Construcţii cu Verbele Modale Modal Constructions

Verbele modale: can; could; may; might, must; have to; will; would; shall; should; ought to; dare
(to); need (to).
Verbele Modale sunt semi-auxiliare, deci se comportă altfel decât verbele obişnuite, adică, îşi
formează interogativul şi negativul singure, fără a se ajuta de verbele auxiliare clasice be şi do, nu
primesc -s la persoana III sg. prezent şi nu au forme nepersonale (infinitiv, gerunziu).
(*I can to to).
Excepţie fac have to, need to, be bound to, be going to, la care se regăsesc toate aceste trăsături şi
care se numesc semi-modale. Aceste verbe au în cele mai multe cazuri dublu înţeles.
De asemenea, majoritatea au o expresie sinonimică care să le înlocuiască în construcţiile în care
acestea sunt improprii.

Modal verbs are semi-auxiliary verbs, therefore they have other characteristics than notional
verbs, that is, they don’t take be or do to form the interrogative and the negative, nor do they get
an -s in the III person sg. Also, they do not have non-finite forms (gerund or infinitive).
Exceptions are have to, need to, be bound to, be going to, dare to, which are called semi-modals.
They generally carry two meanings and have a synonymous expression to replace them in
various situations where they are not fit.
I may go at last! (I am allowed to)
I may go today. (I will probably go).
They can swim (present) – They will be able to swim (future).
Toate construcţiile modale au două forme de bază:
All modal constructions can be found under two major forms:
A. Simple Modal constructions – referring to present or future situations.
B. Perfect Modal constructions – referring to past events

A. construcţiile modale simple, care se referă la situaţii prezente sau viitoare:

S + modal + short infinitive

Paul may be leaving on Monday (It is possible that Paul is leaving on Monday);
This book may be what I really need. (This book is likely to be what I really need.)

B. construcţiile modale perfecte, care se referă la evenimente trecute

S + modal + have + Past Participle (IIIrd form)

He should have arrived by now. (We expected him to arrive by now.)

The course must have started. (I am sure the course has already started.)

VII. 1. Can – Could

Verbul Forma alternativă Sens Exemple

modal Substitute form Meaning Examples
Modal verb
1. be able to - exprimă capacitatea fizică They can /are able to ski
sau mentală prezentă de a very well.
face ceva I could never /was never
- expresses ability to do able to learn lie.

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 something in the present
2. be likely/ - posibilitatea sau
possible to presupunerea ca ceva să fie
(happen) sau să aibă loc.
CAN - possibility/ probability/
conjecture or a
characteristic
3. can’t = it’s - imposibilitate este
impossible; it’s exprimată doar cu ajutorul
unlikey/ not likely formei negative.
- impossibility, only with
the negative form.
4. be permitted/ - permisiunea/ încuviinţarea
be allowed to în prezent a unei acţiuni.
- permission to do
something. in the present
5. would you…? - rugăminte, solicitare
- request
6. how about…? - propunere
- suggestion
1. was/were able to - o însuşire/caracteristică
trecută
- past ability
2. was/were - permisiunea/ încuviinţarea
allowed to unei acţiuni în trecut
. - past permission
3. it’s just not - imposibilitatea
possible/ it’s hard - impossibility
to accept/believe
4. why didn’t you? - reproş
- reproach
COULD
5. .it is probable - presupunere
that it happens/ to - supposition, conjecture
happen; it is quite
likely that…
6. - rugăminte, solicitare
politicoasă
- polite request
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The temperature can
(sometimes) drop to – 35
°C in these parts. (=it is
very likely/possible to get
that low) Can it really
happen to me (Is it really
happening to me?)
It can’t be true (it’s
impossible to be true)!
He can’t have said such a
thing!(It’s impossible/not
likely that he said such a
thing)
Can Susan come with us,
too?
Yes, Susan can come with
us.
Can you help me, please?
Can we better stay at home
tonight?
I remember that ten years
ago they could speak
Spanish much better (…
were able to speak…).
The students could finally
leave.
This is line 4, so this
couldn’t be the train to
Braşov.
You could hurry up a bit!
She could have come in
time!
This could be the right way.
Could my sister stay, too,
please?
 7. - adresare politicoasă Could you enter your
- polite requirement to do personal information here,
something please?

