MUST
MUST=obligation radicale ( Equivalent : to have to / to be obliged to ) You must do your homework!
Tu dois faire tes devoirs
MUSTN’T=Interdiction obligatoire You mustn’t do it
Tu ne dois pas faire ça.
En cas d’absence d’obligation => don’t have to / needn’t / don’t need to You don’t have to come today / You needn't come today
Tu n'as pas besoin de venir aujourd’hui = tu n'es pas obligé de venir aujourd’hui
Must n'existe qu'au présent. A l'infinitif et aux autres temps, on utilise son équivalent: have to pour exprimer la notion d'obligation.
I had to read many English books.
J'ai dû lire beaucoup de livresd’anglais I'll have to come back
Je serai obligé de revenir.
D'autre part, must est un modal, il exprime donc l'opinion, le jugement de l'énonciateur.
L'obligation ou l'interdiction doit donc émaner de celui-ci. Sinon, on utilisera son équivalent have to (on traduira alors souvent par 'il faut que')
You must listen to me now!
Tu dois m'écouter maintenant! (l'obligation vient de l'énonciateur)
She has to listen to her teacher more carefully if she wants to improve her English.
Il faut qu'elle écoute plus attentivement son professeur si elle veut améliorer son anglais.
(l'obligation ne vient pas de l'énonciateur) MUST=forte probabilité / quasi-certitude He isn't there,he must be ill.
Il n'est pas là,il doit être malade Au présent:
You must be surprised!
Tu dois être surpris!
CAN
CAN= capacité physique et intellectuelle (Equivalent : to be able to)
Can you speak English? = Are you able to speak English?=Savez-vous parler anglais?
Can you lift this suitcase?
Peux-tu soulever cette valise?
Au passé CAN peut avoir 2 formes selon qu’il s’agit d’un événement précis ou au contraire d’une faculté permanente.
I was able to speak to the teacher.
Action ponctuelle dans le passé = Was / Were able to. On traduira plutôt dans ce cas-là par du passé composé: J'ai pu parler au professeur.
I could speak English fluently when I was young.
Faculté permanente dans le passé.On traduira alors plutôt par de l'imparfait:
Je parlais l’anglais couramment quand j'étais jeune.
CAN= la permission =>équivalent to be allowed to Can I use your dictionary?
Je peux me servir de ton dictionnaire?
'Could I' est plus poli et 'May I' encore plus poli---> 'Puis-je' You can smoke here.
Vous pouvez fumer ici.
La négation (can't) se rapproche de mustn't: l'interdiction You can't smoke here.
Vous ne pouvez pas fumer ici.
CAN= la possibilité
Exprime la connaissance qu'a l'énonciateur des caractéristiques du sujet de l'énoncé.
The euro can be devalued
Il se peut fortement que l’euro soit dévalué.
Ici, l'énonciateur se base sur des éléments.
Subtilité entre CAN etMAY
This dog may be dangerous. (, il est possible qu'il soit dangereux, le contraire l'est également.)
This dog can be dangerous. (la personne connait ce chien, et à partir de ce qu'il sait à propos de ce chien, il en conclut qu'il peut être parfois dangereux)
A la forme négative, Can't ou cannot exprime l’impossibilité d’une action.
She can't be at home.
Elle ne peut pas être chez elle.
MAY
MAY= permission / autorisation équivalent to be allowed to Yes you may / No you can’t )May I open the door? (
Puis-je ouvrir la porte?
MAY= possibilité => MIGHT= possibilité moins forte He may come with me tomorrow.
Il se peut qu'il vienne avec moi demain..
He might come with me tomorrow
Il se pourrait qu'il vienne avec moi demain.
Au passé=>MAY + Have + Participe passé ou MIGHT + Have + Participe passé She may have called me.
Il se peut qu'elle m'ait appelé.
You might have told him.
Tu aurais pu le lui dire. (notion de reproche) MAY=Souhaits (langage soutenu)
May God be with you.
Que Dieu soit avec vous.
Questions:
1. (probabilité très forte) = It _____________________________ be him.
2. (impossibilité) = It _____________________________ be him.
3. (probabilité)= He _____________________________ have left already.
4. (il faut que)= I'm late I _____________________________ go.
5. (obligation)= I _____________________________ to go , my wife is calling me
6. (interdiction)= You _____________________________ cross the street when the light is red.
7. (impossibilité)= There isn't water in the pool, so we _____________________________ swim today.
8. (impossibilité)= You _____________________________ cross the street here , there are too many cars
9. (obligation)=The doctor says I _____________________________ stay in bed till my temperature falls.
