Modals in AVIATION

How to use modals in a sentence?

• before the negative participle in negation (e.g. I cannot go)

• before the subject in yes-no questions (e.g. Can you go?)

The modal verbs must, have to and have got to show that something is not optional; it is necessary.

Must is the strongest modal verb of the three and is most common in writing. It is unusual to use must in questions.

Have got to is most common in informal speech. It is not used in questions.

Have to is the most commonly used modal of obligation. It is useful for forming questions and negatives.

HAVE TO

obligation springs from circumstances or external rules. Something has to be done, whether the speaker likes it or not.Have to is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.

ex :

a. This answer has to be correct. (CERTAINTY)

b. The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. (NECESSITY)

c. They have to leave early. (OBLIGATION)

SHOULD

is used to give advice or recommendation. No obligation here, rather a recommendation from the speaker. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation

ex :

a. When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. (RECOMMENDATION)

b. You should focus more on your family and less on work. (ADVICE)

c. I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. (OBLIGATION)

d. By now, they should already be in Dubai. (EXPECTATION)

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any time you want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language, for example.

The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere you are looking for.

Present:

can / can't (for both general and specific ability)

I can play the piano.

She can speak English.

He can't drive – he's too tired.

We can't come now.

Future:

will / won't be able to (general ability)

At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.

He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.

can / can't (specific ability)

I can help you tomorrow

I can't come to the party

We can use modal verbs to talk about how sure or unsure we are about something in the past just as we use modals in the present with a slight change in the form.

He must be really happy about his promotion. (present deduction)

He must have been very happy when he was told about his promotion. (past deduction)

Must have + past participle

We use ‘must have + past participle’ when we are quite sure about something.

Might have/may have/could have + past participle

MODALS

MODAL VERBS OF ABILITY

MODAL VERBS OF DEDUCTION

What is modal?

Can, Could

Must, Might, May, Could, Can't

We use this modal verbs to say how sure we are about something.

ex:

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that expresses probability, permission, obligation and ability

You're a zookeeper? That MUST be very interesting

Don’t put it up there. It COULD fall off and hit someone.

Rules :

Where to put the MODALS?

Must

Talking about the past :

We use must when we feel sure that something is true because there’s very strong evidence.

ex:

Come inside and get warm – you must be freezing out there.

There is an evidence of he was freezing.

He must live near here because he comes to work on foot.

We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability.

For example:

She can speak six languages.

My grandfather could play golf very well.

I can't drive.

We're not sure where he lives. but we're sure that he lives nearby

NB: 'MUST' if followed by an infinitive without 'to'

Might, May, Could

ex :

• in positive sentences, put the Bare Infinitive verb or verb I after MODALS (e.g. He can go - not He can to go or he can went)

We use might, may or could to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.

ex :

Did you hear that? I think there MIGHT be a burglar downstairs.

She’s not sure there’s a burglar but she thinks it’s possible.

We’ll try to get there early but we MAY arrive late if there’s a lot of traffic.

It CAN"T be a burglar. All the doors and windows are locked.

They doesn't know if there will be a traffic or not. But they're sure that they will arrive late if there is one

NB : Might, may and could are also followed by an infinitive without ‘to’.

He doesn’t know it’s not a burglar but he feels sure it’s not.

He must have forgotten his phone at home again. He’s not answering.

Really? He has to work on Christmas Day? He can’t feel very happy about that.

Can't

We use ‘might have/may have/could have + past participle’ when we are not sure about something but we think it was possible.

(+) Subject + MODALS VERB + Main Verb

She doesn't know what he feels, but she feels sure that he's not happy

I might have been here when I was a child but I can’t really remember.

(-) Subject + MODALS VERB + not + Main Verb

Can’t have + past participle

We use can’t when we feel sure something is not true.

(?) Yes-No Q : MODALS VERB + Subject + Main Verb

We use ‘can’t have + past participle’ for things that we are sure did not happen in the past.

She can’t have liked the show. She hates musicals.

(?) WH Q : WH Word + MODALS VERB + Subject + Main Verb

MODAL VERBS OF OBLIGATION/NECESSITY

must, may,

might,

could, can

Modal verbs to make guess about a present or a future and a past

Must, Have to, Should, Have got to

MODAL VERBS OF SPECULATION

to make guess about the present or the future

to make guess about the past

+

past participle

have

+

Infinitive verb

Must

May

Might

Could

Cant

+

Must

Can

we use it to express something is certain with highly probable

RULES :

we use it to express something is certain not the case or highly improbable.

ex :

It can't be the postman at the door. It's only seven o'clock..

Marry keeps crying-she must have a problem

John is holding a medal with a happy face. He must have won the race

Must

She can't have a 10 year old daughter! She only 24!

most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.

ex :

a. This must be the right address! (CERTAINTY)

b. Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. (NECESSITY)

c. You must take some medicine for that cough. (STRONG RECOMMENDATION)

d. Jenny, you must not play in the street! (PROHIBITION)

May vs Might

we use them when there is a possibiity of happening.

ex :

Have got to

I may go to Edinburgh tomorrow

(Perharps 50% chance)

Use have got to to tell when something is necessary for present and future tenses.

ex :

Peter might come with me

(Perhaps 30% chance. It is possible but not very likely to happen.

I have got to study tonight.

You have got to wake u early tomorrow