Mental, physical, circumstancial ability.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express the attitude of the speaker towards the action or state indicated by the infinitive which follows them. The speaker may represent an action or state as necessary or unnecessary, possible or impossible, certain or doubtful etc.

Modal verbs are defective verbs since they lack some verbal characteristics.

Modal verbs have the following peculiarities:

1) they are followed by the infinitive without the particle “to” (with the exception of “ought”);

2) they form the negative and interrogative forms without the auxiliary verb “to do”;

3) they don’t take the ending -(e)s in the 3rd person singular;

4) they have no verbals and so no analytical (tense, aspect, voice, mood) forms.

CAN

The modal verb “can” has two forms: can (the Present tense) and could (the Past tense). To supply the missing forms its equivalent “to be able” is used.

e.g. 1) Jean Louise can read books now.

2) Last year Jean could read books.

3) Next year Jean will be able to read books.

The modal verb “can” has the following meanings:

Mental, physical, circumstancial ability.

e.g. Everybody could read the alphabet but Miss Caroline chose Jean.

The Cunninghams never take anything they cannot pay back.

“Oh, well, just the same, a hundred and fifty dollars is more than I can pay”, said Hortense.

Jan has certainly looked after us well. We shall be able to see everything from here.

Permission, request.

The form “could” with the reference to the present is found in interrogative sentences expressing a more polite request.

e.g. Can you show me this fur jacket of beaver?

You can go to the triple mirror at the back.

Can (could) you leave your address with Miss Prescott, the secretary?

Prohibition.

e.g. You cannot leave the asylum while the visiting committee is here.

In all the meanings mentioned above the modal verb “can” is followed by the Indefinite infinitive.

MAY

The modal verb “may” has the following forms: may (the Present tense) and might (the Past tense). To supply the missing forms the equivalents “to be allowed” and “to be permitted” are used.

The modal verb “may” has the following meanings:

Possibility due to circumstances.

“May” in this meaning occurs in affirmative sentences in official speech.

e.g. In this text you may come across a great number of sentences with modal verbs.

Permission, request.

In interrogative sentences the form “might” is also found when we wish to express a more polite request.

e.g. “May I ask you to show me your recommendations?” Pr. Fox asked Erik.

Might you introduce Mr. Gorin to the other members of the staff?

Prohibition.

e.g. “You may not enter the pantry,” Mrs. Lippett said.

In all the meanings mentioned above the verb “may” is combined only with the Indefinite Infinitive.

Reproach.

Here we find only the form “might” used in affirmative sentences. The Indefinite Infinitive is used with the reference to the present; the Perfect Infinitive is used with the reference to the past.

e.g. You might assemble the charges.

You might have made sandwiches for the asylum’s guests.

MUST

The verb “must” has only one form. To supply the missing forms “to be obliged” and “to have to” are used.

The verb “must” has the following meanings:

1) duty, obligation, necessity (from the speaker’s point of view).

e.g. I hope Jan is in form today. We must shout for his team.

Prohibition.

e.g. You mustn’t give up your studies, they are more important than football.

Emphatic advice.

e.g. You must buy this beaver jacket. You’ll never get another coat like that in this city.

In the meanings mentioned above the modal verb “must” is followed only by the Indefinite Infinitive.

TO HAVE

“To have” as a modal verb is not a defective verb and can have all the necessary tense forms as well as the non-finite forms. The interrogative and negative forms of the modal verb “to have” are built up by means of the auxiliary verb to do.

e.g. Mrs. McJillicuddy had to change at Roxeter.

Did Mrs. McJillicuddy have to change at Roxeter?

Mrs. McJillicuddy didn't have to change at Roxeter.

The verb “to have” is used to express obligation or necessity imposed by circumstances. It is rendered in Russian as “приходится”, “вынужден”.

e.g. We’ll have to push through the crowd to get to our seats.

In colloquial English this meaning of obligation is also rendered by “have (has) got”.

e.g. Jan hasn’t got to give up his studies.