10. (permission)= Please _____________________________ I turn on my radio?
11. (absence d'obligation)= There's a bus to London, so we _____________________________ walk.
12. (interdiction)= The teacher says we _____________________________ leave the class before we finish this work.
REPONSES:
1. must 2. can't 3. may 4. must 5. have 6. mustn't 7. can't 8. can't 9. must 10. may 11. needn't 12. mustn't
Verbes de probabilités
Choisir le bon verbe.
Questions:
1. She _____________________________ be at home. (forte probabilité) 2. He _____________________________ leave. (absence d'obligation)
3. When I was young, I _____________________________ run for two hours. (capacité) 4. ' _____________________________ I open the door ?' (demande de permission) 5. ' _____________________________ you give me some butter ?' (demande polie) 6. 'You are ill, you _____________________________ stay at home.' (conseil) 7. _____________________________ you drive ? (capacité)
8. ' _____________________________ I stay with her tonight ?' (demande de permission) 9. They _____________________________ be interested by your project. (forte probabilité) 10. That road is dangerous, you _____________________________ drive carefully. (conseil)
REPONSES:
1. must
2. doesn't have to 3. could
4. May 5. Could 6. should 7. Can 8. may 9. must 10. should
Modaux : Can, could and be able to.
Can, could, be able to
We use can to say that something is possible or that somebody has the ability to do something. We use can + infinitive (can do / can see etc.):
• We can see the lake from our bedroom window.
• Can you speak any foreign languages?
• I can come and see you tomorrow if you like.
The negative is can't (= cannot):
• I'm afraid I can't come to the party on Friday.
(Be) able to... is possible instead of can, but can is more usual:
• Are you able to speak any foreign languages?
But can has only two forms, can (present) and could (past). So sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to..
Compare:
• I can't sleep. but I haven't been able to sleep recently, (can has no present perfect)
• Tom can come tomorrow, but Tom might be able to come tomorrow, (can has no infinitive) Could and was able to...
Sometimes could is the past of can. We use could especially with:
See/ hear/ smell/ taste/ feel/ remember/ understand
• When we went into the house, we could smell burning.
• She spoke in a very low voice, but I could understand what she said.
We also use could to say that somebody had the general ability or permission to do something:
• My grandfather could speak five languages.
• We were completely free. We could do what we wanted. (= we were allowed to do...)
We use could for general ability. But if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation, we use was/were able to... or managed to... (Not could):
• The fire spread through the building quickly but everybody was able to escape. or everybody managed to escape, (but not 'could escape')
• They didn't want to come with us at first but we managed to persuade them. or ...we were able to persuade them, (but not 'could persuade')
Compare:
• Jack was an excellent tennis player. He could beat anybody. (= he had the general ability to beat anybody) but
• Jack and Alf had a game of tennis yesterday. Alf played very well but in the end Jack managed to beat him. or ...was able to beat him. (= he managed to beat him in this particular game)
The negative couldn't (could not) is possible in all situations:
• My grandfather couldn't swim.
• We tried hard but we couldn't persuade them to come with us.
• Alf played well but he couldn't beat Jack.
Complete the sentences using can , able to , or could.
Questions:
George has travelled a lot. He __________________ speak four languages.
can able to could
I used to __________________ stand on my head but I can't do it now.
could can be able to
When Tim was 16, he was a fast runner. He __________________ run 100 metres in 11.
able to could can
Sandra __________________ drive but she hasn't got a car.
could able to can
Ask Catherine about your problem. She might __________________ help you.
be able to could can
I was feeling sick yesterday. I __________________ eat anything.
haven't been able to couldn't
can't
Sue wasn't at home when I phoned but I __________________ contact her at her office.
could was able to can
When we went into the house, we __________________ smell burning.
can could
were able to
Will she __________________ cope with the work?
can could be able to
I can't see you on Friday but I __________________ meet you on Saturday evening.
am able to can
could
REPONSES:
1. can 2. be able to 3. could 4. can 5. be able to 6. couldn't 7. was able to 8. could 9. be able to 10. can
Modaux - cours pour débutants
L'objectif du jour:
> Parler de ce qu'on va PEUT-ETRE faire et de ce qu'on N'A PAS BESOIN de faire
A la fin de la leçon, on arrivera à dire: Je viendrai
peut-être
. Jen'ai pas besoin
de faire cela.La solution:
Utiliser les "modaux" MAY et HAVE TO
1) Après le modal, on trouve la base verbale, c'est-à-dire le verbe à l'infinitif sans TO 2) Il n'y a donc pas d'accord entre le sujet et le verbe. A toutes les personnes, on a:
I/you/he/she/it/we/you/they may come
3) A la forme interrogative, on fait une inversion, c'est-à-dire qu'on place le modal en tête de phrase May I come?
