MODALS

➨ Modals are a group of auxiliary verbs that are used to express an attitude or idea of prediction, ability, necessity, permission, or politeness...

√ Can

√ Could

√ May

√ Might

√Should

√ Ought to

√ Must

√ Have to

√ Will

√ Would

Past Tense Modals

1. Necessity in the past (had to + base verb)

The differences in meaning among the various modals of necessity in the present tense (must, have to, have got to, had better, should, really) disappear in the past. Only one form is used: had to.

Sam had to cook dinner for the family.

Mahmoud had to take his car to the mechanic.

2. Ability in the past (could / was able to+ base verb)

to indicate the age or time when we had the ability to do something:

I could swim when I was six.

to talk about a skill that we had in the past that perhaps we no longer have:

When I was 16, I could run

six miles without stopping, but now I can’t run more than two.

Lara was able to get two tickets for the concert.

3. Repeated action in the past (used to / would + base verb)

Used to and would, have the same meaning: an action that was repeated at a time in the past, but is no longer performed. In a narration, the speaker usually alternates between used toand would.

When I was eight, I used to ride my bike home from school with my friends. We wouldride three miles in about twenty minutes.

4. Advisability in the past (should have+ past participle)

Although advice given after the fact is not particularly useful, it surely makes the advisor feel smart. Note that should have is followed by the past participle, not the base verb.

Liza should have taken Spanish instead of German.

Tian shouldn’t have gone to the Meadowland’s Diner.

5.Possibility / probability / certainty in the past

(may have / could have / might have+ past participle for possibility / probability)

(must have+ past participle for certainty)

When something has happened and we are not sure of the reason or the result, we can use past tense modals (followed by the past participle) toexpress possibility or probability. The function is similar to the use in the present tense. For example, in response to the question, “Where did Jack go?” we can answer:

“He may have gone to the library.”

or “He could have gone to the cafeteria.”

or “He might have gone to the bathroom.”

However, if one of the students saw Jack take his bag and his coat and heard him complain of a bad headache, he could say:

“ He was sick. He must havegone home.”