SET PHRASE WITH THE VERB “TO HAVE”:

“had better” – “(Тебе) бы лучше...” It is followed by the Infinitive without the particle “to”.

e.g. You had better buy your tickets in advance.

TO BE TO

“To be” as a modal verb is used in the Present and Past tenses.

“To be” has the following meanings:

Prohibition.

e.g. Jerusha Abbott, you are not to address the trustee.

Possibility.

In this meaning “to be” is followed by the Passive Infinitive.

e.g. This book is to be found only in the central library.

SET PHRASES WITH THE VERB “TO BE”:

1. What am I to do? – Что же мне делать?

2. What is to become of me? – Что со мною станется?

3. Where am I to go? – Куда мне деваться?

4. When am I to be here? – Во сколько мне приходить?

5. Who is to begin? – Кому начинать?

6. Who is to blame? – Кто виноват?

7. What is to be done? – Что делать?

8. He is nowhere to be found. – Его нигде нет.

9. He is to be pitied. – Его надо пожалеть.

10. You are to be congratulated. – Вас надо поздравить.

11. It’s to be hoped. – Надо надеяться.

12. It wasn’t to be. – Этому не суждено было быть.

EXERCISES:

1. Translate the following sentences into Russian. State the meaning of the verbs “to have” and “to be”:

1) If you haven't tickets, you have got to be here an hour before the match starts to get good seats.

2) I told Jan he had to play his best because the Selection Committee was watching him.

3) If Jan is chosen for the international match will he have to give up his studies and go into training?

4) They’ll have to play against the wind in the second half.

5) Erik Gorin was to teach freshman physics lab at Columbia University.

6) Miss Prescott was not to be seen anywhere.

7) The visiting committee was to have come to the asylum on Wednesday.

8) Jerusha’s trustee was to become her pen-friend for years.

2. Fill in the blanks with the modal verbs “must”, “have”, “be”:

1) Collective farmers...... do their best to gather rich harvests.

2) New machines...... be introduced in our agriculture.

3) In the field the team leader divided the students into two groups. The first group...... weed the vegetables, while the second...... mould up the potatoes. Then he said that all the students...... work well.

4) The soil was poor. So the collective farmers...... fertilize it.

5) They...... cover the hay because it began raining.

6) The children...... water the vegetables but as they were going to the fields, a thunderstorm suddenly broke out and they...... look for shelter.

3. Paraphrase the following sentences using the verbs “must”, “to have”, “to be”:

1) Is it necessary for me to stay?

2) It has been arranged that the youngest children should play on the beach.

3) It was necessary that smb. should be there to receive them.

4) It will be necessary for smb. to explain it to her.

5) My feet are wet. I am imposed to change my stockings.

6) Two more apartment houses are planned to be built there.

7) It’s your duty to attend all the classes.

8) They plan to play the cup final this afternoon.

9) I am sorry, but you’ll go there alone, darling. I’ve such a headache.

10) What am I supposed to do if they come too early?

4. Show that the planned action wasn’t carried out:

1) I was to wait for her in Yalta.

2) We were to go to the pictures that afternoon.

3) They were to start on Monday.

4) He was to telephone the moment she was out of danger.

5) Roses were to be planted round the piece of water in the centre.

6) There was to be a discussion later on.

7) We were to get there before the other party.

8) He was to tell her where to find us.

9) She was to graduate that year.

10) She was to wear that dress at her graduation party.

5. Render the following dialogue. Make up your own dialogues in analogy:

– I say, will you help me?

– With pleasure. What can I do for you?

– You see, I am to meet my brother at the station.

– And by the way, when is the train to come?

– It was to have come at 11 o’clock but they told me that the train was behind the schedule. Now it is to come at 5.

– Oh, sorry. My lessons are to begin at 4 and of course I must attend them. But, Kate, why not try Jane. She must be free today.

– What a pity that you are busy. I’ll have to go to the station alone. You see, Jane must have gone away because nobody answers the phone.

6. Translate into English:

1) Я должна была передать ему часы его отца, но он так и не пришел.

