Modal verbs

Modal verbs (also called modal auxiliary verbs) express a variety of attitudes (“moods”)
towards a possible action or state the lexical verb refers to. They are used to express meaning
connected with the ideas of ability, obligation, freedom to act and opportunity, and to assess
the likelihood of events,.
Modal verbs convey two main areas of meaning. One is connected to the degree of certainty
of something, it has to do with matters of knowledge, belief and supposition, indicating if an
action or situation is certain, probable, possible or impossible (epistemic modality).
The other is related to the ideas of obligation or freedom to act, expressing the capability,
opportunity, permission or, on the contrary, prohibition to perform a given action.
Furthermore, modal verbs are used to express volition, to give advice, make suggestions and
recommendations, issue invitations, make requests, offer something as well as offer to do
something. Modals, it must be remembered, convey more than one meaning, and their uses
sometimes partly overlap. This is certainly one the reasons which make them difficult to
master.
In addition to must, there are four paired modals: can-could; may-might; will-would; shall
should. The second modal of each couple has a meaning of its own but can also be, in reported
speech, the past of the first modal. Aside from this case – and with the exception of can, and
sometimes will, which have could and would respectively as their pasts – modal verbs do not
have specific forms to indicate the past. Moreover, in pragmatic uses (in requests, offers,
and so on) the second modal of the couple is often a more polite and tentative variant of the
first. While semantically they can be divided into various groups, modal verbs share the same
formal characteristics.
Modals are defective verbs, they have only one form each;
they are not inflected;
they lack non-finite forms (present or past participles, to-infinitive);
cannot be preceded by auxiliaries;
cannot be used in the imperative;
are followed by verbs in the bare infinitive.
Questions, negative sentences and short answers are made without the auxiliary do/does/did.
Actually modals, being auxiliary verbs, function as operators in the clause: they are used to
construct negative and interrogative sentences as well as in short answers and tags:
He must be in his office
This shouldn’t be difficult to do
Can you look after the children for a couple of minutes?
You will help me with my homework, won’t you?
A: He could play the piano when he was five. B: Could he?
Can you play polo? Yes I can

Will and would have both contracted affirmative and negative forms (‘ll, ‘d and won’t,
wouldn’t respectively). The other modals have contracted negative forms (can’t; couldn’t;
mayn’t; mightn’t; mustn’t; shan’t; shouldn’t); shan’t and mayn’t are used only in British
English; mayn’t is hardly ever found.

Modals cannot combine; if in a sentence two modalities need to be expressed the second verb
will be a semi-modal forms such as be able to or have to:

You may have to pay cash

He won’t be able to reach us

Semi-modal (or quasi-modal) verbs, such as be able to or have to, have a semantic connection
with modals but do not share their formal characteristics; they provide supplementary, but
sometimes also alternative, forms to modals. For example, be able to must be used instead
of could when talking about a specific action in the past, but it also acts as an alternative
emphatic substitute for can:

I was finally able to pass the test (not: *I could pass the test)
I can/am able to speak Japanese

Modals can be followed by verbs in the progressive and perfective aspect as well as be
combined with a passive form of a lexical verb:

He must still be working

She could have won
He may have been sleeping
They should be informed
You might have been killed
Can - Could
English Grammar - Modal Verbs

Both Can and Could are Modal Verbs. In general Could is considered more polite (or
formal) that Can.

CAN
The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. However there
are some other used of Canas we will see below.
1. To express ability
Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.

 Birds can fly.

 Elephants can't fly.
 I can speak two languages.

2. To express a possibility (in general)

This refers to a theoretical possibility.
Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might.

 It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.

 I know you can win the competition.
 Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be cheap.

3. To offer to do something for others

Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them.

 You don't need to walk home. I can take you there if you like.
 Can I carry your bags for you?

4. To ask for or give permission / To request something

Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.
Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.

 You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now.

 Can I sit in that chair please?
 Mary, you can play outside if you like.
 Can I ask you a question?
 You can't go to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.
 We can't leave the room until the assignment is completed.
5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed

 We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.

 You can drive as fast as you want on the German motorways.
 You can't smoke in the restaurant.
 You cannot drive a car without a license.

6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is surprising

 It can't be dark outside! It's only 4.30pm!

 They can't have landed on the moon, I'm sure it's a hoax.

For more examples, including how to make questions, see our grammar notes about Can -
Cannot. You might also want to see our Can - Can't - Cannot Game

COULD

Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in the past tense (though not always)
1. To express ability in the past

 I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.

 She could juggle eight balls when she was only 10 years old.
 He could read when he was three years old.

2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something (in the present)

 Could I please use your bathroom?

 Could we move on to the next topic now please?
 Could you pass me the salt please?
 I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?

3. General permission in the past

 In high school, we couldn't leave the classroom without a pass.

