Part VIII. Grammar

Modal verbs

Here's a list of the Modal Verbs in English:

can	could	may	might	will
would	must	shall	should	ought to

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1. They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.

2. They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?')

3. They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to')

Look closely at the following table and memorize it.

Modal Verbs	Equivalents
can (could) (могу, умею) возможность или способность совершить действие I can play the piano. (умею) He cannot (can't) skate. Can you help me?	will be able to (for future actions) I shall be able to play the piano soon. He will not be able to skate so soon. Will he be able to skate in three months? could/ was able to (for past actions) They could not swim last year. (не могли)
must (должен, нужно, надо) необходимость совершения действия в силу опред. обстоятельств; приказание или совет; предположение You must respect your parents. (должен) You must not go there. Must I learn it by heart? He must know her address. (Вероятно, он знает ее адрес)	to have to (do/does/did/will +not +have to) (for present, past and future actions) You had to respect your parents. (должен был) You will have to learn it by heart. You have to learn it by heart. (приходится)
may (might – в косвенной речи) (могу, может; возможно, может быть) разрешение; предположение You may take my pen. (можешь) You may not touch it. May I come in? Mother said that I might play.	to be allowed to (for present, past and future actions) We/he/I are/is/am allowed to stay at home. (нам/ему/мне разрешают) We/he were/was allowed to stay at home. (нам/ему разрешали) We/he shall/will be allowed to stay at home. (нам/ему разрешат)
need: необходимость выполнения действия need not: отсутствие необходимости (for present actions) We need not do it. (можем не делать) Need I do it? (надо) need + have + V3 (for past actions) We need not have done it. (могли и не делать)
should (for present and future actions) (должен, следует, следовало бы) совет, рекомендация о необходимости выполнения действия It’s late. You should go to bed. (следует) should + have + V3 (for past actions) You should not have done it. (Вам не следовало бы делать этого.)