Anglais • 1ère

Collocations with Auxiliary Verbs
The Verbal Group - Main Verbs and Auxiliaries

Auxiliary Verb Collocations
🔗 Common Collocations with Auxiliaries
Frequent combinations with modal verbs
ABILITY
✅ can do
✅ could do
✅ be able to
📝 can speak French
NECESSITY
✅ must do
✅ have to
✅ should do
📝 must study hard
🎯
Definition: Collocations are natural combinations of auxiliary verbs with specific words or phrases.
📚
Modal Collocations: Certain auxiliaries frequently pair with specific expressions (can/could + base verb).
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Patterns: Modal + base verb (can do, should go, must stay).
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Meaning Groups: Different auxiliaries express ability, necessity, possibility, advice.
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Tip: Learn auxiliaries with their most common collocations
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Attention: Auxiliaries are always followed by base form of verbs
⚡
Rule: No "to" after auxiliaries (can do, not can to do)
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Method: Practice with thematic groups (ability, obligation, possibility)
ABILITY
can swim
could run
be able to
OBLIGATION
must go
have to
should come
POSSIBILITY
may happen
might rain
could occur
PREFERENCE
would like
would prefer
want to
Collocation Exercises
1 Ability Collocations
Instructions :

Complete the sentences with appropriate auxiliary verbs for expressing ability.

Step 1: "When I was young, I ___ swim across the lake" (could)

Expressing past ability → Use "could"

Complete: "When I was young, I could swim across the lake"

Step 2: "She ___ speak three languages fluently" (can)

Expressing present ability → Use "can"

Complete: "She can speak three languages fluently"

Step 3: "If I studied harder, I ___ pass the exam" (would be able to)

Conditional ability → Use "would be able to"

Complete: "If I studied harder, I would be able to pass the exam"

Step 4: "Unfortunately, I ___ lift heavy boxes anymore" (can't)

Present inability → Use "can't"

Complete: "Unfortunately, I can't lift heavy boxes anymore"

Step 5: "He ___ drive when he was 16" (couldn't)

Past inability → Use "couldn't"

Complete: "He couldn't drive when he was 16"

Answers :

1. could, 2. can, 3. would be able to, 4. can't, 5. couldn't

Ability Rules :

• Can: Present ability

• Could: Past ability

• Be able to: Alternative for expressing ability

2 Obligation Collocations
Instructions :

Match the auxiliary verbs with their typical obligation meanings.

Step 1: "must" → Meaning

Strong obligation/internal necessity → "internal requirement"

Step 2: "have to" → Meaning

External obligation → "external requirement"

Step 3: "should" → Meaning

Advice/recommendation → "moral obligation"

Step 4: "ought to" → Meaning

Moral duty → "ethical recommendation"

Step 5: "need to" → Meaning

Personal necessity → "personal requirement"

Meanings :

must: internal requirement, have to: external requirement, should: advice, ought to: moral duty, need to: personal necessity

Obligation Rules :

• Must: Speaker's strong opinion

• Have to: External rule/law

• Should: Advice/recommendation

3 Possibility Collocations
Instructions :

Complete the probability expressions with appropriate auxiliaries.

Step 1: "It ___ rain tomorrow" (might)

Low probability → Use "might"

Complete: "It might rain tomorrow"

Step 2: "She ___ be at home now" (may)

Moderate probability → Use "may"

Complete: "She may be at home now"

Step 3: "The train ___ be delayed" (could)

Possible situation → Use "could"

Complete: "The train could be delayed"

Step 4: "He ___ have missed the bus" (must)

Logical deduction → Use "must"

Complete: "He must have missed the bus"

Step 5: "You ___ not want to go there" (might)

Uncertain advice → Use "might"

Complete: "You might not want to go there"

Answers :

1. might, 2. may, 3. could, 4. must, 5. might

Possibility Rules :

• May/Might: Permission or possibility

• Could: Possible situation

• Must (deduction): Logical conclusion

Advanced Collocation Exercises
4 Conditional Collocations
Instructions :

Complete the conditional sentences with appropriate auxiliary verbs.

Step 1: "If I had more time, I ___ travel more" (would)

Second conditional → Use "would"

Complete: "If I had more time, I would travel more"

Step 2: "I ___ help you if you asked me" (would)

Conditional offer → Use "would"

Complete: "I would help you if you asked me"

Step 3: "If she were here, she ___ know what to do" (would)

Unreal condition → Use "would"

Complete: "If she were here, she would know what to do"

Step 4: "___ you mind closing the door?" (would)

Polite request → Use "would"

Complete: "Would you mind closing the door?"

Step 5: "I ___ prefer to stay home tonight" (would)
Expression of preference → Use "would"

Complete: "I would prefer to stay home tonight"

Answers :

1. would, 2. would, 3. would, 4. would, 5. would

Conditional Rules :

• Would: Second conditional results

• Polite Requests: Would you mind...?

• Preferences: Would prefer/like

5 Modal Perfect Collocations
Instructions :

Complete the modal perfect constructions with appropriate auxiliaries.

Step 1: "She ___ have studied harder" (should)

Past regret → Use "should have"

Complete: "She should have studied harder"

Step 2: "You ___ have told me earlier" (could)

Past possibility → Use "could have"

Complete: "You could have told me earlier"

Step 3: "He ___ have passed the exam" (must)

Past logical deduction → Use "must have"

Complete: "He must have passed the exam"

Step 4: "They ___ have arrived by now" (should)

Expected completion → Use "should have"

Complete: "They should have arrived by now"

Step 5: "We ___ have prepared better" (ought to)

Past obligation → Use "ought to have"

Complete: "We ought to have prepared better"

Answers :

1. should, 2. could, 3. must, 4. should, 5. ought to

Modal Perfect Rules :

• Should have: Past regret or expectation

• Could have: Past possibility

• Must have: Past logical deduction

Key Points Summary
🎯
Base Form Rule: All auxiliaries are followed by base form of verbs (no "to")
🔍
Thematic Groups: Group auxiliaries by meaning (ability, obligation, possibility)
⚡
Modal Perfect: Auxiliary + have + past participle for past situations
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Practice Strategy: Use collocations in context with full sentences
Ability
can, could
be able to
Obligation
must, have to
should
Possibility
may, might
could
Collocations with auxiliary verbs Main Verbs and Auxiliaries