English Modal Verbs
English
modal verbs
are special
verbs
that are used to show possibility, ability, permission, and so forth.
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
Examples:
"It
might
rain" – shows possibility.
"I
can
juggle" – shows ability.
"You
may
sit down" – shows permission.
The modal verbs are:
can,
could, may, might,
must, ought to,
shall, should, will
and would.
First of all, what does MODAL mean?
modal
= expressing mood.
mood
= a way to express the attitude of the speaker to what is being
said.
Examples:
"I can paint" means the speaker believes he has the ability to
paint.
"I might paint" means the speaker believes there is a
possibility for that to happen.
"I will paint" means the speaker has the
intention to paint.
English Modal
Verbs show us the attitude of the speaker to what
is being said.
What is special about the modal verbs?
They are special because they behave differently from other verbs in
English:
- English modal verbs are used together with the
base form
of another verb.
Examples:
"He might
come
late."
"You may
leave
if you wish."
"We must
finish
this on time."
- English modal verbs have only one form. You
don't add
"-ing", "-ed"
or "-s"
to them.
Examples:
Correct:
"We must
go now."
Incorrect:
"We are
musting
go now."
Correct:
"They said we could
park here."
Incorrect:
"They said we coulded
park here."
Correct:
"She can
help us."
Incorrect:
"She cans
help us."
- To form questions use the modal verb itself,
but change the order.
Examples:
"He can
fix the car tomorrow."
Correct: "Can he fix the
car tomorrow?"
Incorrect:
"Does he
can fix the car tomorrow?"
"We should
start packing our things."
Correct:
"Should
we start packing our things?"
Incorrect:
"Do we
should start packing our things?"
"She will
be ten years old next month."
Correct:
"Will
she be ten years old next month?"
Incorrect:
"Does
she will be ten years old next month?"
- To form negative sentences use the modal verb
itself and add "not" or "n't" to it.
Examples:
"He can
run fast enough."
Correct:
"He can't
run fast enough."
Incorrect:
"He doesn't
can run fast enough."
"She could
lift a feather."
Correct:
"She could not
lift a feather."
Incorrect:
"She did not
could lift a feather."
"I thought he would
come."
Correct:
"I thought he wouldn't
come."
Incorrect:
"I thought he did not
would come."
How and when do we use each of the English modal verbs?
Uses of "can"
(negative: cannot, can't)
- To
talk about what you are able to do
"He is so strong! He can
lift that car!"
"She can't
come before four o'clock."
"Can
he teach?"
- To
talk about a general possibility
"The weather here can
get really bad."
"These chairs can
be folded."
"Such things can
happen."
- To
say that something is allowed
"He can
borrow my book if he needs it."
"You can't
smoke in here".
"You can
pay with a credit card."
- To
make a request
(this is is an informal use, "may" is the formal version)
"Can
you help me with my homework?"
"Can
you make some tea?"
"Can
you come here, please?"
Uses
of "could" (negative: could not,
couldn't)
- As
the past form of "can"
"He said he couldn't
come so early."
"I couldn't
remember who he was."
"They couldn't
pass the border."
- To
make a polite request
"Could
you open the window, please?"
"Could
you turn up the heat?"
"Could
you remind him to call?"
- To
show possibility ("may" and "might" are stronger)
"She could be with her parents."
"It could take you months to find a new place."
"He could still win, but it's not very likely."
Uses
of "may" (negative: may not)
- To
show possibility (it is slightly stronger than "might")
"What he said may
be true."
"It may
rain."
"You may
win the race."
- To
request or give permission
(this is a formal use, "can" is the informal version)
"You may
sit down."
"May I
speak?"
"He may
not use the car."
Uses
of "might" (negative:
might not)
- As
a past from of "may"
"The weatherman said it might
rain."
"She mentioned that she might come."
"We agreed that it might
be dangerous."
- To
show possibility (it is slightly weaker than
"may")
"He might
pass the exam, but I wouldn't count on it."
"We might
fail, but let's not think about it."
"I might
visit on Saturday."
Uses of "must"
(negative: must not,
mustn't)
- To
show that you have to do something, for example because it is very
important or because it is a rule
"You must
stop the car when the traffic light turns red."
"You must
pay your taxes."
"She must
stop drinking if she wants to keep her job."
"I must
go now, otherwise I will miss my train."
- "Must
not" (or "mustn't") is used to show you are not allowed to do something
"You mustn't steal."
"He mustn't
talk to his parents like that."
"The fruit of this bush must
not be eaten because it is toxic."
- To
show that something is very logical or very likely to be true
"He left at noon, so he must
be there already."
"She is not stupid, so she must have
known what she was doing!"
"They must
be really rich to live in such a house."
Uses
of "ought to"
(negative: ought not to)
- To
say what is the right thing to do ("should" is the more common word)
"In her condition, she ought
to quit smoking."
"I believe you ought
to apologize."
"He was watching TV when he ought to have
been studying."
Uses
of "shall" (short form: 'll,
negative: shall not, shan't)
- Used
with "I" and "we" to talk about the future (especially in formal
British English)
"I shall
leave tomorrow morning."
"I'll
never forget you."
"We shall
overcome."
"I shan't be
late again."
- Used
with "I" and "we" to ask questions or make suggestions
"Shall
I close the door?"
