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.
Example sentences :
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.
Example sentences :
"Be able to" can be used in the present, past, future, present perfect and as a gerund or infinitive.
Example sentences :
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.
Example sentences :
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.
Examples sentences :
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.
Example sentences :
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.
Example sentences :
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.
Example sentences :
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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Yes there were, but they must have been taken 50 years ago! | Sim, havia, mas devem ter sido tiradas há 50 anos! |
Can you do me a favour in return? | Pode me fazer um favor em troca? |
I'm sorry, I can't go any lower than 175! | Lamento, não posso descer abaixo dos 175! |
You should feel very lucky having him as a friend. | Você deve se sentir muito sortudo de tê-lo como amigo. |
That's nice, can we add some beer to it for me, also? | Muito bem, podemos também deitar um pouco de cerveja no arroz, para mim? |
You don't have to take me to a very fancy restaurant... | Você não precisa me levar a um restaurante muito elegante... |
Okay, but can we talk about when to meet first? | Muito bem, mas podemos falar primeiro sobre quando nos encontramos? |
Hmm, nope, I think we can buy everything here. | Hum, não. Acho que podemos comprar tudo aqui. |
Can you please stop being stupid, dear? | Querido, pode parar de ser estúpido, por favor? |
I guess I can leave around four-ish. | Julgo poder sair pelas quatro. |
Of course, but I can only peel the potatoes with a peeler. | Claro, mas eu só descasco batatas com descascador. |
I can feel Pogo's heart beating like a maniac. | Sinto o coração do Pogo a bater como um um louco. |
They should be back any time. | Devem estar mesmo a voltar. |
Um, I'm going to finish at 5, we can meet at 17:30 if you like. | Hum, eu saio às 5, podemos nos encontrar às 17:30 se quiseres. |
Alright... Ah! I can see it now! | Muito bem... Ah! Encontrei! |
I don't like bank holidays, we still have to work tomorrow! | Eu não gosto de feriados bancários, nós temos de trabalhar amanhã na mesma! |
I have finished my wine, we can leave any time you want. | Eu já bebi o meu vinho, podemos ir quando você quiser. |
After I finish unpacking my suitcase, we can put them in there. | Depois de acabar de desfazer minha mala, podemos colocá-las aqui. |
Can't we have the meeting without the f*cking IT manager! | Não podemos fazer a reunião sem a m*rda do gerente de TI?! |
I'm so sorry, I couldn't leave school on time. | Desculpe, não consegui sair da escola a tempo. |