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.
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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.
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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 see, but shouldn't they have given you at least a month's notice? | Je vois, mais n'auraient-ils pas dû te prévenir un mois à l'avance? |
I already couldn't sleep at all last night! | J'ai déjà pas pu dormir la nui dernière! |
I think we can let him explore the garden. | Je pense qu'on peut le laisser explorer le jardin. |
How can I turn it on? | Comment dois-je l'allumer? |
I could only find some eggs, some undated bacon and some olives. | J'ai juste pu trouver des oeufs, du bacon non daté et des olives. |
I said it was a mistake, I was terribly sorry, what else could I say? | Je lui ai dit que que c'était une erreur, j’étais terriblement désolée, qu'aurais-je pu dire de plus? |
Okay, the earliest I can take Bear out is 7. | Okay, le plus tôt que je peux emmener Bear est vers 19h. |
Um, I'm going to finish at 5, we can meet at 17:30 if you like. | Heu, je vais finir à 17 h, on peut se se voir à 17h30 si tu veux. |
Okay, can you tell me what it is, then? | Ok, tu peux me dire ce que c'est alors? |
I can tell their sex from their face. | Je peux dire quel sexe ils ont en regardant leur visage. |
I can smell something nice. | Je sens quelque chose de bon. |
We can get return tickets when we come back. | On peut acheter les tickets de retour quand on revient. |
Also, it's Friday, we may not be able to get a table. | En plus, c'est Vendredi, nous serons peut être pas capables d'avoir une table. |
Can't you have the meeting another time? | Tu ne peux pas avoir un autre rendez-vous? |
Possibly, also the new environment might make him feel insecure. | Probablement, ce nouvel environnement doit le perturber. |
I guess I can leave around four-ish. | Je pense que pouvoir partir aux alentours de quatre heures. |
Can't we have the meeting without the f*cking IT manager! | On peut pas avoir un rendez-vous sans le p*tain de gestionnaire IT! |
Mike, you are cutting out, I can't hear you! | Mike, ça coupe, je ne peux t'entendre! |
I thought you might not like strong coffees. | Je me suis dit que tu n'aimais peut-être pas les cafés forts. |
No, all the cutlery should be in the top drawer! | Non, les couverts devraient être dans le tiroir du haut! |