rain

(based on

might

Don‟t phone me at 11. I could / may

guessing and

/ might be sleeping

speculation)

can’t

couldn’t

He can’t / couldn’t / may not /

may not

mightn’t be at home

might not

Past

could have + V3

John could / may / might have sent

may have + V3

the message, I‟m not sure

might have + V3

They could / may / might not have

heard the news yet.

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Strong

Present

must

The shoes must be very expensive

Probability

should

He‟s been running, he should be

Certainty

very tired now.

Past

must have + V3

He must have paid a lot for the

shoes

Future

should/shouldn’t

She‟s been studying very hard, she

will / won’t

should pass the exam

Will you come in time? – No, I think,

I should be late

It will rain tomorrow

He won’t come so soon

Logical

Present

must + V1

She must be French, she speaks

Deduction

can’t + V1

French so well

(based on

They can’t be English. They don‟t

evidence)

know the language

You must be joking. It can’t be the

truth.

Past

must have + V3

He must have heard it before. He

can’t have + V3

knows all the details

She can’t have fixed the phone. It‟s

not working

Deduction

Present

can’t + v1

She can’t be the winner. It‟s

(Surprise,

couldn’t + v1

impossible!

Astonishment,

He couldn’t be a famous sportsman!

Doubt,

Disbelief)

Past

can’t have +V3

He can’t have done it. He is too

couldn’t have + V3

polite

She couldn’t have done it! I thought

she‟s too weak.

Present

Can it be that…?

Can it be that she has forgotten

/ Past

It cannot be that…

about my BD? / It can’t be that she

has forgotten about my BD

Can it be that she hasn‟t read this

book? / It can’t be that she hasn‟t

read this book.

Advice.

Present

should

You should be more attentive

Advisability

ought to

You ought to vote

Recommen-

had better

He‟d better see a doctor

dation

must (emphatic)

You really must watch this film

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shouldn’t,

You shouldn’t behave like that

oughtn’t,

You oughtn’t to park there

had better not

You‟d better not lift heavy things

Past

should(n’t) have +

You should have come to the office

V3

at 9 (but you didn‟t)

ought(n’t) to have

He shouldn’t have said so (but he

+ V3.

did)

He ought to have helped us (but he

didn‟t)

Obligation

Present

should

You should wear a uniform

Duty

have to

He has to report twice a week

must

You must be always ready

Past

had to

I had to report about my trip

Necessity

Present

must

She must lose weight

have to

I will have to read it again

need to

He needs to type it again

Past

had to

I had to leave at 9

needed to

I‟ve had to call her several times

already

Future

will have to

You will have to work much harder

will need to

Absence of

Present

don’t have to

I needn’t be there so early

Necessity

don’t need to

He doesn’t have to come until

needn’t

tomorrow

Past

didn’t have to

I didn’t have to go / didn’t need to

didn’t need to

go to the office yesterday (=it was

needn’t have + V3

unnecessary, so I didn‟t go)

I needn’t have gone to the office

yesterday (=I went there, but it was

unnecessary)

Future

will not have to

You won’t need to come here again

will not need to

Permission

Present

can / could

Can / could / may / might I borrow

may / might

your umbrella (please)?

Could I (possibly)?

Could I possibly use your phone?

Do you think I

I wonder if I might bother you for a

could/might …?

moment

35

I wonder if I

could/might…?

Past

could

Last night the kids were allowed to

was/were allowed

stay up longer.

to

I could / couldn’t walk alone when I

was small.

Prohibition

Present

should not

You shouldn’t talk to me like that

Past

cannot

One can’t smoke here

may not

You may not stay in this room

am/is/are not to

You are not to open this door

must not

You mustn’t touch his things!

Criticism.

Present

can

You can be very annoying, you

Disapproval.

could

know?

Reproach.

should

You could be less arrogant

ought to

You should not talk to your mom

might

like that

You oughtn’t to throw litter here

You might be more polite

Past

could + have + V3

You could have written your essay

should + have + V3

better

ought to+ have +V3

Of course, you feel sick. You

might + have + V3

shouldn’t have eaten so much

chocolate

You might have told me you weren't

coming

Strong

Present

dare

How dare you suggest such a thing!

disapproval.

How dare you raise your voice!

Outrage

Don’t you dare speak to me like

that!

Past

dared

How dared he tell it to everyone!

Promise

Present/

will

I will help you with your baggage,

Future

when you arrive.

Willingness.

Present

will

I will go there with you

He will help you

Past

would

Dad would always help us with our

maths

Unwillingness.

Present

won’t

The car won’t start

Refusal

He won’t drink his milk

Past

wouldn’t

I offered him some milk but he

wouldn’t drink it

The car wouldn’t start this morning

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Offer

Present

can

Can I help you?

could

We could do that for you

shall

Shall I open the window (for you)?

may

May I help you?

might

Might I be of some assistance?

Suggestion

Present

shall

Shall we go out for a pizza tonight?

can/could /might

What shall we do about this dog?

would

You can / could / might go for a

swim.

Would you like to join us?

Request

Present

can

Can / could / may / might I have

could

some coffee (please)?

may

Can you close the window?

might

Could you pass the salt?

Bring those books next time, will

(…), will you?

you?

Would you mind?

Would you mind opening the

Will / Would you

window (for me)?

kindly…?

Will you kindly remove this chair?

Can / Could you

Would you fill in this form, please?

possibly…?

Can you possibly open that

window?

Instructions

Present

am/is/are to

Everyone is to write a 5-page essay.

You are to test your blood pressure

every day

Past

was / were to

They were to report every week.

Order

Present/

shall

You shall stay and clean the room!

Future

Nobody shall say a word!

Threat

Present

shall

You shall pay for your words

Characteristic

Present

will

She will leave her things everywhere

habits

Past

would

In summer he would often sit in the

sun for hours

Past habits

Present

used to

When I was young, I used to get up

at 6

Past

would

When I was young, I would (always)

get up at 6

Courage.

Present

dare (not)

I‟d like to ask for the day off but I

Lack of

don’t dare (to)

daren’t / but I don’t dare (to)

Courage

Past

dared (not)

I wanted to ask for the day off but I

didn’t dare (to)

didn’t dare (to)

Challenging

Present

Dare

I dare you to jump off that wall

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a) Past ability

c) Necessity

b) Reproach

d) Deduction

a) Impossibility

c) Certainty

b) Deduction

d) Unwillingness

3. I have to do this task by myself

a) Personal obligation

c) Deduction

b) Necessity

d) Possibility

a) Personal obligation

c) Deduction

b) Necessity

d) Possibility

a) Obligation

c) Necessity

b) Strong probability

d) Possibility

a) Deduction

c) Habit

b) Possibility

d) Advice

a) Reproach

c) Past necessity

b) Strong probability

d) Obligation

a) Strong probability

c) Capability

b) Past necessity

d) Advice

a) Past necessity

c) Advice

b) Obligation

d) Reproach

10.

She can’t have read this book

a) Impossibility

c) Ability

b) Necessity

d) Habit

11.

She might have read this book

a) Deduction

c) Possibility

b) Certainty

d) Advice