modals

Modals – Can’t Have/Needn’t Have

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Modal verbs are a type of verb that allows the speaker to express things such as advice, obligation, order, suggestions, capacity, request, permission, ability, and likelihood. Two important ones are “can’t have” and “needn’t have”.[1]https://phoneenglish.es/blog/2017/04/modals-cant-have-and-neednt-have/

While they seem similar they actually express quite different things.

Can’t Have

This modal verb expresses something that you are very sure didn’t happen in the past or when you believe something was impossible in the past.

When using this modal verb, it follows the following formula:

  • Can’t have + Past Participle

For example:

  • The prisoner can’t have escaped through that window because it is too small.
  • The kid can’t have been at the movie theater. He was at home all weekend studying for the exam.
  • Susie can’t have said that. She is too nice and wouldn’t say such mean things.

Needn’t Have

“Needn’t have” expresses when an action was done but was most likely a waste of time and unnecessary.

When using this modal verb, it follows the following formula:

  • Needn’t have + Past Participle

For example:

  • You needn’t have cooked so much food. We already ate before we came here.
  • She needn’t have bought a new car. I was going to give one to her for her birthday.
  • We needn’t have studied so hard for the test. It ended up being canceled.

References[+]

Modals – should

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The modal “should” talks about giving advice and making recommendations.[1]https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/should-modals It is similar to the modals of “must” and “have to”, but used in a slightly different way.

modal should

Advice

The modal “should” can be used to give advice. In addition, it can be used in the past, present, and future verb tenses.

For example:

Past

  • You should have eaten less for dinner.
  • She should have arrived earlier to class.
  • They shouldn’t have yelled loudly during the movie.

Present

  • I should exercise more regularly.
  • We should eat now.
  • Joe should help us with the housework.

Future

  • Susie should start studying for the test.
  • Mark shouldn’t start complaining.
  • You should start eating more healthily.

Expectation

The modal “should” can be used for expectation. In addition, it can be used in the past, present, and future verb tenses.

For example:

Past

  • We should have arrived by now.
  • They should have been finished by now.
  • Frank should have stopped cooking.

Present

  • I should be arriving now.
  • You shouldn’t be studying now.
  • It should be arriving now.

Future

  • My friends should be arriving in an hour.
  • The plane should be landing in 2.5 hours.
  • The restaurant should be opening in 30 minutes.

Note: you can replace “should” with the words “be supposed to” and “ought to be”.

Obligation

The modal “should” can be used for obligations. There is not negative form when talking using should and talking about obligations.

For example:

  • We should let her know.
  • You should go to sleep.
  • They should be quite.

Note: you can replace “should” with the words “be supposed to”.

Question

You can used the modal should to ask for advice about something. The question form of the modal “should” is:

  • Should I wait for you?
  • Should we tell her about it?
  • Should they let us know?

Example Exercises

 17%

Question 1 of 6

1. Frank _________ be finished with his work pretty soon.

Question 1 of 6

Question 2 of 6

2. We ___________ to wait to long for them.

Question 2 of 6

Question 3 of 6

3. The weather _______ get worse today.

Question 3 of 6

Question 4 of 6

4. You _________ started studying earlier.

Question 4 of 6

Question 5 of 6

5. You _________ wake up early.

Question 5 of 6

Question 6 of 6

6. When you visit Paris, you ________ visit the Eiffel Tower.

Question 6 of 6


 

References[+]

Modals – Must vs. Have to

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The modals “must” and “have to” talk about obligation.[1]https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals-have-to-must-not.htm The difference between the two types of obligation is if it internal or external.

must

Must

In general, you use “must” to talk about personal opinion. This is subjective. That means, the speaker thinks it is necessary.

must

For example:

  • I must study; otherwise, I won’t do well on the test.

(The implication is that the speaker wants to do well on the test. Therefore, they are going to study. It is not a requirement for them to study.)

  • You must try this sandwich! It is so tasty!

(The implication is that you really should try the sandwich that I think is very tasty. However, if you don’t want to, you are required to.)

  • If I am going to become a professional basketball player, I must practice every day.

(The implication is that it is necessary to practice every day in order to become a professional basketball player. However, neither becoming a professional basketball player nor practicing every day is a requirement.)

Have to

In general, you use “have to” to talk about external rules or opinions. In other words, you use it when rules and other people are telling you to do something. It is not a personal opinion.

have to

For example:

  • In England, you have to drive on the left hand size of the road.

(The implication is that it is the law in England to drive on the left hand side of the road.)

  • I have to wear a uniform at work.

(The implication is that it a requirement to wear a uniform at work.)

  • You have to wait for the stop light to turn green before you can move forward.

(It is the law that you can’t drive through a red light. You must wait for the green light to drive.)

Practice Exercises

Please go to Modals – Must vs. Have to to view this quiz

References[+]