U5: The passive modal verbs

9	The passive modal verbs
The age of Majority In many countries the law permits you to engage in new activities at the age of 18. We asked a famous person what he thinks about 18 as the “age of majority.” You can get your own credit card at the age of 18. Is this too young? “I don’t think so. I mean, young people have to be given their freedom at some point. You know, they ought to be encouraged to manage their own finances and things. They can always learn from their mistakes.”                                     - Jared Blake
Modal verb + be + past participle “with Rules and Regulations”
R-rated movies should be banned. You shouldn’t be allowed to marry at 18. They have to be given their freedom.			The legal age could easily be changed. Something must be done about it. The law ought to be changed.
Take the quiz		Read these views about different laws. Rewrite the sentences starting with the words given.
1.   They must do something about junk e-mail. Something …      Something must be done about junk e-mail. 2.   They ought to arrest people for sending spam. People…    _______________________________________________________________ 3.   They have to do something about all the litter on the buses and in subways. Something …   _______________________________________________________________ 4.   They shouldn’t allow people to eat food on public transportation. People …   _______________________________________________________________ 5.   They ought to fine people for making noise after midnight. People…    ______________________________________________________________ 6.   They shouldn’t allow people to buy fireworks. People…   _______________________________________________________________ 7.   They should ban all movies with violent scenes. All movies …    ______________________________________________________________ 8.   They could encourage people to stop smoking if there were more anti-smoking laws. People…    ______________________________________________________________ 9.   They could easily ban smoking in all public places – nobody would complain. Smoking… _______________________________________________________________ 10.  They shouldn0t allow children to quit school until they are 18. Children…    __________________________________________________________________________________________

Nº	Modal	Used	Example sentence
1	can	·      Ability ·      Suggestion ·      Request ·      Permission	· He can find any street in London. · You can take a taxi. · Can you take me to Victoria Station? · Can I open the door?
2	Be able to	·      Ability	· He is able to find any street in London.
3	Can’t	·      Certainty that something is impossible (impossibility) ·      Lack of ability ·      Prohibition	· That story can’t be true.
4	Could	·      Ability ·      Request ·      Suggestion ·      Possibility	· I could play tennis when I was younger. · Could you take me to Victoria Station? · You could take a taxi.
5	Couldn’t	·      Impossibility	·
6	May	·      Possibility ·      Formal request/ ·      Permission	· It may be quicker to travel by train. · May I come in?
7	May not	·      Possibility ·      Prohibition	·
8	Might	·      Possibility	· It might be quicker to travel by train.
9	Must	·      Obligation ·      Certainty that something is true (logical conclusion)	· You must be back at 10 o’clock. · Look at the snow. It must be cold outside.
10	Have to	·      Obligation	· You have to be back at 10:00
11	Need to	·      Obligation/necessity	· You need to study a lot.
12	Needn’t	·      Lack of obligation or ·      Lack of necessity.	· You needn’t have a university degree.
13	Mustn’t	·      Prohibition	· You mustn’t drive without a license.
14	Don’t have to	·      Lack of obligation	· You don’t have to call a taxi.
15	Should	·      Opinion/Advice ·      Expectations	· You should drive more carefully.
16	Ought to	·      Opinion/Advice ·      Expectations	· You ought to drive more carefully.