Prime Time 5, Coursebook mit Audio-CD

G 7 Modal verbs  Page 82 With the modal verbs can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must, mustn’t, needn’t and ought to you can modify the meaning in varying degrees. You can use them to express ability, requests, suggestions, strong recommendations, permission, probability, necessity, prohibition or obligation . Modal verbs have no -s in the third person singular . They do not normally have past forms (exception: can  could ). To form other tenses, substitutes like to be able to, to be allowed to or to have to are used. Questions and negatives are made without do . To make modal verbs negative add not . Be careful: must = müssen, must not = nicht dürfen! Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive without to of other verbs (exception: ought to ). Modal verbs I can play the piano, but I can’t sing very well. To express ability/inability Can/Could you turn on the lights, please? To express requests Will you switch on the TV, please? To express requests Would you help me with my bags, please? To express requests very politely Shall I answer the phone? Shall we go to the concert? To express suggestions You shouldn’t sleep in class. She should write that e-mail today. To express recommendations You may close the door. You may leave the room now. To express permission Lisa might know Rachel’s number. To express probability Students must follow the dress code. I don’t feel well. I must see a doctor. To express obligation/necessity  must = müssen They mustn’t be late for school. You mustn’t smoke. To express prohibition  must not = nicht dürfen You needn’t pay for that phone call. We needn’t reserve seats. To express a lack of necessity  need not = nicht müssen/brauchen She ought to tell her parents about her grades. To express recommendations Modal verbs Substitutes How to use them can cannot/can’t to be able to to be not able to I can speak English, but I can’t speak Spanish. When we were in Spain last year I couldn’t understand very much. I wasn’t even able to order things in a restaurant. But next year I’m going to Australia. I ’ll be able to talk to everybody there. can/may can’t/may not/mustn’t to be allowed to to be not allowed to May we bring the dog in here? – No, I’m afraid you can’t . Sorry, but you mustn’t bring him in. When pets were allowed to come into the restaurant, lots of guests didn’t like it. And I don’t think you ’ll be allowed to take him into any other restaurant in town. 156 Grammar G Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv