Français
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 | |
|---|---|
| Maybe she could even put some poison in their food! | Elle pourrait même leur mettre du poison dans la nourriture! |
| I can tell their sex from their face. | Je peux dire quel sexe ils ont en regardant leur visage. |
| Why do you have to finish everything today? | Pourquoi dois-tu avoir tout fini aujourd'hui ? |
| But we should tell them to clean up the mess. | Cependant, nous devrions les avertir de la situation et les demander de tout nettoyer. |
| You know, the landlords should give you some kitchen utensils. | Tu sais, les propriétaires devraient te donner des ustensiles de cusine. |
| Of course, you can have whatever you want. | Bien sûr, vous pouvez prendre ce que vous voulez. |
| He can get some bread on his way back. | Il peut acheter du pain sur le chemin du retour. |
| You should feel very lucky having him as a friend. | Tu devrais te sentir chanceux de l'avoir comme ami. |
| It must be very difficult for your mum. | Ça doit vraiment être dur pour ta mère. |
| I think the chicken must be ready by now. | Je crois que le poulet doit être prêt maintenant. |
| But... Maybe, we can say it's like the sci-fi version of Pinocchio. | Mais... Peut-être, on peut dire que c'est une version science-fiction de Pinocchio. |
| It's not easy, but not impossible, in the end, you can get it. | Ce n'est pas facile, mais ce n'est pas impossible non plus, à la fin tu peux les avoir. |
| Maybe you can teach me how to make phone calls. | Peut-être que tu peux m'apprendre à passer des appels. |
| But I have to finish doing everything today. | Cependant je dois avoir tout fini aujourd'hui. |
| It may help prevent wasting time for both sides. | Ça pourrait empêcher tout le monde de perdre son temps. |
| How can I turn it on? | Comment dois-je l'allumer? |
| Or maybe I can have some drinks with friends from work. | Ou peut-être que je peux boire quelque chose avec des collègues de travail. |
| He is a bit of a d*ck, as you might have already realised. | Il est un peu un c*n, comme vous avez pu déjà le remarquer. |
| Then we can talk, maybe! | On pourra en parler par la suite peut-être ! |
| Since I can't smoke in the room, I have to go to the garden. | Tant que je ne peux pas fumer dans la chambre, je dois aller dans le jardin. |
