In English we use should / shouldn't /ought to / oughtn't to give advice. We use should / ought to to say something is a good thing to do and shouldn't / oughtn't to say something is a bad thing to do.
Example sentences :
Note : To ask for advice we can say: What should I do?
In English, "can" is a modal verb and only has a present, past and conditional form. It can also be used with a future meaning.
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Note : Can is not used to talk about specific possibilities.
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In English, could is used to talk about past ability/ permission/ possibility.
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"Be able to" can be used in the present, past, future, present perfect and as a gerund or infinitive.
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Note : be able to in the present and past is more formal than can or could.
In English we use might or may to say something in the future is possible, but not decided.
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To make questions with might we usually use Do you think...?
Example questions :
In English we can also use might in short answers.
Example short answers :
In English we use have to + infinitive to say something is necessary or obligatory. We normally use have to for a general obligation from an outside source, such as work or the law.
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In English we use don't have to + infinitive to say something is not necessary or obligatory. It means you can if you want to, but it's not necessary.
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To make questions we use do/does.
Example questions :
Form : ( Must + infinitive without to )
In English we use must + infinitive to talk about rules and obligations. We normally use must when the speaker imposes the obligation, such as a teacher to students, or even to yourself.
Form : ( Mustn't + infinitive without to )
In English we use mustn't + infinitive to say something is prohibited.
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Note : You can often use can't or be + not allowed to instead of mustn't.
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Note : Mustn't and don't have to have completely different meanings.
Mustn't Vs Don't Have To
Note : Have to is a normal verb and exists in all tenses whereas must is a modal verb and its only forms are must and mustn't.
You can also use have to and must for strong recommendations.
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In English we use must when we are sure something is true.
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In English we use may or might when we think something is possibly true.
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In English we use can't when we are sure something is impossible.
Examples sentences :
Note : In this context, the opposite of must is can't, NOT mustn't!
In the past, can't, could, may, might and must for probability change to can't have, could have, may have, might have and must have + past participle (Verb 3).
In the past, should and ought to change to should have and ought to have + past participle (Verb 3).
Note : the form of "must" for obligation and "can" are exceptions.
Must for obligation changes to had to + infinitive
Can changes to could or was able to
Modal example sentences | |
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I brought one, maybe you should bring one, too. | Ich habe mir eine mitgenommen. Du solltest wahrscheinlich auch eine mitnehmen. |
Of course, you can have whatever you want. | Du kannst natürlich haben was du willst. |
And I can hold Bear, we can let them sniff each other first. | Und ich kann Bear halten. Wir können den beiden erstmal die Möglichkeit geben sich gegenseitig zu beschnuppern. |
Have you watched A.I.? It's quite violent, too, you might like it. | Hast du A.I. gesehen? Er ist auch ziemlich gewalttätig. Du magst ihn vielleicht. |
Can't we rest now and continue tomorrow? | Können wir uns jetzt nicht ausruhen und morgen weitermachen? |
I think we should move from that house as soon as we can! | Ich denke wir sollten so schnell wie möglich aus diesem Haus ausziehen! |
Mr. Jones, I'm calling about the house in Angel! Can you hear me? | Mr. Jones ich rufe an wegen dem Haus in Angel! Können Sie mich hören? |
Okay, can you tell me what it is, then? | Okay, kannst du mir dann sagen was? |
But I wonder what it says, can you show it to me, too? | Aber ich frage mich was da steht. Kannst du es mir auch zeigen? |
We can continue talking about that on the train. | Wir können im Zug weiter darüber reden. |
Sure, the room is empty so you can move in whenever you like. | Klar, das Zimmer ist frei. Du kannst einziehen wann immer du möchtest. |
Another big problem is, I can't take Pogo with me. | Ein weiteres großes Problem ist, dass ich Pogo nicht mit mir nehmen kann. |
I don't like bank holidays, we still have to work tomorrow! | Ich mag Bankfeiertage nicht, wir müssen morgen trotzdem arbeiten! |
So you can choose something else, or I can get you a beer? | Damit du etwas anderes auswählen kannst oder ich kann dir ein Bier bringen? |
Then we might not be able to find it here, either. | Dann finden wir ihn möglicherweise auch hier nicht. |
By just paying a little bit more you could've rented a house in better condition. | Wenn du ein bisschen mehr gezahlt hättest, dann hättest du ein Haus mieten können, dass sich in einem besseren Zustand befindet. |
Impossible dear, you can smoke in the kitchen or the garden! | Unmöglich Schatz. Du kannst in der Küche oder im Garten rauchen! |
I have to be back at school by 12:30. | Ich muss um 12:30 Uhr wieder in der Schule sein. |
That movie might even be older than me! | Der Film ist wahrscheinlich älter als ich! |
Oh yes, I can see it now. | Oh ja, jetzt sehe ich's. |