Par contre, ils ont une forme particulière à la forme négative. On ne peut pas leur rajouter N'T.
1) MAY = l'éventualité (peut-être)
C'est le plus simple. Généralement, on dit qu'il ajoute cette idée: "il y a 50% de chances pour que cela se réalise, 50% de chances pour que cela ne se réalise pas".
It may rain. = Il pleuvra peut-être (Je n'en sais rien. Je ne peux pas te dire s'il pleuvra ou s'il ne pleuvra pas).
A la forme négative, on ajoute simplement NOT.
I may not come = Je ne viendrai peut-être pas.
Sens particulier de MAY
MAY peut également être utilisée pour une question polie:
MAY I close the window? Est-ce que je peux fermer la fenêtre? (Cela ne vous dérange pas?)
Cette formule est très polie, presque trop dans la vie courante et il faut l'utiliser prudemment. Pour s'en souvenir, on le traduit souvent par: "Puis-je?"
MAY I smoke? (Puis-je fumer?), à opposer à CAN I smoke? (qui est nettement moins poli, mais correct et sans doute plus courant).
2) HAVE TO = l'obligation (je dois)
Eh oui, c'est un quasi-synonyme de MUST. Il a presque le même sens. Il contient en plus l'idée d'une obligation externe:
I have to go to school. (Je dois aller à l'école. Ce sont mes parents qui m'obligent à y aller).
Why do you have to wake up at 6? Because I have to take a train at 6.30 (Si je ne me lève pas à 6h, je vais rater mon train).
Attention, sens différent à la forme négative!
HAVE TO à la forme négative devient DON'T HAVE TO (ou DOESN'T HAVE TO à la 3e personne du singulier)
Il change alors de sens et contient l'idée de l'absence d'obligation (je n'ai pas besoin de faire cela).
Exemples:
> I don't have to do it. My brother has already done it. (Je n'ai pas besoin de faire cela. Mon frère l'a déjà fait).
> Great! It's raining! I don't have to wash the car. = Génial! Il pleut! Je n'ai pas besoin de laver la voiture!
Exercice:
Compléter avec un modal (CAN, MUST, MAY, HAVE TO à la forme affirmative ou négative):
JOHN: "_________ you come to the match this afternoon?"
PETER: "I'm sorry. I _________ . I _________
wash my father's car."
JOHN: "But it's raining! You _________ wash it!"
PETER: "I know, but my parents say the rain _________ stop soon. And I _________ go out with you tonight because I _________ go to my grandmother's birthday party and I _________
come back late."
JOHN: "_________ venir au match cet après- midi?"
PETER: "Je suis désolé. Je _________. Je _________ laver la voiture de mon père."
JOHN: "Mais il pleut! Tu _________ la laver!"
PETER: "Je sais, mais mes parents disent que la pluie _________ s'arrêter bientôt. Et je
_________ sortir avec toi ce soir parce que je _________ aller à la fête d'anniversaire de ma grand-mère et je _________ revenir tard."
Questions:
1. JOHN: '_____________________________ you come to the match this afternoon?' 2. PETER: 'I'm sorry. I _____________________________...
3. ... I _____________________________ wash my father's car.'
4. JOHN: 'But it's raining! You _____________________________ wash it!'
5. PETER: 'I know, but my parents say the rain _____________________________ stop soon...
6. ... And I _____________________________ go out with you tonight...
7. ... because I _____________________________ go to my grandmother's birthday party...
8. ... and I _____________________________ come back late.'
REPONSES:
1. can 2. can't 3. must
4. don't have to 5. may
6. can't 7. must 8. may
Modaux - verbes défectifs, révisons les pas à pas
Les modaux, ces verbes défectifs. Révisons pas à pas.
Tableau de rappel des conjugaisons et sens des défectifs
Verbe et sens temps affirmation Négation Interrogation
Can
Capacité matérielle
Présent Prétérit
I can I could
I cannot I could not
Can I?
Could I?
May
Permission supposition
Présent Prétérit
I may I might
I may not I might not
May I?
Might I?
Must obligation
Présent
I must I must not Must I?
Ought to / should Obligation morale
Présent I ought
I should
I ought not I should not
Ought I?
Should I?
Questions:
1) Généralités:
On appelle verbes défectifs, les verbes modaux qui n'ont ni infinitif, ni participe présent, ni participe passé. Par conséquent ils n'ont ni futur, ni conditionnel, ni temps composés, ni conjugaison progressive
.CAN : la capacité matérielle.
