This is a mind map about the main use of modal verbs in English: you can find it online.
https://app.wisemapping.com/c/maps/620567/public
Study it and try to focus on the meanings and the main differences between English and Italian.
If you want you can draw a map with the main uses which you cannot remember and write sentences in English where you use them.
Study this introduction to Modal Verbs : Modal Verbs from Carmen Torres
Link online : https://www.slideshare.net/torrestorres/modal-verbs-1133347
It provides you with the main features of modal verbs in English and you should be aware that in English we do have more verbs that can translate some Italian verbs.
Watch the video about the main modal verbs:
When you have to study them, try to remember to find a sentence that can help you summarize the meaning.
Obbligation? Necessity? Lack of obbligation? Suggestion? Ability? Request? Permission?
There are some verbs that have similar meanings to must or can/could, write them down and study them.
Must: to have to/ to be necessary/ to be obliged to
Can: be able to/ to be allowed to/
Could: be able to/manage to / succeed in+v+ing/ be allowed to
May/Might: be likely to
The verbs will have to be put into the tense and you need to be able to know how to form the past tense, the present perfect , the future and the main tenses in English.
Here are some examples of the uses with the modals and the verbs that can replace them in some tenses:
ABILITY
***I can swim I could swim I am able to swim I was able to swim I have been able to swim
I will be able to swim
PERMISSION
*****I can go I could go I am allowed to go I was allowed to go I have been allowed to go
I will be allowed to go
OBBLIGATION
******I must go I had to go I will have to go
LACK OF OBBLIGATION
********* It is not necessary for you to go You don’t have to go You don’t need to go You needn’t go
SUGGESTIONS
***************It would be a good idea to go You should go
POSSSIBILITY
****************I may go I might go I could go Perhaps I will go I am likely to go
In the next post we will check modals dealing with the meaning of making deductions in the present and in the past.
When we talk about obbligation and necessity we use the modal verb Must.
If your teacher is giving you instructions or your mother is telling you what she wants you to do we use the verb Must:
“Remember you must study all the irregular verbs”
” Before you go out you must do your homework.”
Now watch the video where a teacher is explaining the meanings of some modal verbs:
The modal verb Should is usually used for asking for advice and giving advice. It is also used for talking about expectations.
When we give advice we can use also must , but we mean strong advice on behalf of the person who is speaking.
For example if you really like a film and you think a fried should see it you can give advice by saying
” You should see the film. It is one of the best films I have ever seen”
” You must see the film” , here the speaker is suggesting that it is really worth seeing this film ( strong advice)
Ought to is similar to should but it is more formal.
We use mustn’t/ must not when we say that you cannot do something, you are not allowed to do something.
It’s 2 o’clock now: you mustn’t go out with your friends. You must do your homework
You musn’t touch my mobile phone : it’s mine!!
This verb is not a modal verb: we use it in the present, in the past and other tenses in which we cannot use the verb must meaning obbligation and necessity.
I live far from the city so I have to commute to work every day ( a habit and a necessity)
What time did you have to leave yesterday?
George had to go to work late yesterday ( an event in the past)
Jack will have to help me next week ( future event)
When we use ” have to ” in the present or in the past we must remember to use the auxiliaries do/does and did in questions and negative forms.
When we are talking in the present and we are focussing on what is required to do and what is not required to do or it is not necessary to do we must be careful when choosing the right form:
“Kevin! You musn’t touch the wires- they are dangerous”
don’t/doesn’t have to:
“Tomorrow I am not going to work so I don’t have to go to bed early tonight ” ( It is not necessary for me to go to bed early tonight)
This verb can be considered a sort of semi-modal verb:
Positive form : I need to leave early ( I have to leave early ),it is similar to the verb to have need is followed by to+infinitive
Interrogative form: Do you need to leave home early every day? ( we use the auxiliary do/does in the simple present)
In the present simple form need can be a modal verb or not : it is used to say that it is not necessary to do something.
“You needn’t go to school tomorrow ” ( it means that it is not necessary to go to school)
You could also say ” You don’t have to go to school tomorrow ”
http://baladre.info/english/sedaviwebfront/mustshould.htm
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3401
http://englishservice.cz/download/Must%20have%20to.pdf
http://www.teachya.com/grammar/intermediate/must_should_have_to.php