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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Hello guys, I can hear you shouting from upstairs. | Hallo Leute, ich kann von oben hören wie ihr schreit. |
I can smell something nice. | Ich kann etwas Leckeres riechen. |
You could have brought the book directly! | Du hättest das Buch direkt mitnehmen können! |
Cate, my queue is going faster, you can come over here. | Cate, meine Schlange kommt schneller voran. Du kannst hierher kommen. |
Um, I'm going to finish at 5, we can meet at 17:30 if you like. | Ähm, ich werde um 17 Uhr fertig sein. Wir können uns um 17:30 Uhr treffen, wenn du möchtest. |
Umm, yeah, I think we should consider living in Angel, too. | Ähm ja, ich denke wir sollten auch erwägen in Angel zu leben. |
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. |
Umm... I'm sorry, but I can't find a booking in that name. | Ähm... Es tut mir Leid, aber ich kann keine Reservierung für diesen Namen finden. |
I may need to leave him with Mike sometimes. | Ich muss ihn wahrscheinlich manchmal bei Mike lassen. |
Or maybe we can just ask them when we see them in the house? | Oder weil wir sie einfach fragen könnten, wenn wir sie im Haus sehen? |
Hello, Diamond Duck, can I help you? | Hallo, Diamond Duck. Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen? |
You can buy me a beer for giving you my turn. | Du kannst mir ein Bier dafür kaufen, dass ich dich vorgelassen habe. |
When can I pick up my money?! | Wann kann ich mein Geld abholen?! |
I'm so excited, we should definitely do it as soon as possible. | Ich freu mich so sehr. Wir sollten das definitiv so bald wie möglich machen. |
What do you mean by they can't get married legally? | Was meinst du damit, dass sie nicht legal heiraten können? |
Can't you use another rice instead? | Kannst du stattdessen nicht einen anderen Reis verwenden? |
Hm, I would like to see her, but I don't think we should disturb her. | Hm, ich würde sie gerne sehen, aber ich denke wir sollten sie nicht stören. |
We can use matches... Or a lighter! | Man kann Streichhölzer verwenden... Oder ein Feuerzeug! |
Yeah, we should add some salt. | Ja, wir sollten etwas Salz hinzufügen. |
I thought you might not like strong coffees. | Ich bin davon ausgegangen, dass du keinen starken Kaffee magst. |