Traduisez :
Je peux soulever ce cartable.__________________
I can carry a schoolbag I could lift that schoolbag I can lift that schoolbag
2) Je peux voir le train de ma fenêtre. __________________.
I can see the train from my window He can see the train from my window I can't see the train from my window
3) Les enfants ne peuvent pas sortir si tard la nuit. __________________ .
The children cannot go out so late at night The child cannot go out so late at night
The children cannot go out so late at the night 4) MAY : La permission, la supposition.
Traduisez:
Puis-je ouvrir la porte? __________________?
May I open the door Could I opened the door Mays he open the door
5) Tu es peut-être malade. __________________ .
You should be sick You may be sick You can be sick
6) Il se peut qu'il pleuve.__________________ .
It may rain It musts rain It can rains
7) MUST: L'obligation, la nécessité absolue.
Traduisez:
Je dois aller au travail (to work). __________________.
I must go to work I must to go to work I must go at work
8) Tu dois lire ta leçon. __________________ .
You must reads your lesson You must read your lesson You must to read your lesson
9) Il faut que vous veniez immédiatement. __________________.
You musted come at once You must come at once You must came at once
10) SHOULD : plus faible que 'must' on le traduira par le conditionnel de 'devoir'.
Traduisez :
Il est tard vous devriez aller au lit.__________________.
It's late you can go to bed It's late you should gone to bed It's late you should go to bed
11) Il aurait dû venir immédiatement . __________________.
He should come immediately He should have come immediately He should to come immediately 12)
OUGHT TO : Il a le même sens que 'should' et exprime lui aussi le devoir moral.
Traduisez:
Vous devriez être reconnaissant.__________________
You ought to be thankful You ought be thankful You oughted to be thankful 13)
Vous auriez dû me le dire. __________________.
You ought have told me so You ought to have tell me so You ought to have told me so
14)
Ces verbes ne prennent pas d' 'S' à la 3ième personne du singulier du présent de l'indicatif.
Traduisez:
Il peut conduire. __________________.
He can drive He can to drive He cans drive He can drives
15) Il doit finir ses devoirs. __________________.
He must finish his homeworks He must finishes his homework He must finish his homework He musts finish his homework 16)
Ils ne sont jamais précédés de 'DO' aux formes négatives ou interrogatives et l'infinitif qui suit sera sans la préposition ' TO '
Traduisez:
Il ne peut pas conduire. __________________.
He cannot to drive He cannot drive He canot drive
17) Puis-je ouvrir mon cadeau?__________________ ?
May I opened my gift May I open my gift May I to open my gift 18)
Pour conjuguer ces verbes aux temps et aux modes qui leur manquent on les remplace par une expression équivalente.
CAN -> to be able to Traduisez:
Pourrai-je réussir cet examen? __________________?
Shall I am abled to pass that exam Shall I be able pass that exam
Shall I be able to pass that exam
19) MAY -> to be allowed to -> dans le sens de la permission (dans le sens de l'éventualité, nous utiliserons l'adverbe 'perhaps' ou l'expression 'it's likely' suivis du temps qui convient).
Traduisez:
Tu pourras conduire. __________________.
You will be allow to drive You will be allowed to drive You will be allowed drive
20) Peut-être sortiras-tu. __________________.
Perhaps you wil go out Perhaps you will to go out Perhaps you will go out 21) MUST-> Have to Traduisez:
Tu devras travailler très dur. __________________.
You will have to work very hard You will work very hard
You will to have to work very hard 22)
Aux temps composés: ce n'est pas la peine d'utiliser ces équivalents, il suffit de conjuguer le modal à l'un des temps qu'il possède.
Traduisez avec 'may'
Il aurait pu venir. __________________.
He might had come He might have came He might have come
23) Il a pu venir. __________________ .
He mays have come He may have to come He may have come 24)
Traduisez avec 'can'
Il aurait pu prendre ce train. __________________.
Si vous m'en voulez
He could had taken that train He could have took that train He could have taken that train.
REPONSES:
I can lift that schoolbag
I can see the train from my window
The children cannot go out so late at night May I open the door
You may be sick It may rain I must go to work
You must read your lesson You must come at once It's late you should go to bed He should have come immediately You ought to be thankful
You ought to have told me so He can drive
He must finish his homework He cannot drive
May I open my gift
Shall I be able to pass that exam You will be allowed to drive Perhaps you will go out
You will have to work very hard He might have come
He may have come
He could have taken that train.