8. - ofertă de ajutor I could type the article for

- polite offer you.
9. - propunere Couldn’t/Could we better
- polite suggestion stay at home tonight?
10. - posibilitate It could sometimes rain
- possibility heavily in these parts.

VII. 2. May – Might

Verbul Forma alternativă Sens Exemple

modal Substitute form Meaning Examples
Modal verb
be - exprimă permisiunea/aprobarea You may not enter the building
allowed/permitted de a face ceva; forma negativă during conference hours.
exprimă interdicţia de a face ceva May I add something?
- expresses permission/consent for Past form:
an action; the negative form They will not be/were not allowed/
MAY expresses interdiction to an action permitted to enter without a
permit.

maybe/ probably - probabilitatea unei acţiuni - e mai He may be at home.

puternic decât might.
- probability of an action –
stronger than might
do you want me to? - propunere/ ofertă May I help you?
- polite offer

- probabilitatea (mai mică) unei Her neighbours might tell you

it is/was probable, acţiuni – e mai puţin puternic decât
possible that/to may
MIGHT - likeliness of an action –less
strong than may
- reproş
- reproach
- acţiune ramasă ca ultimă, nu
tocmai placută,alternativă
- it also shows that the action is
seen as the last alternative left,
which the speaker resents doing.
where she’s moved. (I am not sure
whether they know or whether
they are willing to tell you.)
Attending the class only might
have been enough to understand
the course.
You might at least stay until the
speech ends.
We’ve lost the document! We
might as well start it all over
again!

VII. 3. Must – Have to

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 Verbul modal Forma alternativă Sens Exemple
Modal verb Substitute form Meaning Example
be compulsory/ - exprimă obligativitatea Well, I really must
obligatory/mandatory (convingere personală, nu go now. (I know
constrangere) de a face it’s the right thing to
ceva; do)
- obligation ( personal The passengers
conviction rather than must first pass
imposition) through the sanitary
filter.
it’s sure/certain - certitudine This must be the
MUST - certainty way to the hostel (I
am sure it is)
The train must have
already left the
station by now.
it’s very likely - posibilitatea You must be terribly
- possibility happy!
She must have left
by now (yet I’m not
100% sure).
it would be nice/ - sfat, recomandare You must attend
it is recommendable - advice, recommendation next years’
conference, too.
be interdicted/ - ca şi may, dar mai You mustn’t speak
be puternic decât acesta, to anyone like that!
MUST NOT/ forbidden/prohibited exprimă o interdicţie, sau
MUSTN’T un reproş. The passengers
- similar tomay, it must not open their
expresses safety belts unless
interdiction/prohibition to told to.
an action (in a stronger
way than may) or
reproach.
- obligativitate impusă I have to open the
- external obligation, meeting today.
it’s compulsory/ imposition They had to run to
HAVE TO obligatory/mandatory catch that bus.
The tutor will have
to give you the right
advice.

VII. 4. Shall – Should – Ought to

Verbul modal Forma alternativă Sens Exemple

Modal verb Substitute form Meaning Examples
- obligativitate All books shall be
be to puternică cu effect de returned in due time.
lege The citizens shall (have
- very strong to) pay their levies

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 obligation/ compulsion - before the close of the
stronger than must; it is year (if they want to
sometimes followed by avoid being fined).
SHALL have to

Would you like me - ofertă de Shall I carry call the

to? ajutor/serviciu elevator?
- offer of help

be determined to - hotărârea de a face I shall (definitely) give

ceva dublată de up smoking.
certitudinea efectuării
acţiunii.
- an action which the
speaker feels strong for
and is certain to happen.
it is advisable/ - sfat, recomandare, You should be careful
recommendable; uneori reproş blând sau with your money (!)
it is met that… un sfat No one should judge
- advice, others.
recommendation,advice, You should have
mild criticism completed your studies
before applying for the
SHOULD job.
You should check the
electricity before you go
abroad.
I’m in two minds - indecizie Should I stay or should I
- hesitation leave?

