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Modals in The Present and Past

Modals in the present and past take different forms, except for those expressing obligation, ability, and lack of necessity. [1] For obligation, "must" and "have to" become "had to" in the past, while ability uses "could" rather than "can". [2] For lack of necessity, "don't have to" and "needn't" become "didn't have to" and "didn't need to" in the past. [3] The document provides examples of how different modals are used in the present and past.

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27 views

Modals in The Present and Past

Modals in the present and past take different forms, except for those expressing obligation, ability, and lack of necessity. [1] For obligation, "must" and "have to" become "had to" in the past, while ability uses "could" rather than "can". [2] For lack of necessity, "don't have to" and "needn't" become "didn't have to" and "didn't need to" in the past. [3] The document provides examples of how different modals are used in the present and past.

Uploaded by

Margot Montoya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals in the present and past

Generally speaking modals in the past have the following form:

 modal + have + past participle

Example:

 Present:
You should see a doctor.
 Past:
You should have seen a doctor

Except for modals that express obligation,ability and lack of necessity:

 Obligation:
Present = I must / have to work hard. -- Past = I had to work hard.
 Ability:
Present = I can run fast. -- Past = I could run fast when I was young.
 Lack of necessity:
Present = You don't have to / needn't take your umbrella. -- Past = You didn't have to / didn't need to
take your umbrella.

  Modals in the Present Modals in the Past


You must / have to stop when the traffic lights
Obligation You had to stop.
are red.
Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor
Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked there.
Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.
He must have been rich. He had a big
He has a Rolls Royce. He must be very rich. house and an expensive car.
Certainty
He can't be American. His English is terrible. He can't have written that poem. He
was illiterate.
She could drive her father's car when she
Permission Can I go out?
was only 15.
I guess it may / can / could / might have
Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. It's cloudy.
been Lacy on the phone.
Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy any tomatoes. You didn't have to / didn't need to buy
necessity There are plenty in the fridge. tomatoes.

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