Modals can/could should may/might must/have to ought need
Это тип глаголов, которые определяют вероятность, возможность, способность или необходимость совершения действия. Например: You should call her immediately. — Тебе следует немедленно позвонить ей. Не меняются в зависимости от лица и времени действия. Вопросительная форма не требует вспомогательных глаголов, а в отрицательной добавляется частичка not. Например: Can you call me later ? — Ты можешь позвонить мне позже? I cannot answer the phone right now. — Прямо сейчас я не могу ответить на звонок.
Can possibility ability permission request Could past possibility, ability asking for permission request Can you help me today? Can you speak Chinese? I can drive a car. You can go. She can play the drums when all neighbours are away. Could you pass me some sugar? She could read when she was five years old.
May request permission possibility Might possibility (higher degree of doubt) polite suggestion You may leave your bag here until the classes are over. May I borrow your notebook ? They may know it, but I am really not sure. They might know it, but they were out of town.
Should suggestion, advice Ought to moral obligation denoting a duty, advice or a reasonable action You should tell me the truth before it’s too late. You ought to ring Kim, she is ill. You ought to keep children under control. You ought to practice more to enter the university.
Must obligation imposed by the speaker / logical assumption assumption Mustn’t Prohibition recommendation You must stay in bed until the temperature gets down. This must be Kate. You must not swim in this river alone. You mustn’t eat so much sugar.
В качестве модального глагола используется, чтобы спросить или дать разрешение. Как правило, его используют лишь в отрицательных и вопросительных предложениях. — Need I speak to him right now ? — Yes, you must / No, you needn’t.
He … ( can’t/couldn’t ) open the window as it was stuck. Interpreters … ( may/must ) translate without dictionaries. … ( Can/May ) I use me your bike for today? … ( May/Could ) you give me the recipe for this cake? I hardly ever see Jane, she … ( may/might ) have moved to Africa. Take an umbrella. It … ( may/can ) rain. You … ( could/should ) stop smoking. You know you … ( cannot/must not ) buy health. Liz doesn’t … ( ought to/have to ) keep to a diet anymore. You … ( must not/needn’t ) read in the dark. My grandfather is retired, so he … ( shouldn’t/doesn’t have to ) go to work. We … ( may/ought to ) reserve a table in advance if we want to have dinner there. I … ( can’t/needn’t ) believe it! You … ( have to/must ) be joking. Don’t wait for me tonight. I … ( might/must ) be late. You look very pale, I think you … ( need/should ) stay at home. … ( Could/Might ) you, please, pass me the mustard?
He couldn’t open the window as it was stuck. Interpreters must translate without dictionaries. May I use me your bike for today? Could you give me the recipe for this cake? I hardly ever see Jane, she might have moved to Africa. Take an umbrella. It may rain. You should stop smoking. You know you cannot buy health. Liz doesn’t have to keep to a diet anymore. You must not read in the dark. My grandfather is retired, so he doesn’t have to go to work. We ought to reserve a table in advance if we want to have dinner there. I can’t believe it! You must be joking. Don’t wait for me tonight. I might be late. You look very pale, I think you should stay at home. Could you, please, pass me the mustard?
