MODALS

There are 9 main modal verbs in English which have many different functions. Here are just a few of the
common uses:
Modal
Can

Could

Might
May
Must

Will

Would
Shall
Should

Example

Function

I can swim.

present ability

We can watch TV.

permission

Paris can be very hot.

occasional possibility

I could swim.

past ability

We could watch TV.

past permission

We could go out.

making suggestions

It could rain later

future possibility

It might rain later.

future possibility

He might be French.

present possibility

You may watch TV.

permission

It may rain later.

possibility

I must go home.

obligation

He must be angry.

deduction

I'll answer the phone.

spontaneous decision

He'll be late.

prediction

I'll kill him!

threat/promise

I'll help you.

offer

I'd never kill someone.

hypothesising

I'd often watch TV.

past habits

Shall we go home?

making suggestions

I shall be late.

prediction (formal)

You should rest.

advice

He should be asleep.
expectation
Note: the negatives don't always mean the exact opposite of the positive forms. You can learn more about
this on the pages for the different functions.
Common Problems
You can never use two modal verbs together.
I will must stop smoking before I'm 30. X
Fortunately, most modal verbs have expressions with a similar meaning which you can use instead.
I will have to stop smoking before I'm 30.
After a modal verb we use an infinitive without 'to'.
I must to go home now. X
I must go home now.
However, many similar expressions are used with 'to'.
I ought to go home now. ( = should go)
I have to go home now. ( = must go)
I used to eat lots of cake. ( = would eat)
I 'm not allowed to drink beer. ( = can't drink)

Modal Verbs of Obligation

MUST, HAVE TO and CAN
Vampires must drink blood, not water.
Vampires don't have to kill people - theycan just drink a little blood if they prefer.
Vampires mustn't go out in the day or the sun will kill them!
Obligation
It's necessary

You must do it.

You have to do it.

It's your choice

You can do it.

It's not necessary

You don't have to do it.

Don't do it!

You mustn't do it.

Questions
Is it necessary?

Do I have to do it?

Is it allowed?

Can I do it?

It is possible to ask questions with "must I do it?", but it sounds more formal and is less common.
Mustn't or Don't Have To?
The meaning for these is completely different. Mustn't means it is very wrong, or it is a very bad
idea. Don't have to means that you don't need to do something (if you don't want to). For example:
You mustn't eat this - it's poisonous.
You don't have to eat this if you don't like it.
Must or Have to?
Often we use these words to mean the same thing. However, you can use must to show that you think
it is necessary, andhave to to show that another person thinks it's necessary.
I must do some homework tonight.
(I think it's important to do it)
I have to do some homework tonight.
(my teacher / parents told me to do it)
If you want to use any other tense, we always use have to.
One day I'll have to learn to drive.
I've never had to work very hard.

Can and Could for Ability

General Abilities
Some abilities are general: you have the skill to do it at any time you like.
I can play the accordion.
I could play the violin when I was a child.
Remember: modal verbs don't need an 's' for he/she/it, and always have an infinitive verb (without
'to') after them.
He cans play the piano. X
He can play the piano.
They can to make delicious cakes. X
They can make delicious cakes.
General Abilities
Present

I can speak 3 languages.

I can't speak Arabic.

Past

Can you speak any languages?

I could speak some German when

I was 15.

I couldn't speak any Spanish when

I was 15.

Could you speak French when you

were 15?

Note: if you want to talk about abilities in the future, or use other tenses, you need to use be able to.
I will be able to speak perfect French one day.
I have been able to swim since I was a child.
Specific Abilities in the Past
Not all abilities are general. Some abilities happen only once (or a certain number of times) in a
particular situation. In positive sentences, we only use was able to.
I was very tired but I could stay awake all night. X
I was very tired but I was able to stay awake all night.
If the sentence is negative, we use could or was able to.
I couldn't hear him because of the music.
I wasn't able to hear him because of the music.

Modal Verbs of Deduction

MUST, MIGHT and CAN'T
Look at her teeth! She must be a vampire.
Be careful. She might be hungry.
She can't be a vampire - they don't exist!
Note: We never use "can" or "mustn't" with this meaning - only "must" and "can't".
Modal
Meaning
Example
MUST

I'm very sure

She must be a
vampire.

MIGHT
COULD

I think it's
possible

She might be hungry.

She could be hungry.

CAN'T

It's
impossible

She can't be a
vampire.

Modal verbs are always followed by the infinitive (without 'to'). But you need to decide if you are
talking about a state, an action in progress, or a finished action/state.
Present States
He might be at home
modal + infinitive
now.
Actions in progress now
He might be
workingnow.

modal + be + verb-ing

Past Actions/States
He might have gone out.

modal + have + past

participle

STATE VERBS
Not all verbs describe actions. For example, the verbs believe and want are inside you, you
don't do them. These verbs are states not actions, so we don't usually make continuous tenses with
them.
At the moment, I want some coffee.
(not "I am wanting...")
Common State Verbs

Examples

Likes/dislikes
adore, love, like, don't mind, dislike, hate,
loathe, approve, disapprove, prefer

I like rabbits.
I loathe coffee.

Possession
have, own, possess, belong, owe

I own 3 houses.
That chair belonged to me.

Senses
be, see, hear, seem, appear, smell, feel,
sound

He seems tired.
I heard a noise.

Thinking/the mind
know, understand, believe, think, agree,
disagree, suppose, suspect, doubt

I know your sister.

I agree with you.

Describing things
weigh, contain, consist, measure, cost, be

My car cost a lot.

This bag weighs a lot.

Wants
want, need, fancy, desire, wish

I need a new job.

I fancy a drink.

Note 1: some verbs have more than one meaning, which can be an action or a state.
She is smelling a flower.
(action in progress, not "she smells ...")
The flower smells lovely.
(state, not "it is smelling")
There are lots of verbs like this. Here are some more examples:
I think you are crazy!
a state: think = in my opinion
I'm thinking about my new boyfriend.
an action: think = dreaming about
I have three cars.
a state: have = possess
I'm having dinner.
an action: have dinner = eat dinner
Note 2: You can't make the present continuous with a state verb, but you can use state verbs in their ing form when they are nouns. For example:
Having a brother is great! (Having is a noun)
I am having have a brother. (am having is a verb)