2) Вам придется написать ему еще раз.

3) Им пришлось долго ждать автобуса.

4) Я должен отвести брату его вещи.

5) Тебе придется надеть теплое пальто. Становится холоднее.

6) Подожди немного, я должна дочитать книгу до конца.

7) Мне пришлось оставить все и поехать в больницу.

8) Когда он должен приехать?

9) Рано или поздно вам придется сделать выбор.

10) День, когда мы должны были отправиться, был дождливым.

NEED

The verb “need” may be used as a defective or as a regular verb. The modal verb “need” expresses necessity. It is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

e.g. You needn’t blush like that, Frieda.

He needn’t give up his studies.

He has been playing football regularly and is in good form.

In combination with the Perfect Infinitive “need” expresses an action which has been performed though it was unnecessary. It implies a waste of time or effort.

e.g. You needn’t have cut so many sandwiches. Mother has made prune pudding.

EXERCISES:

1. Fill in the blanks with “can”, “may”, “need”, “have”:

1) “Oh, dear.... I stay here?” – “Stay here? Of course, you....”

2) You.... not walk all the way to the station. You.... take a bus around the corner.

3) You.... not switch off the light if you are afraid of the dark.

4) But you.... not have done it alone.

5) “.... Jackei come too?” – “No, children, he.... not. Not without asking his mother”.

6) “.... you go there tonight?” – “Well, I suppose I.... really”.

7) My brother is lazy. I always.... to tell him to do his homework.

2. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to use the modal verb “need”:

1) There is no necessity whatever for her to do it herself.

2) There is no earthly reason to worry.

3) There is no need for any of you to be present.

4) Is it any use our going into all that now?

5) It's no use your talking to him now. His mind is made up.

6) Why did you mention all these figures? The situation was clear as it was.

7) Why do you want to press the skirt? It’s not creased at all.

8) Why do you want to do it all today?

9) It was not necessary to take the six today. A later train will do as well.

10) It was not necessary for mother to cook this enormous dinner. We have brought all the food the children may want.

3. Render the following dialogue. Make up your own dialogues in analogy:

– Need we weed all the beds?

– No. You needn’t, you must weed only some of them. You needn’t even have asked such a question. You know that only some beds need weeding.

4. Translate into Russian:

1) Можете сегодня туда не ходить.

2) Нам можно не повторять эти правила, мы их хорошо знаем.

3) Можете не переписывать сочинение.

4) Он мог и не приходить. Все уже сделано.

5) Не к чему было так волноваться.

6) Подумать только, можно было и не ходить туда.

7) Можно не соглашаться сразу. Подумай несколько дней.

8) Не к чему было покупать мне книгу, она есть в библиотеке.

SHOULD (OUGHT)

“Should” and “ought” are treated together because they are grammatical synonyms and have the same meanings. “Should” is followed by a bare infinitive but “ought” is followed by the infinitive with the particle “to”.

The verbs “should” and “ought” have the following meanings:

Moral obligation.

In this meaning “ought” is preferable.

e.g. Mrs. Lippett used to remind her charges that they ought to respect the trustees.

Advisability.

In this meaning “should” is preferable.

e.g. You should tell Professor Fox that all you had as an undergraduate were the usual courses in mechanics, light and electricity.

Criticism of a past action.

a) in combination with the perfect infinitive “ought” and “should” in the affirmative form show that a desirable action was not fulfilled.

e.g. Jerusha should (ought to) have turned upstairs to accomplish her regular work.

b) in the negative form “ought” and “should” in combination with the perfect infinitive show that an undesirable action was fulfilled.

e.g. Jerome shouldn’t (oughtn’t to) have read the patent liver pill circular. Now he thinks that his liver is out of order.

WILL (WOULD)

The verb “will” has the following forms: will (the Present tense), would (the Past tense).

The verb “will” has the following meanings:

Habitual actions.

e.g. She will (would) sit for hours under the old oak tree looking at the beautiful country around her.

