AZIZ ATIK                             MODALS

A] Obligation:  

* Present:    must/  have to  +   [verb-infinitive]

 You must prepare well for the exam.

She has to be on time, otherwise she will be dismissed .

I have to exercise; I feel I’m getting fatter and fatter.

* Past:  had to  +   [verb- infinitive]

 I had to bring a calculator ‘yesterday’, because I had a test in math.

My sister went shopping ‘the other day’, and she had forgotten to take enough money with her, so she had to borrow some from her friend.

C] Absence of obligation:

 *Present:        don’t have to/ don’t need to/ needn’t

You don’t need to call me; just send me a message.

She doesn’t need to travel to see her uncle; he‘s coming tomorrow.

You needn’t water the garden; I think it will rain tonight.

*Past:            didn’t need to/ didn’t have to

 We didn’t need to watch the football match ‘yesterday’, as it was boring.

He didn’t have to water the garden last Monday, because it had rained the day before.

* Needn’t have+ verb past participle  [This construction is used to refer to a past action that was performed though it was not necessary]

 You needn’t have taped your writing; the teacher didn’t ask you to do that.[you taped your writing, so just  you wasted your time]

You needn’t have bought that book, because I had one. [you bought the book, so you wasted your money]

D] Advice:

 * Present; should/ ought to/ had better+ verb infinitive

 You shouldn’t miss your classes; it will affect your discipline grade.

 You ought to exercise regularly; it’s good for health.

 You had better not stay up late.

* Past; should have/ ought to have+ verb past participle.[ for unfulfilled actions]

    Why did you take my jacket? You should have asked for my permission. [I’m so angry, because you didn’t ask for my permission].

    He ought to have driven slowly. That road was icy. [ it was unwise of him to drive fast]

E] Possibility:

  * Present/ future:  may/ might/ could + verb infinitive

      There are black clouds in the sky; it may rain. But I’m not sure.[perhaps it will rain]

      I feel sick tonight; I might not go to school tomorrow. [perhaps I will not go]

* Past: might have+ verb past participle

 Soukayna wasn’t at home ‘last night’ .She might have gone somewhere.[ perhaps she went somewhere

Our teacher didn’t come ‘yesterday’; he might have been sick.[perhaps he was sick].

F] Certainty/ Positive deduction:

* Present: must +verb infinitive

   She always dresses in new clouds. Her father must be wealthy [I’m sure her father is rich]

   You look pale; you must be ill. [I’m sure you‘re ill]

   You look worried; you must have a problem. [I’m sure you have a problem]

* Past: must have + verb past participle

    You attended one of your friend’s party ‘last week’; you must have enjoyed yourself. (I’m sure you enjoyed  yourself)

    You passed last year’s exam with distinction. You must have worked hard. (I’m sure you worked hard)

G] Impossibility/ Negative deduction:

    * Present:can’t+ verb infinitive

    You can’t be good at English. You usually get bad marks in the tests. [it’s impossible that you are good at English]

   He can’t be your twin brother. You don’t take after each other. [it’s impossible that he is your twin brother].

   * Past: can’t have+ verb past participle

    She can’t have travelled to Rabat. I just saw her this morning.(it is impossible that she travelled to Rabat)

    You failed your exam ‘last year’, so you can’t have worked hard. (it is impossible that you worked hard last year)

H] Ability

*Present /future:              can/ will be able+ verb infinitive.

I can carry this heavy box by myself. ( I have the ability to do that).

I will be able to study medicine if I get a very a good mark.

Can you climb this tree?

*Past :       could+ verb infinitive. 

  He couldn’t play football yesterday, because he was sick.

  My father could run every day when he was young.

EXERCISES:

A] Choose the right answer

  a) The letters I left on the table this morning aren’t here now. Fiona……………………….. them during the day.

   must have posted/ should have posted/ needn’t have posted

  b] When he was a professional player, he……………. train every day

                  must/      ought to/       had to

   c] We ate our lunch quickly yesterday, because we didn’t want to be late for the film. In fact, we arrived early at the cinema, so we ……………………………………so quickly.

       must have eaten /   needn’t have eaten/   might have eaten

 d) a; You ‘re leaving next week to Australia

     b; Yes, I ‘m sorry; I ……………………………..you  earlier. It was wrong of me.

                   should have told/     had to tell /      must have told

e) I think you…………….put on your jacket; it…………….be cold outside, but I’m not sure.

                      should /             must /                 may

f) You…………………………..her in Marrakesh last week; we were together on a picnic in Ifran.

    Can’t have seen/    might have seen/   had to see

g) He………………….be indifferent to his study. He never revises his lessons or does his homework.

                     Should/       can’t/        must

h) We are spending too much money each month. We………….try to spend less

                  Must           needn’t         mustn’t

i)  When I couldn’t find the key,  I climbed into the house through the window. Later I found the key in my bag, so I…………………………..in through the window.

         didn’t have to climb    don’t have to climb     needn’t have climbed

k) A : I want to buy my train ticket today

    B: Really  ! You………………..it today,  although you can if you like. You can get it tomorrow,  just before you leave.

         needn’t have bought                 mustn’t                  needn’t buy

B] Give the correct form of the modals  between brackets

a) I [must/ prepare]…………………….well for the driving test last week, otherwise I would have failed.

b) My wallet is not in my pocket; someone [must/ steal]……………………………..it.

c) You [should not/ drive]……………………………..so fast yesterday; you [might/have] ……………………………………..an accident

d) The teacher spent much time explaining the lesson; he [needn’t/ explain] ……………………………………..more. We all understood.

e) You [should/rush]…………………………………..her to hospital. She was seriously injured.

f) look  ! The ground is wet. It [must/rain]……………………………last night.

g) You [needn’t/bring]……………………………….. your umbrella; the weather was fine.

 h) My brother [can’t/steal]………………………………your mobile phone; he wasn’t there.

C]/ Rewrite the following sentences beginning with the words given

       1/It was advisable for the driver to drive slowly in that icy road.

           The driver should……………………………………………….. 

      2/It was compulsory for her to have blood test before she could get the job.

          She………………………………………………………………….

     3/It’s impossible that the film was boring; everyone liked it

          The film can’t ……………………………………………………………..

   4/ I am quite sure that you dialed the wrong number.

          You must ………………………………………………………………..

  5/ I advise you not to talk to her; she’s so frustrated today.

         You had better………………………………………………………

  6/ It wasn’t necessary for the teacher to explain more; we all understood.

        The teacher needn’t…………………………………………………..

                

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