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Modal Verbs in English

Modal verbs are special helping verbs that express ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and more. They are essential for fluent English but have unique rules.

1. What Are Modal Verbs?

  • Function: Add meaning to the main verb (e.g., ability, necessity, advice).
  • Structure: Modal + Base Verb (without "to")
    • She can swim.

List of Common Modal Verbs

Modal Verb

Key Uses

Can

Ability, Permission, Possibility

Could

Past ability, Polite requests, Hypothetical situations

May

Permission, Possibility (formal)

Might

Weak possibility

Shall

Suggestions (formal), Future (British English)

Should

Advice, Obligation (weaker than must)

Must

Strong obligation, Certainty

Will

Future, Promises, Instant decisions

Would

Polite requests, Hypotheticals, Past habits

2. Key Uses of Modal Verbs

A. Ability

  • Can / Could (past ability)
    • She can speak Spanish. (Present)
    • When I was young, I could run fast. (Past)

B. Permission>

  • Can / Could / May (formal)
    • "Can I borrow your pen?" (Informal)
    • "May I leave early?" (Formal)

C. Obligation & Necessity

  • Must / Have to / Should
    • You must wear a seatbelt. (Strong rule)
    • You should study more. (Advice)

D. Possibility & Probability

  • Might / May / Could / Must / Can’t
    • It might rain later. (Possible)
    • He must be tired. (Certainty)
    • She can’t be at home. (Impossible)

E. Requests & Offers

  • Can / Could / Would
    • "Could you help me?" (Polite)
    • "Would you like some tea?" (Offer)

F. Advice & Suggestions

  • Should / Ought to / Shall
    • You should see a doctor.
    • Shall we go now? (Suggestion)

3. Important Rules

✔ No "to" after modals

✔ No conjugation (no -s in 3rd person)

  • She can drive.

✔ Use "not" for negation (no "don’t/doesn’t")

✔ Many modals lack past/future forms (use alternatives)

  • Can → Could / Will be able to
  • Must → Had to (past obligation)

Final Note:

Check the right forms of modal verbs on PROMT.One Conjugator and see the usage of modal verbs in Context to understand better their meaning