Ch. 4 E. Grammar Modals & Negations

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

Today Grammar 9 p. 25

Chapter 4

E. Grammar

Negations and modals

Learning goal

I can use modals in the positive and negative form.

Modals and negations

You already know some modal verbs such as 

can, to be able to, could, must, to have to and should. 

Other modal verbs are ought to, might and may.

Ought to is used to talk about things that are ideal or desired. 

Just like should it is used to give advice but should is more subjective. 

Ought to is more formal than should.

You should listen to her new album. 

She ought to pay her parking tickets. 

It ought to be forbidden.

May and might

May and might are used when you are unsure about something and to ask for or give permission. 

May is more formal than can and could and might is even more formal. 

Might is also the past tense of may.

We may take the train to Berlin.

May I leave the classroom?.

I might meet him today.

Might I look at your diary?

To make a modal negative, you place not or n't after the modal. With to be able to you place it after the form of to be and with ought to, you place it after ought. You make a negation with to have to by adding a form of to do.

TIP

It is uncommon to use ought to in a negation. Instead, shouldn’t is usually used.

I can't open the window.

I couldn't swim very fast then.

I wasn't able to come by yesterday.

She may not leave her room.

It might not be true according to this report.

He shouldn’t go there by himself.

You mustn't share my secret.

We don't have to do any homework today.

She ought not to ignore the rules.

Should, had better, and ought to are used to give ________

1. advice
2. information

ought to

1. zou moeten
2. uit naar
3. nodig
4. zal

De modal should betekent...?

1. een dringend advies
2. een verplichting
3. een vrijblijvend advies

The witches say that Banquo's children's children will be kings. You …………………… keep an eye on Banquo.

1. should / ought to
2. had better
3. should
4. ought to

Shouldn't / ought to / had better

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

Prohibition

Advice

Obligation

have to

must

should

ought to

must'nt

aren't allowed

need to