Les modaux ont la même forme à toutes les personnes ils n’ont pas d’infinitif ils sont suivis de la base verbale ils se conjuguent sans auxiliaire.
I. Les principaux modaux et leurs équivalents
Pour certains temps, il faut utiliser des équivalents que l’on peut conjuguer.
Can ou be able to expriment la capacité.
[présent]
[prétérit] |
|
He will be able to swim. [expression de l’avenir] He has been able to swim. [present perfect] |
Must ou have to expriment l’obligation.
|
I must wear a uniform. [présent] |
|
You’ll have to wear a uniform. [expression de l’avenir] |
Attention ! Musn’t exprime l’interdiction. Don’t have to exprime l’absence d’obligation.
May ou be allowed to expriment la permission.
You may to go to the party.
Tu peux aller à la soirée.
May et be likely to (il est probable que) expriment la probabilité.
She is likely to come. Ou : She may come.
Il est probable qu’elle vienne.
Attention ! La probabilité dans le futur s’exprime avec will (’ll) + probably/possibly/maybe/certainly/perhaps.
They’ll probably come next week.
Ils viendront probablement la semaine prochaine.
Maybe/Perhaps they will come next week.
Ils viendront peut-être la semaine prochaine
II. Modal + have + participe passé
Could have + participe passé : possibilité dans le passé
I could have helped her. J’aurais pu l’aider.
Should have + participe passé : reproche
You should have told me. Tu aurais dû me le dire.
Would have + p. passé : événement non réalisé dans le passé
I would have given you my e-mail address, if you had asked me.
Je t’aurais donné mon e-mail si tu me l’avais demandé.
III. Tableau récapitulatif
|
can/could |
|
|
permission |
Can I smoke here? |
|
absence de permission |
You can’t smoke here. |
|
capacité physique capacité intellectuelle |
He can lift this weight. He can speak five languages. |
|
incapacité |
I couldn’t do this exercise. |
|
demande polie |
Can/Could you pass me the water? |
|
impossibilité |
He can’t be the thief. |
|
must |
|
|
obligation |
You must be here before 10. |
|
interdiction |
You mustn’t walk on the grass. |
|
déduction |
You must be tired. |
|
may/might |
|
|
probabilité |
She may/might come. |
|
suggestion |
We might visit the museum. |
|
permission |
May I come in? |
|
should/ought to |
|
|
conseil |
You should/ought to smoke less. |
|
shall |
|
|
suggestion |
Shall we go to the cinema? |
|
will |
|
|
expression de l’avenir |
I’ll go to Rome next week. |
|
suggestion |
Will you do it for me? |
|
would |
|
|
conditionnel |
I would lend you money if I had some. |
|
demande polie |
Would you carry my bag, please? |
|
souhait |
I would like to travel more. |