b) The meaning of modal verbs Modal verbs How to use them 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 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 not leave the room before you have finished. • 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 strong 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 strong recommendations c) Substituting modal verbs 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. must needn’t to have to to not have to I really must start on that human rights essay now. I still have to do some reading first. Luckily I needn’t write more than four pages. Last week I had to do an awful lot of work. This week I’ll only have to do some revision. d) Special cases • Be careful with must, mustn’t and needn’t! I must do that. You mustn’t do that. They needn’t do that. I don’t have to do that. Ich muss das tun. Du darfst das nicht tun. Sie brauchen das nicht zu tun. Ich muss das nicht zu tun. 159 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODE3MDE=