 He couldn't go to the concert because his mother wouldn't let him.

4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and opportunities)

 He could try and fix it himself.

 We could go to the movies if you are interested.
5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue
Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are sure that something isn't true or real.

 That couldn't be my cat meowing outside, it was hit by a car last week.
 He couldn't have painted that. He has no artistic ability at all.

6. Could + have + past participle: To express a possibility in the past

To express that something was possible but did not happen.

 We were lucky because it could have rained but it didn't.

 Why did you do that? You could have broken your leg.

7. Could + have + past participle: Unrealised past ability

This is used to say that someone was able to do something, but they did not try to do it.
Sometimes this is a form of criticism.

 She could have married anyone she wanted to.

 Why did you sit there doing nothing? You could have helped me.

8. Could: A conditional form of Can

Would + Can = Could. Note: Would be able to can replace could in the following examples.

 If we had some oranges I could make you some fresh juice.

 I could write the letter if you told me what to include.

Can vs Could Summary Chart

MAY & MIGHT

May and Might are modal verbs.

They can normally be interchanged without a significant difference in meaning.

 I might go
 I may go
May and Might more or less have the same meaning. (We will see more about this later)
With modals verbs, there is only one form of them for every subject pronoun.

For example with the modal verb MIGHT. We say…

 I might
 You might
 He might
 She might
 It might
 We might
 They might
The same happens with MAY … I may, you may, he may, she may, it may, we may, they
may.

Just like the other modal verbs, there is never an S at the end of may or might:
 She mights stay. (This is NOT CORRECT)
 She might stay. (This is CORRECT)
After MIGHT or MAY we have the verb, or more specifically, the base form of the
infinitive.
This means the infinitive without To. For example the infinitive is To Go so the base form
is just the Go part.
Instead of To Study, only study. Instead of To speak, we only put Speak after the modal verbs
MIGHT and MAY.

For example:

 You might to go.

(This is NOT correct – we don’t use all of the infinitive – we need to remove the TO part)

So we say…

 You might go. (This is correct)

Also:

 She might knows.

(This IS NOT correct – we don’t conjugate the verb so no S is necessary – we need the base
form of the infinitive)… so we say…

 She might know. (This is correct)

Example Sentences using MAY and MIGHT
Some example sentences with May and Might are…
 I might watch another episode.
 You may bring a partner to our event.
 He may have been
 She might tell us what happened if we ask her.
 It might rain this afternoon.
 We may be invited but I’m not sure.
 They might go to the beach this weekend.
When do we use MAY and MIGHT in English?

1. We can use May and Might – To express possibility

There is a chance of something being true or there is a possibility of something happening.

Note: Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.

 Take an umbrella, it might rain later. (This means there is a possibility that it will rain
later)
You can also say… it may rain later.
 I think she may win the singing competition …because her voice is amazing.
 They might be late because of the bus strike.
2. We can use May To ASK FOR permission
Note: May sounds more polite than using Can or Could when asking for permission.
 May I have some water please?
 May I borrow your dictionary?
 May I use the bathroom please?
It is best to use PLEASE in the question to make it more polite?

Note: In theory, Might can also be used to request permission but it sounds very formal and
is rare.
3. We can also use May – To GIVE permission
We do NOT use Might to give permission.

 You may open the window if you become hot.

 You may take a brochure if you like.
 You may leave the room once you have finished the test.
4. To NOT give permission
We can use May not to NOT give permission or to PROHIBIT someone from doing
something.
 You may not park your car in front of the gate. (No, it is not permitted)
 You may not leave the room without permission.
 You may not take photos inside the museum. (It is prohibited)
5. May: to talk about typical occurrences
May is used in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things that typically happen in
certain situations.
 Drivers may feel tired if they do not take a break every 2 hours.
 Adults may find it difficult to sleep if they use technology before going to bed.
 These tablets may produce serious side effects if not taken in the correct dosage.
6. MAY and Might are used to Speculate about past actions.
Here we are saying that something was possible in the past but we are not sure.

For this situation we use (May + have + the past participle)

 Your comment may have offended some people.
 She is not here. She might have gone to the market.
 What was that noise outside? I think it may have been a cat.
With all of these examples, they were possible but we are not sure.

7. We can use MAY To express wishes

When expressing wishes, only May is used.
 May you both live a long and happy life together.
 May the New Year bring you love and happiness.
 May all your wishes come true.
 May the Force be with you.

.
SHOULD

Should is a modal verb.

