Modal verbs

Modal verbs Present simple

May (poder/pedir autorizao formal exprimir possibilidade
ou probabilidade)
Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I
You He She It

may
may may

I
You He She It

may not
may not may not

May
May May

I?
you? he? she? it?

We
You They

may
may may

We
You They

may not
may not may not

May
May May

we?
you? they?

Modal verbs Present simple

May (poder/pedir autorizao formal exprimir possibilidade
ou probabilidade)
Short answers Affirmative
May May you I close the door? go out? Yes, I may. No, No, No,

Negative
I you he she it we you they may not. may not. may not. may not. may not. may not.

Yes,
Yes,

you
he

may.

he
May she it

open the window?

lend me her book? rain?

Yes,
Yes,

she
it

may.

No, No,

May
May May

you
we they

come with me?

go out? go shopping?

Yes,
Yes,

we
you

may.
may.

No, No, No,

Yes,

they

may.

Modal verbs Present simple

Can (poder/ser capaz de/saber pedir autorizao informal)
Affirmative Negative Full forms Short forms Interrogative

I You

can can

I You

can not can not

I You

cant cant

Can Can

I? you?

He
She It We You can can can

He
She It We You can not can not can not

He
She It We You cant cant Can Can cant Can

he?
she? it? we? you?

They

can

They can not

They

cant

Can

they?

Modal verbs Present simple

Can (poder/ser capaz de/saber pedir autorizao informal)
Short answers Affirmative
Can Can you I draw well? help you? Yes, I can. No, No, No,

Negative
I you he she it we you they cant. cant. cant. cant. cant. cant.

Yes,
Yes,

you
he

can.

he
Can she it

speak chinese?
cook? fly?

Yes,
Yes,

she
it

can.

No, No,

Can
Can Can

you
we they

drive me home?
go to the cinema? wait for us?

Yes,
Yes,

we
you

can.
can.

No, No, No,

Yes,

they

can.

Modal verbs Present simple

Must (dever/ter de exprime obrigao)
Affirmative Negative Full forms Short forms I You Interrogative

I You

must must

I You

must not must not

mustnt mustnt

Must Must

I? you?

He
She It We You must must must

He
She It We You must not must not must not

He
She It We You

he?
mustnt Must she? it? mustnt mustnt Must Must we? you?

They

must

They

must not

They

mustnt

Must

they?

Modal verbs Present simple

Must (dever/ter de exprime obrigao)
Short answers Affirmative
Must Must you I go? do this? Yes, I must. No, No, No,

Negative
I you he she it we you they mustnt. mustnt. mustnt. mustnt. mustnt. mustnt.

Yes,
Yes,

you
he

must.

he
Must she it

stay at home?
wait for her parents? stay outside?

Yes,
Yes,

she
it

must.

No, No,

Must
Must Must

you
we they

drive me home?
finish this exercise? help at home?

Yes,
Yes,

we
you

must.
must.

No, No, No,

Yes,

they

must.

Modal verbs Present simple

Put the words in the correct order.
1. pencil / I / borrow / may / pencil / your / ?
May I borrow your pencil? 2. arrive / classes / mustnt / to / late / you / . You mustnt arrive late to classes. 3. guitar / ? / you / can / play Can you play guitar? 4. rain / it / may / in / rain /afternoon / the / . It may rain in the afternoon. 5. go / you / really / must / home / ? Must you really go home?

Modal verbs Present simple

Put the words in the correct order.
cant come to your birthday party. 1. Im sorry but I ____ 2. I must ____ study for tomorrows test. 3. No, you may ______ not open the window. Its too cold. Can you run 4 km under 20min? 4. ___ 5. We have plenty of time. We mustnt ______ hurry.