Chapter 6: Modals
IV. Other Verb Tenses with Phrasal Modals: Explanations and Practice
In the following, different verb tenses are combined with different functions of phrasal modals. Most have a social function, but others have a descriptive or interpretive function. This section explains how these phrasal modals are used, with examples to demonstrate. Phrasal modals are very complicated and have very complicated forms. They should really be studied at a very advanced level so the explanation is given mostly for information purposes and so that a reader will at least be able to recognize them and understand their intended function. As a result, there are only limited practice exercises that will focus mostly on recognizing them for the purposes of reading.
1.0 Verb Tenses in Phrasal Modals of Social Obligation or Practical Necessity
The following is a list of phrasal modals for social obligation or practical necessity. They are given in order of weakest to strongest.
Note: Except for the simple present tense of the following modals, the other tenses which are used in these modal forms are quite complex and meant for an advanced level of grammar study. They are given as a reference with limited practice below.
1.1 Form
The form for each of the modals using a specific verb form is given below. Again, the forms are very complicated, combining elements of verb tense forms with modal forms.
The form that uses a modal with ‘to’ (i.e. has to) is often confused as being a modal + infinitive. We often think that the phrase ‘have to go’ is made up of ‘have’ + infinitive instead of ‘have to’ being a phrasal modal made up of ‘have’ and ‘to’, which is followed by the base form of the verb. However, these phrasal forms with ‘to’ are actually semi-modals.
1.2 Ought To: Social Obligation or Necessity (Weak Form)
Simple Present: ‘ought to’ + base form of the verb.
Example
Continuous Tense: ‘ought to be’ + modifier (this can be a noun form, adjective form (including participles), or adverb)
- note: here, ‘be’ is not the ‘BE’ verb that changes with /person number —it is always ‘be’ and not, for example ‘was’, ‘is’, ‘were’, etc.
Examples
You ought to be an engineer (noun modifier). You are very good at physics.
You ought to be studying (noun form modifier—gerund, or active participle). You have a test tomorrow (has the same meaning/function as the simple present usage).
You ought to be more relaxed (passive participle). You can be confident in your skills.
They ought to be here by now (adverb).
Perfect Tense: ‘ought to have’ + passive participle
Example
1.3 Need To
This has more of a meaning of necessity rather than social obligation. It could apply to situations where there is a practical necessity of doing something rather that a social obligation. Again, there is more flexibility with phrasal modals.
Simple Present: ‘needs to’ + base form of verb
Example
Present Continuous: continuous tense verb + to + base form of verb
Example
Present Perfect: have/has needed to + base form of the verb
Example
1.4 Have To/Has To
This could apply to a social obligation or a practical necessity. It is very strong and implies that someone does not have a choice. However, in the present perfect form, and because the present perfect form is used in a cause/effect relationship, it has a predictive function, giving a reason for a particular situation or action. The past perfect form, however, still has a social function and shows obligation or practical necessity.
Simple Present: ‘have to’ + base form of verb
Example
Present Continuous: ‘having to’ + base form of the verb
Example
Present Perfect: ‘has/have to + have + participle form of verb
- Here, the modal has a predictive function.
Examples
He has to have called his mother often because she is sick. (shows present obligations when the present perfect tense is used)
He has to have taken his car. It is too far to walk.
Past Perfect: has/have + had to + participle form of verb
Example
1.5 Had Better
This is the strongest phrasal modal of social obligation or practical necessity. It implies that there will be a negative effect if the advice is not done. It is a warning.
Simple Present: ‘had better’ + base form of the verb
Example
Exercises
- Write the complete phrasal modal, which includes the modal and the verb written in the indicated tense.
