Modal Forms (Part 3)

“Might”

A. Might – possibility:

1. She might be on the bus. I think her car is having problems. (PRESENT)

2. She might have taken the bus. I'm not sure how she got to work. (PAST)

3. She might take the bus to get home. I don't think Bill will be able to give her a ride. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. She might not be on the bus. She might be walking home.

2. She might not have taken the bus. She might have walked home.

3. She might not take the bus. She might get a ride from Bill.

B. Might – conditional (may, might):

1. If I entered the contest, I might actually win. (PRESENT)

2. If I had entered the contest, I might actually have won. (PAST)

3. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I might actually win. Unfortunately, I can't enter it. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. Even if I entered the contest, I might not win.

2. Even if I had entered the contest, I might not have won.

3. Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, I might not win.

C. Might - suggestion:

1. NO PRESENT FORM

2. You might have tried the cheese cake. (PAST)

3. You might try the cheesecake. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. NO PRESENT FORM

2. PAST FORM UNCOMMON

3. You might not want to eat the cheese cake. It's very calorific.

D. Might – request (British form):

1. Might I have something to drink?

2. Might I borrow the stapler?

(Requests usually refer to the near future.)

NEGATIVE FORMS UNCOMMON

REMEMBER: “Might not” vs. “Could not”

“Might not” suggests you do not know if something happens. “Could not” suggests that it is impossible for something to happen.

“Must”

A. Must – certainty:

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

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

3. NO FUTURE FORM

Negative Forms:

1. That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to have red hair.

2. That must not have been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one around here somewhere.

3. NO FUTURE FORM.

B. Must Not – prohibition:

1. You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles.

2. You must not forget to take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics.

(Prohibition usually refer to the near future.)

NO NEGATIVE FORMS

C. Must – strong recommendation (Americans prefer the form “should”)

1. You must take some time off and get some rest. (PRESENT)

2. You should have taken some time off last week to get some rest. (PAST – SHIFT TO “SHOULD”)

3. You should take some time off next week to get some rest. (FUTURE – SHIFT TO “SHOULD”)

Negative Forms:

1. You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health.

2. You shouldn't have drunk so much. That caused the accident. (SHIFT TO “SHOULD”)

3. You shouldn't drink at the party. You are going to be the designated driver. (SHIFT TO “SHOULD”)

D. Must – necessity (Americans prefer the form “have to”)

1. You must have a permit to enter the national park. (PRESENT)

2. We had to have a permit to enter the park. (PAST - SHIFT TO “HAVE TO”)

3. We must get a permit to enter the park next week. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. We don't have to get a permit to enter the national park. (SHIFT TO “HAVE TO”)

2. We didn't have to get a permit to enter the national park. (SHIFT TO “HAVE TO”)

3. We won't have to get a permit to enter the national park. (SHIFT TO “HAVE TO”)

“Ought to”

A. Ought To – recommendation/advisability:

1. Margaret ought to exercise more. (PRESENT)

2. Margaret ought to have exercised more so she would be better prepared for the marathon. (PAST)

3. Margaret ought to come to the fitness center with us tonight. (FUTURE)

Negative Forms:

1. Margaret ought not exercise too much. It might cause injury.

2. Margaret ought not have run the marathon. She wasn't in good shape.

3. Margaret ought not stay at home in front of the TV. She should go to the fitness center with us.

B. Ought To – assumption/expectation/probability:

1. She ought to have the package by now. (PRESENT)

2. She ought to have received the package yesterday. (PAST)

3. She ought to receive the package tonight. (FUTURE)

Note : “Ought not” is used primarily to express negative recommendation.

Ought Not (Americans prefer “should not”)

Example :

Margaret ought not exercise too much. (Notice that there is no "to" in the negative form.)