MODAL VERBS

MODAL
USAGE EXAMPLES
VERB
1. ABILITY Can you speak French?

2. PERMISSION/ REQUESTS/ OFFERS Can I leave early today?

CAN

Can I have some more tea?

Can I help you?
3. POSSIBILITY They railways can be improved

4. PROHIBITION (Negative form) You cant smoke here.

1. PERMISSION (Formal, polite) May I speak to you for a minute?

MAY

2. POSSIBILITY The railways may be improved.

1. TENTATIVE POSSIBILITY (something which is John might come with me.

possible but unlikely)
MIGHT

2. PERMISSION (Very polite and formal, mostly I wonder if I might have a look
used in indirect question structures)
3. SUGGESTION You might have a look at this
book.
1. TENTATIVE POSSIBILITY (something which is It could be true.
possible but unlikely)
COULD

2. TACTFUL REQUEST FOR PERMISSION Could we ask you what your

opinion is?
3. SUGGESTION. You could clean the office while
Im away.
You must be careful
1. OBLIGATION AND PROHIBITION You mustnt smoke here.
MUST

2. CERTAINTY OR LOGICAL DEDUCTION BASED Mary must have a problem

ON EVIDENCE (Only in affirmative
sentences)
 1. ADVICE
2. WEAKENED PROHIBITION (negative advice)
3. OBLIGATION WHICH MAY NOT BE FULFILLED.
SHOULD
4. PROBABILITY, WEAKER EQUIVALENT OF
MUST (=certainty)
5. HYPOTHETICAL MEANING (FORMAL)
1. SUGGESTIONS, OFFERINGS
Questions with shall I/we..? are used to ask for
instructions or decisions, to offer services, and to
make suggestions.
SHALL
You should stay in bed until you
start to recover
You shouldnt waste all that
money on smoking.
All students should submit their
work by a given date (but some of
them dont)
Our guests should be home by
know (They probably are but Im
not certain)
There shouldnt be any difficulties.
If a serious crisis should arise, the
government would have to take
immediate action.
Shall I open the window?
What time shall we come and see
you?

2. OBLIGATION The hirer shall be responsible for

In contracts and other legal documents, shall is maintenance of the vehicle.
often used with third person subjects to refer to
obligations and duties.
In normal usage, we prefer will, must or should to
express ideas of this kind.

1. FUTURE (decisions, promises, threats, I promise I wont smoke again

refusals) I wont do it
2. PREDICTABILITY OR CHARACTERISTIC A lion will only attack a human
BEHAVIOR being when it is hungry.
3. WILLINGNESS A: Will you lend me those scissors
WILL

for a moment?
B: OK, I will if you promise to
return them.
4. INSISTENCE He will try to mend it itself (he
insists on trying)
5. REQUESTS (informal) Will you make sure the waters
hot?
6. IMPATIENT COMMAND Will you be quiet!
1. HYPOTHETICAL MEANING I would tell you if I knew.
2. PAST HABIT (characteristic behavior, sense He would wait for her outside the
of nostalgia) office every day.
3. POLITE REQUEST Would you please tell me your
WOULD

phone number?
4. OFFERS Would you like a cup of tea?
5. PREFERENCE (would prefer, would rather) I would prefer to stay in a house
rather than in a hotel.
Id rather stay in a house than in a
hotel.
6. TENTATIVE WISH (would like, would prefer, I would like to stay in an
would rather) inexpensive hotel.
Past tense

Perfect aspect (to refer to the past)

(MODAL + HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE)
MUST, SHOULD, MAY, MIGHT, WOULD
He should have done it long before
He may have forgotten.
If I had known, I would have told you.

Modals with passive voice (passive voice avoids the identification of the agent)
MODAL+ BE+ PAST PARTICIPLE
To produce the best results the plant should be supplied with water which
carries no contamination
The methods could be refined and made more accurate.