- ought to
- clean (simple tense)
- study (present continuous)
- contact (present perfect)
- need to
- call (simple tense)
- calculate (present continuous)
- focus (present perfect)
- have to
- clean (simple tense)
- copy (present continuous)
- cancel (present perfect)
- buy (past perfect)
- had better
- study (simple tense)
Answers show/hide
- ought to
- ought to clean
- ought to be studying
- out to be contacting
- need to
- need to call
- need to be calculating
- have needed to focus
- have to/has to
- have/has to clean
- have/has to be copying
- have/has to have canceled
- have/has had to buy
- had better
- had better study
- ought to
- Underline the phrasal modals of social obligation or practical necessity in the paragraphs below. They use different verb tenses, and the following paragraphs are split into verb tense categories.
- Simple Tense
I have heard that my physics professor gives really tough exams. I had better study for my final exam this week, as otherwise I could even fail this class. It is so scary that I don’t even want to think about it, so I need to study. On the other hand, I am actually pretty good at physics. Maybe I won’t fail the exam, but I really do have to start studying early. Oh, oh . . . I forgot, I’m supposed to watch a movie with my friend Jason tonight. I really ought to study, but it’s a really good movie, and I really want to see it. - Continuous Tense
I ought to be cleaning my apartment. I have guests coming for dinner tonight, so I think I will start cleaning this afternoon. But, come to think of it, I also am needing to cook dinner for them, so I really have to be starting to cook. I told my friends that I was planning to make an appetizer, a four-course meal, and dessert. Yeah, I had better start right now. - Perfect Tense/Past Perfect
I ought to have eaten the great-looking dessert that my friend offered me last night. He said that he spent two hours preparing it, so I hope he didn’t think I was being rude. But, I really have needed to watch my diet. I have had to lose a lot of weight because of my blood pressure, and now my doctor said that I need to completely quit eating sugar because my blood sugar level is up, and I have a lot of inflammation in different areas of my body. For the doctor to tell me to completely quit eating sugar, it has to have been serious.
Answers show/hide
- I have heard that my physics professor gives really tough exams. I had better study for my final exam this week, as otherwise I could even fail this class. It is so scary that I don’t even want to think about it, so I need to study. On the other hand, I am actually pretty good at physics. Maybe I won’t fail the exam, but I really do have to start studying early. Oh, oh . . . I forgot; I’m supposed to watch a movie with my friend Jason tonight. I really ought to study, but it’s a really good movie, and I really want to see it.
- I ought to be cleaning my apartment. I have guests coming for dinner tonight, so I think I will start cleaning this afternoon. But, come to think of it, I also am needing to cook dinner for them, so I really have to be starting to cook. I told my friends that I was planning to make an appetizer, a four-course meal, and dessert. Yeah, I had better start right now.
- I ought to have eaten the great-looking dessert that my friend offered me last night. He said that he spent two hours preparing it, so I hope he didn’t think I was being rude. But I really have needed to watch my diet. I have had to lose a lot of weight because of my blood pressure, and now my doctor said that I need to completely quit eating sugar because my blood sugar level is up, and I have a lot of inflammation in different areas of my body. For the doctor to tell me to completely quit eating sugar, it has to have been serious.
- Simple Tense
2.0 Simple Modals
Simple modals are usually used for expressing different social functions:
- willingness or intent
- obligations/expectations
- must, have to/has to
- different levels of advisability
- could, should, might
- permission/denial/prohibition
- can/can’t/must not
- requests
- could + pronoun (example: Could I . . .?)
Simple modals are also used to express things that are facts or are generally true, things that are true at the time of speaking, or statements about future actions:
Examples
You shouldn’t drink coffee before you go to bed. It will keep you up all night. (general facts or things that are generally true)
He might be too busy to come to the meeting this afternoon.
He must be running late. He was supposed to be here at 6:30.
I will come by here at 3:30 p.m.
She called and said that they might be 30 minutes late. We should start the meeting without her.
Simple modals are formed by adding the base form of a verb to a modal. There is no 3rd-person singular form.
Examples
I must go.
You should study.
They might go to the movie.
He mustS go. (this is wrong)
