Modals Explanation & Application

Modals •Add meaning to the main verb

•Advice

•Ability

•Obligation

•Probability

•Followed by an infinitive

•Two modal verbs can’t be used together

•I will can finish my homework.

Where Am I?

•You should reserve a ticket before you arrive.

•You must remain seated at the beginning and the end.

•You can relax by watching a movie or listening to music.

•You may ask the staff to bring you drinks or snacks.

•You must not smoke.

Modals of Advisability

•SHOULD

•OUGHT TO

•HAD BETTER

•IT’S TIME

Should

•To give advice or an opinion

•You should do something = It is a good thing to do or the right thing to do

•You look tired. You should get some rest.

•The government should help the poor.

Think + Should

•We often use should with I think/I don’t think/Do you think...?

•I think the government should help the poor.

•I don’t think you should go there.

•Do you think we should invite Helen to the party?

Should + not

•You shouldn’t do something = It isn’t a good thing to do

•You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Past

•Should + have + V3

•You should have done something = you didn’t do it but it would have been the right thing to do

•It was a great party last night. You should have come. Why didn’t you? = you didn’t come to the party but you should have.

Present vs. Past

•You look tired. You should get some rest. [you should rest now]

•You look tired. You should have gotten some rest. [you should have rested in the past but you didn’t]

Expectation (1)

•SHOULD is used when something is not right or what we expect

•Jane should be here by now. The exam is about to begin.

•The result should be 10, not 100.

•Jack should behave. The school is about to expel him.

Expectation (2)

•SHOULD is used to say that we expect something to happen

•She has been studying hard, so she should pass. [I expect her to pass]

•It shouldn’t be hard to find a concert ticket. [I don’t expect that it will be hard]

Suggestion (1)

•Should after these verbs

•Suggest, propose, recommend, insist, demand

•We insist that we should pay for our tickets.

•I demand that he should apologize.

Suggestion (2)

•After suggestion/proposal/recommendation

•What is your suggestion that I should do?

•After important/vital/necessary/essential

•It’s essential that you should be punctual.

Subjunctive

•You may leave out should in Suggestion (1) and (2)

•I demand that he apologize.

•It’s essential that you be punctual.

Regular Tense

•You may also use regular present and past tenses

•I demand that he apologizes.

•It’s essential that you are punctual.

Attention!•The usage of verb to suggest

•NOT used with to

•Jack suggests that Jill (should) buy a car.

•NOT>>Jack suggests Jill to buy a car.

•What do you suggest we (should)do?

•NOT>> What do you suggest us to do?

Ought to

•Ought to can be used instead of should

•Do you think I ought to apply for this position?

•Jack ought not to go to bed late.

•It was a great party last night. You ought to have come.

Had better

•You’d better do something = it’s advisable that you do it. If you don’t, there will be consequences.

•Should I take an umbrella? Yes, you’d better. It might rain.

•You’d better leave now. The exam starts in 5 minutes.

Had better not

•Negative form = had better + not

•You’d better not go out tonight. You haven’t finished your homework.

Warning

•Use had better to warn someone that s/he must do something

•You’d better be on time.

•You’d better not miss the flight.

Attention!

•Had better expresses the meaning in present or future, not past

•Had better + V1

•You had better arrive at 8 a.m. on the dot.

Had better vs. Should

•Had better is used in a particular situation

•It implies that there will be a problem or danger if you don’t follow the advice.

•You’d better not overspend.

Had better vs. Should

•Should is used in a general situation

•Both drivers and passengers should wear seat belts.

•How do these two sentences differ?

•It’s a great film. You should see it.

•The film starts in 5 minutes. You’d better go there now.

It’s time

•It’s time for (someone) to do something

•It’s time for us to start reviewing the lessons.

•Use with past tense but the meaning is present or future

•It’s 10 a.m. It’s time he got up. Not >>it’s time he gets up.

Criticism

•Usually, it is used to criticize or complain

•It’s time she stopped blaming others for her mistakes.

•It’s time you were responsible for your own action.

It’s about time

•Is used to make criticism stronger

•Jack is always slacking off. It’s about time he accomplished something.

•Jill is self-centered. It’s high time she put others first.