Modal Forms (Part 2)

“Had Better”

A. Had Better – recommendation:

1. People should unplug toasters before they clean them. (PRESENT – SHIFT TO “SHOULD” OR “OUGHT TO”)

2. You should have unplugged the toaster before you tried to clean it. (PAST – SHIFT TO “SHOULD” OR “OUGHT TO”)

3. You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. People shouldn't clean toasters without unplugging them first. (SHIFT TO “SHOULD” OR “OUGHT TO”)

2. You shouldn't have cleaned the toaster without unplugging it first. (SHIFT TO “SHOULD” OR “OUGHT TO”)

3. You had better not clean the toaster until you unplug it.

B. Had Better – desperate hope / warning:

1. The movie had better end soon.

2. They had better be here before we start dinner.

(Desperate hopes and warnings usually refer to the near future.)

Negative Forms:

1. They had better not be late.

2. They had better not forget Tom's birthday gift.

(Desperate hopes and warnings usually refer to the near future.)

Note : “Had better” is often simply pronounced as “better” in spoken English.

“Have to”

A. Have To – certainty:

1. That has to be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair. (PRESENT)

2. That has to have been the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street. (PAST)

3. NONE

Negative Forms:

1. That must not have been Jerry we saw. He was supposed to have red hair. (SHIFTS TO “MUST”)

2. That must not have been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one around here somewhere. (SHIFTS TO “MUST”)

3. NONE

B. Have To – necessity:

1. She has to read four books for this literature class. (PRESENT)

2. She had to finish the first book before the midterm. (PAST)

3. She will have to finish the other books before the final exam. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. She doesn't have to read "Grapes of Wrath." It's optional reading for extra credit.

2. She didn't have to write a critique of "The Scarlet Letter." She had to give a presentation to her class.

3. She won't have to take any other literature classes. American Literature 101 is the only required course.

C. Don't Have To – choice/no obligation:

1. I don't have to take any tests. The course is just for fun. (PRESENT)

2. I didn't have to take the test. The teacher let me do a report instead. (PAST)

3. I won't have to take the test. It's going to be for extra credit and I don't need the points. (FUTURE)

REMEMBER: “Do not have to” vs. “Must not”

“Do not have to” suggests that someone is not required to do something. “Must not” suggests that you are prohibited from doing something.

“Have Got to”

A. Have Got To – necessity:

1. People have got to be on time if they want to get a seat in the crowded theater. (PRESENT)

2. You had to be on time if you wanted to get a seat in the crowded theater. (PAST - SHIFT TO “HAVE TO”)

3. You have got to be there on time tonight if you want to get a seat in the crowded theater. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. People don't have to be there on time to get a seat. (SHIFT TO “DON'T HAVE TO”)

2. You didn't have to be there on time to get a seat. (SHIFT TO “DON'T HAVE TO”)

3. You won't have to be there on time to get a seat. (SHIFT TO “DON'T HAVE TO”)

B. Haven't Got To – future obligation:

1. Haven't you got to be there by 7:00?

2. Haven't you got to finish that project today?

("Haven't got to" is primarily used to ask about future obligations. It can be used in statements, but this is less common.)

“May”

A. May – possibility:

1. Jack may be upset. I can't really tell if he is annoyed or tired. (PRESENT)

2. Jack may have been upset. I couldn't really tell if he was annoyed or tired. (PAST)

3. Jack may get upset if you don't tell him the truth. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired.

2. Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he was tired.

3. Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the truth

B. May – permission:

1. You may leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner. (PRESENT)

2. You were allowed to leave the table after you finished your dinner. (PAST – SHIFT TO “BE ALLOWED TO”)

3. You may leave the table when you finish your dinner. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. You may not leave the table. You're not finished with your dinner yet.

2. You were not allowed to leave the table because you hadn't finished your dinner. (SHIFT TO “BE ALLOWED TO”)

3. You may not leave the table until you are finished with your dinner.

C. May – requests:

1. May I borrow your eraser.

2. May I make a phone call.

(Requests usually refer to the near future.)

NO NEGATIVE FORM