English

               CAN                  =

BE ABLE TO

present

I can come and see you tomorrow.

» more usual                                    =

Are you able to speak any foreign language?          »  formal

past

She could read. Ona mohla číst.

                                                        ≠

We use could with following verbs: see, hear, smell, taste, feel, remember, understand

She was able to read (= manage).

She was able to do it! - It is miracle - she is blind!

future

-

I will be able to pay it on Monday.

future perfect

-

I will have been able to pay it by the next Sunday.

present perfect

-

I have never been able to concentrate.

past perfect

-

I had never been able to concentrate……

         MAY           =

BE ALLOWED TO

present

You may come.

May you come?

You mustn’t smoke.

I am allowed to come.

Are you allowed to come?

You aren’t allowed to smoke here.

past

-

I was allowed to smoke here.

future

-

I will be allowed to drive a car.

future perfect

-

I will have been allowed to be there…..

present perfect

-

I have never been allowed to drive a car yet.

past perfect

-

I had been allowed to drive a car….

Note:

might X may

might – unreal situacions (conditionals)

may not is not the same as mustn't

POZOR!

may be x maybe

may be
      I may be there. Smím tam být.

maybe

      Maybe I will go there. Možná tam půjdu.

must

have to

present

I must go.                                  ≠

↓

personal feeling (nobody forces me), I tell myself that I do it

I must go to the barber.

Must you pay?

He must leave.

I needn´t get up early.

I have to go.

↓

someone is telling me what to do (not me)

We have to dress the uniform.

Do you have to pay?

He has to leave.

I don´t have to get up early.

past

-

I had to tell the truth.

She didn´t have to pay.

Did you have to wait?

future

-

I will have to think about it.

future perfect

-

I will have had to go there by the next Wednesday.

present perfect

-

I have had to eat it.

past perfect

-

I had had to do it ……

Pozn. 1.

I promised I would be on time.

I mustn´t be late. (= I must be on time.)

I ´m not working tomorrow, so I don´t have to get up early.

Comparison - present tense

need

need

positive sentence

I need go.

I need to go

negative sentence

I needn’t go.

I don’t need to go.

question

Need you go?

Do you need to go?

Past tense

I need have gone.

I needed to go.

should

ought to

Present - positive sentence

I should go.

I ought to go.

Present - negative sentence

I shouldn’t go.

I oughtn’t to go.

Present - question

Should you go?

Ought you to go?

Past

I should have gone.

I ought to have gone.