Modal past

There are three main ways of talking about the past using modals or their equivalents:

• Past modals - mainly would and could
• The use of other, similar verbs
• Modal perfect - must have, can't have etc

Brush up your knowledge of modal past by doing a few exercises.

Modal verbs - an overview

Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that gives 'modality' to the main verb, to express, for example: ability, probability, obligation or permission.

This post is not intended to be a lesson, but a sort of Ready Reference. It consists of three parts:

1. Introduction to modal verbs and some similar verbal expressions
2. Modal verbs listed by function
3. Modals listed by verb

Modals also have special uses which I haven't really gone into here, such as in conditionals, reported speech and future in the past. There are also no doubt some uses I've missed. If you spot any, please leave a comment.

Word corner - nearly all you need to know about need

The word need can be a verb and a noun. As well as being a normal main verb, in British English it can also be used as a semi-modal verb. In addition it has a couple of special uses and there are several expressions based on it.

Song lesson - 'A Boy Named Sue' by Johnny Cash

"A Boy Named Sue" was first recorded live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on 24 February 1969. The song became Cash's biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his only Top 10 single there, spending three weeks at #2 in 1969. (Wikipedia)

1. Pre-listening vocabulary exercise
2. Pre-listening grammar exercise
3. Find the 'non-standard' grammar
4. Vocabulary exercise - different meanings of mean
5. Grammar exercise - different uses of would

Modals plus - talking about ability (can, could, be able to etc.)

This lesson includes:

• talking about ability in the present and future.
• talking about general ability in the past and ability on specific occasions in the past.
• the different uses of can, could and be able to
• the difference between could never and never could
• using the verbs manage and succeed for past ability