Modals

Basic rule

Can, may and must are used in the present tense. But may is only used in questions. In the other tenses you usually use (to) be able to, (to) be allowed to and (to) have to.

Deeper explanation

Other tenses

Present	Past	Future
Can	was/were able to / could	will be able to
May	was/were allowed to	will be allowed to
Must	had to	will have to

If you use these forms in the past or in the future, you'd have to change the the tense of the verb (like you see in the table). In the past you usually use simple past and in the future the will-future. For was/were able to ,you'd use could if the sentences is negativ or if you realised something. These forms can also be used in the present tense.

Examples

Present

Can: I can go camping if I want to.
May: May I go to the party on saturday?
Must: I must clean my room today.

Past

Can: I was able to/You were able to go camping.
May: I was allowed to/You were allowed to go to the party on saturday.
Must: I had to clean my room yesterday.

Future

Can: I will be able to go camping.
May: I will be allowed to go to the Party on saturday.
Must: I will have to tidy up my room.

Negativ sentences

In negativ sentences you usually use the forms (to) be able to, (to) be allowed to and (to) have to. Of course you can use can't and musn't as well.
For example: I am not allowed to go to the party tomorrow.

Questions

In questions, the modals change places with the pronouns.
Example: May/Can I go shopping with my friends?

For (to) be able to and (to) be allowed to you not change the whole form with the pronoun. Just only the form of (to) be.
Example: Are you allowed to go shopping?

If you use '‘(to) have to in a question you'd have to write/say Do I have to...? .
Example: Do I really have to come with you, tomorrow?

Exercises

Task 1:

Fill in the forms in simple present. Sometimes there are two possibilities. Of course, these forms can be negative as well.

1. You _____ do that! It's to dangerous!

2. ____ I go to Emily's birthday party?

3. Do I _______ tidy up my room today?

4. You __________ go shopping with your friends!

5. I _____ take care of my sister.

6. Why ____ you ________ go to the party?

7.I _________ sleep over at your house.

8.The cat ___________ catch the mouse.

9.You ________ take care when you are outside late.

10.We __________ use the room for our play.

11. She ________ go shopping with us.

12. He _____ play football in a team with me.
Answerkey1

Task 2:

Fill in the forms in simple past or in the will-future. Of course, these forms can be negative too.

1. I _______ to help your best friend to survive...

2. I wanted to meet my friends, yesterday, but my mum said I ________ make the dishes.

3. Eylin said that she _____ hear music at midnight.

4. She _______ come to the party on saturday evening.

5. My teacher told me that I _________ do that in 15 minutes.

6. I ________ learn for the class test, yesterday.

7. He _________ come to Netherlands at the Weekend.

8. If she ________ draw at the competition she will be very dissapointed.

9. You _________ go to the concert which took place here yesterday.

10. She ________ get a dog next week.

11. I saw she was in danger, but I _______ do anything.

12. He __________ drive a car when he is 18.
Answerkey2