- coincidența - susținută It is really odd that

How de expresii ca it is George should be here
funny/strange/odd! strange/funny/odd that now!
- coincidence, when
doubled in meaning by it
is strange/funny/odd that
…
- recomandare morală = Laws ought to
OUGHT TO s-ar cădea, ar trebui să, be obeyed by every
ar fi bine să. citizen!
- moral/etical We ought to be caring
recommenadtion with the needy.

VII. 5 Need – Dare

Verbele need şi dare sunt folosite mai ales in propoziţii negative şi interrogative.
The verbs need and dare are mainly used in negative sentences and in questions.

there is a/the need - necesitate în You need to ask the

for/to prezent/ viitor. physician for another

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NEED it would be welcome - necessity in the prescription because
to present/future. I’ve mislaid it.
Need she really
speak like that?
- nu este un verb My friend keep
modal, deci se saying he needs to
comportă la fel ca cut on his sweets as
TO NEED orice verb noţional his blood sugar is too
__________ (de ex. primeşte -s la high.
persoana III sg,
afirmativ ) şi exprimă Do you need
ideea necesităţii unei anything else, sir?
stări sau unei acţiuni.
- it is not a modal
verb, it behaves like
any notional verb
(gets -s in III person
sg, etc.) and
expresses the
necessity of a state or
action.
NEEDN’T/ it’s not necessary/ - lipsa necesităţii în You needn’t come to
DON’T/DOESN’T there is no need prezent/viitor. work today. It’s
NEED TO for/to/ - lack of necessity in holiday.
don’t/doesn’t have to/ the present/future. He doesn’t need to
don’t/doesn’t need to check the text
anymore (someone
else already has)
NEEDN’T HAVE there was no need/ - lipsa necesităţii în I told them they
DONE/ DIDN’T requirement to trecut – acţiune needn’t have called
NEED TO efectuată, deşi nu era the ambulance as
necesar). their mother was
- lack of necessity in already feeling
the past – action better.
performed albeit not
necessary.
DIDN’T HAVE TO there was no - acţiune nenecesară Thank God we
need/requirement to şi neefectuată. didn’t need to call
- action not the ambulance.
necessary and not Mother was already
performed either feeling better.
DARE/DARE TO - modal verb: - main verb + to Nobody dares to
have the courage to infinitive; defy our group
do something - (semi) modal verb leader’s authority.
+ bare infinitive. dared to go there.
- regular verb: Do you still dare to
to challenge Also correct: argue with him?
I don’t dare ask. Maria hasn’t dared
to approach her boss
yet.

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 I see you daren’t
read your essay.
Dare we return
there?
I dare not enter the
classroom now.

VII. 6. Will – Would

Verbul modal Forma alternativă Sens Exemple

Modal verb Substitute form Meaning Examples
- promisiune I will write as soon as I arrive. (I
I promise to… - promise promise)
If you keep/ insist - hotărâre fermă If you will refuse to attend the
on…. - stubborn course, you’ll fail the exam.
determination
I’m sure it is… - deducţie logică This message will be for me. (I have
- logical deduction, been expecting it, so I know)
prediction, I feel little John will get better.
assumption
WILL Will you be so kind - dorinţă, solicitarea Will you please park the car?
as to…/Could ajutorului, ordin Will you leave me alone?
you….? - wish, request,
demand, order
I am available and - decizie spontană A: I need someone to get the book
willing … - spontaneous for me.
decision B: I will.

He does nothing - deprinderi, uneori I think John isn’t himself nowadays.

else dezaprobate sau chiar He’ll lie in bed for hours without
criticate hearing when I call him.
- habits, sometimes
criticised
may/ might/ - presupunere Phoning the station may spare you
could/can - supposition – similar the effort to go and ask yourself.
to
could/may/might/can
WOULD May I ask you - dorinţă, cerere/ Would you do me a favour and drop
to…?/ It is/would it solicitare – mai this note at the dean’s secretary,
be possible fot you politicos decât will please?
to…? - wish, request – more
polite than will
used to - deprinderi în trecut My colleagues would often visit me
- habits in the past when I was in hospital.