Polite request.

e.g. Will (would) you pass me the salt?

Order.

e.g. You will do this at once.

Near certainty.

The Indefinite Infinitive is used after the verb “will (would)” with the reference to the present.

e.g. This will (would) be the place she meant.

The Perfect Infinitive is used with the reference to the past.

e.g. The reader will have already noticed that...

That would have been the right place.

Making an offer.

e.g. Will you have a piece of cake?

Issuing an invitation.

e.g. Will you come inside?

SET EXPRESSIONS WITH THE VERB “WILL (WOULD)”:

1. You would, would you? – It corresponds to the Russian: “Ах, ты так!”

2. “Would” may be used to comment on smb’s action.

e.g. He refused to interfere. - He would.

This corresponds to the Russian: “На него похоже.”

SHALL

The modal verb “shall” is used to denote:

Asking for instruction.

e.g. Shall I leave my address with the secretary?

Promice.

e.g. You shall get an invitation card as well.

Warning.

e.g. You shall catch cold if you don’t put on a warm coat.

Threat.

e.g. You shall be sorry.

EXERCISES:

1. State the meaning of the modal verbs “shall”, “will”. Translate them into Russian:

1) She would sit there for hours waiting for the telephone to ring.

2) Now and again the dog would bark.

3) She pointed to the gramophone. “Shall I show you how to work it?”

4) Shall I pull the blinds down?

5) You shall be punished if you don’t tell us the truth.

6) You shall get there in time, I will give you a lift in my car.

7) Will you do me a favour and meet her at the station?

8) The kettle wouldn’t boil.

2. Translate the following sentences into English:

1) Сварить тебе кофе?

2) Ты получишь деньги обратно.

3) Ты промочишь ноги.

4) Ты еще пожалеешь о своих словах.

5) Она не говорит в чем дело.

6) Этот нож не режет.

7) Они, бывало, отдыхали летом на даче.

8) Скажите, пожалуйста, который час.

9) Я схожу в аптеку и выкуплю лекарство.

DARE

The modal verb “dare” has two forms, which are the Present and the Past tense forms (dare - dared). The verb “dare” means “to have the courage to do something”. It corresponds to the Russian “осмеливаться”.

e.g. How dare you talk to me like that?

He dared not look at her.

THE SET PHRASE WITH THE VERB “DARE”:

I dare say – “очень возможно, полагаю, пожалуй”.

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express the attitude of the speaker towards the action or state indicated by the infinitive which follows them. The speaker may represent an action or state as necessary or unnecessary, possible or impossible, certain or doubtful etc.

Modal verbs are defective verbs since they lack some verbal characteristics.

Modal verbs have the following peculiarities:

1) they are followed by the infinitive without the particle “to” (with the exception of “ought”);

2) they form the negative and interrogative forms without the auxiliary verb “to do”;

3) they don’t take the ending -(e)s in the 3rd person singular;

4) they have no verbals and so no analytical (tense, aspect, voice, mood) forms.

CAN

The modal verb “can” has two forms: can (the Present tense) and could (the Past tense). To supply the missing forms its equivalent “to be able” is used.

e.g. 1) Jean Louise can read books now.

2) Last year Jean could read books.

3) Next year Jean will be able to read books.

The modal verb “can” has the following meanings:

mental, physical, circumstancial ability.

e.g. Everybody could read the alphabet but Miss Caroline chose Jean.

The Cunninghams never take anything they cannot pay back.

“Oh, well, just the same, a hundred and fifty dollars is more than I can pay”, said Hortense.

Jan has certainly looked after us well. We shall be able to see everything from here.

Permission, request.

The form “could” with the reference to the present is found in interrogative sentences expressing a more polite request.

e.g. Can you show me this fur jacket of beaver?

You can go to the triple mirror at the back.

Can (could) you leave your address with Miss Prescott, the secretary?

Prohibition.

e.g. You cannot leave the asylum while the visiting committee is here.

In all the meanings mentioned above the modal verb “can” is followed by the Indefinite infinitive.