"What shall
we do tonight?"
"Let's start, shall
we?"
Uses
of "should" (negative:
should not, shouldn't)
- To
say what is the right thing to do
"You should
be helping your mother."
"If he doesn't like the job, he should tell it
to his boss."
"If you knew you were going to be so late, you should have
called."
- To
give advice or ask for advice
"You should
try the new restaurant down the street."
"What should
I do? Should
I tell him the truth?"
"Should
I try to take the exam again?"
- To
show that something is likely to be true or that it is expected
"Let's return home, dinner should be
ready by now."
"We should
arrive there by twelve o'clock."
"I should
get an e-mail from him soon."
Uses
of "will" (short form:
'll, negative: will not, won't)
- To
talk about future actions or future states (not plans)
"I hope he will
pass his exams."
"She'll
be very happy to hear this."
"They will
not be here on time."
"You won't
feel a thing."
- For
promises or intentions
"Leave it, I will
do the dishes."
"It must be Joe at the door, so I'll get it."
"I won't
do that again, I promise."
Uses
of "would" (short form: 'd,
negative: would not, wouldn't)
- As
the past form of "will" in reported speech
"I will handle it myself." --> "He said he would handle
it himself."
"I won't be late." --> "He said he wouldn't be
late."
"She'll change her mind in the end." --> "He said she'd change her
mind in the end."
- To
talk about an imagined situation
"What would
you do if you were a millionaire?"
"I wish he'd take a break."
"I would
have cleaned the house, but I was too tired."
- To
make a polite request
"Would
you mind closing the window?"
"Would
you get me the paper, please?"
"Would
someone please answer the phone?"
- To
invite someone, or offer something, politely
"Would you like
a drink?"
"We are going for a walk, would
you like to join us?"
"Would
you like to meet her?"
- To
say that you want something or want to do something
I would like
= a polite way of saying, "I want."
I would hate
= a polite way of saying, "I don't want."
I would rather
= a polite way of saying, "I prefer."
"I would
like a cup of coffee, please."
"I would
hate to miss this opportunity."
"We'd
rather study with you."
- "Would
you like to come with us?"
-" I'd
love to, but I can't."
Wow! That was quite a lot of information about English Modal Verbs,
wasn't it?
Let's sum it up...
English Modal Verbs Table
Modal verb |
Usage |
Example |
can |
ability |
I can do several
things
at the same time. |
when something is
possible |
Miracles can happen. |
permission |
You can go now. |
informal requests |
Can you come here for a
minute? |
could |
past form of "can" |
She said she could pay
for us as well. |
polite requests |
Could you move
your bag, please? |
possibility |
It could be that he
missed the train. |
may |
possibility |
It may rain tomorrow. |
ask for or give
permission (formal) |
May I speak? |
might |
past form of "may" |
He said he might
change his mind. |
possibility |
This might fail. |
must |
you have to do it |
You must obey the law. |
it's very logical or
very likely to happen |
They left so early,
they
must be home by now. |
must not/
mustn't |
you are not
allowed to do it |
You mustn't smoke in
here. |
shall |
future for "I" and "we" |
I shall see him
tomorrow. |
questions and
suggestions for "I" and "we" |
Let's continue, shall
we? |
should |
the right thing to
do |
She should call the
police. |
advice |
- What should
I do?
- You should stop
thinking about it. |
what is likely or
expected to happen |
We should be
back by
midnight. |
will |
future action or
states
(not plans) |
Prices will go up
next summer. |
promises and intentions |
It's alright, I'll
pick it up. |
would |
past form of "will" |
He told me he would
come. |
imagined situations |
What would you do
if you were him? |
for polite requests,
offers and invitations |
- Would you please sit
down?
- Would you like some tea?
- We are meeting with Sarah
next Saturday, would you like to come along? |
to say what you
want to do or have |
I would like a piece
of cake. |
ought to |
the right thing to do |
You ought to apologize. |
English
Modal Verbs – Situations
Table
Situation |
Modal Verb |
Example |
requests
(formal) |
may |
May I sit down? |
requests
(informal) |
can |
Can I sit down? |
requests
(polite) |
could |
Could I sit down? |
requests
(polite) |
would |
Would you mind if I
sit down? |
permission
(formal) |
may |
You may sit down. |
permission
(informal) |
can |
You can sit down. |
obligation
(full) |
must |
You must tell the
police the truth. |
obligation
(partial) |
should |
You should tell
your friends the truth. |
obligation (partial)
(less common) |
ought to |
You ought to tell
your friends the truth. |
logical conclusions
(stronger than "should") |
must |
He left an hour ago,
so he must be there already. |
logical conclusions
(weaker than "must") |
should |
He left half an hour
ago,
I believe he should
be there already. |
possibility
(general) |
can |
It can rain sometimes. |
possibility
(weaker than
"may" and "might") |
could |
It could rain, but it
is
not very common in this
part of the country. |
possibility
(weaker than "may") |
might |
It's not very cloudy
yet,
but it might rain. |
possibility
(stronger than "might") |
may |
It's starting to get
cloudy –
it may rain soon. |
future
actions/states/intentions |
will |
Look at the sky!
It will rain soon. |
English
Modal Verbs Exercises
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