With modals verbs, there is only one form of it for every subject pronoun:

 I should
 You should
 He should
 She should
 It should
 We should
 They should
There is never an S at the end of should:
 He shoulds study. (NOT CORRECT)
 He should study. (CORRECT)
After Should we have the base form of the infinitive (= verb without ‘To’ e.g. Go instead
of To Go)
Should + Verb (base form of infinitive)
 You should go now. (Correct)
 You should to go now. (NOT correct)
 He should wait. (Correct)
 He should waits. (NOT correct)
Example sentences with Should:
 I should eat more vegetables.
 You should take an umbrella.
 He should go to the doctor.
 She should apply for the job.
 It should be fine.
 We should study more.
 They should wait until tomorrow.
One other thing, we do not pronounce the L in the word should. (Listen to the pronunciation
of should in our video)

When do we use SHOULD in English?

1. To give advice, a recommendation or a suggestion
This is to say that it is the right thing to do or the correct thing.
 You should see the new Star Wars movie. It’s great!
 He should go to the dentist if his tooth still hurts.
 The test is next week. We should study for it now.
 You should try that new restaurant on Main Street.
2. To express that a situation is likely in the present or in the future. This is a type of
expectation or prediction.
 Mary should be at home now. Give her a call.
 He should have the letter now. I sent it last week.
 Our team should win the game on Saturday. (Because we have been training all month
so it is our expectation, or prediction that we will win.)
 It should be sunny tomorrow.
3. Expresses an obligation that is not as strong as Must.
Sometimes Should is used instead of Must to make rules, orders or instructions sound more
polite.
This may appear more frequently on formal notices or on information sheets.

 Applications should be sent before the 30th.

 He should drive more carefully.
 Everyone should wear a seatbelt in a car.
 You should pay more attention in class.
All of the above example sentences can have must instead of should making the obligation
stronger and less polite.
For example: Applications must be sent before the 30th.
4. Something was expected in the past but it didn’t happen (should + have + past
participle)
This expresses the idea that the subject did not fulfill their obligation in the past or did not
act responsibly.

 Anna is late. She should have arrived by now.

 I should have called Fred this morning but I forgot.
 You should have given your boss the report yesterday when he asked for it.
5. Not fulfilling an obligation (should + be + verb-ing)
This expresses the idea that someone is not fulfilling their obligation or is not acting sensibly
right now.

 You should be wearing your seatbelt. (The person isn’t wearing one right now)
 We should be studying for the exam. (We are not studying right now and we should be
studying)
6. Sometimes should is replaced by ought to without a change in meaning. Note
that ought to sounds more formal and is used less frequently.
 You ought to go home now. (= You should go home now)
 She ought to take her dog for more walks. (= She should take her dog…)
 They ought to stop doing that. (= They should stop doing that)

Shouldn’t

The negative of should is shouldn’t or should not.

We almost always use the contraction shouldn’t in spoken English.
We use shouldn’t to advise not to do something, usually because it is bad or the wrong thing
to do.
 You shouldn’t eat that dessert if you are sick.
This is my recommendation not to do something, not to eat that dessert.
 She shouldn’t buy that dress, it’s too big for her.
 You look tired. You shouldn’t work so much.
 He shouldn’t talk to his boss like that.
Notice how all of these sentences are about a recommendation or advice NOT to do
something.
Think + should

We do not use: I think + shouldn’t.

We use: I DON’T think + should.
 I think you shouldn’t go there. (NOT correct)
This is NOT correct because we don’t have the negative shouldn’t after I think.
Instead we make the verb THINK negative and say:

 I don’t think you should go there. (Correct)

A couple more examples:

 I don’t think he should eat that.

 I don’t think we should start yet.
Should in Questions

We use should in questions when we want advice, a recommendation, or a suggestion.

Let’s look at this affirmative sentence:

 I should go now.
How can we change this to a question?
We change the order of the modal verb should with the subject.
So the question becomes:
 Should I go now?
A couple more examples…

 Should I wear the green shirt? (I am asking for your advice or recommendation)
We can also have the W words like What, When, Why, etc. before the modal verb.

 What should we do now? (What do you suggest?)

MUST

1. To express obligation or duty

This also refers to laws and regulations.

 I must memorize all of these rules about modal verbs.

 People must remain seated until the show is over.
 You must wear a seatbelt at all times.

2. To emphasize the necessity of something

 Humans must have drinking water at least every two days.

 You must give up smoking, it's bad for you.
 We must have a special permit to camp in the national park.
 You must study the last two chapters before the test.
 Plants must have light and water to grow.
 You must drive carefully.

3. Deduction - Sure that something is true (Certainty)

We use this when we don't know but we are certain that it is true (based on evidence).

 Look at all of that snow. It must be really cold outside.

 The ground was wet this morning. It must have rained last night.
 Dinosaurs were very big, they must have eaten a lot.
 It's five in the morning and you still haven't gone to bed? You must be tired!
 Jack must be home. I heard a noise coming from his room.

4. Expresses positive logical assumptions (Must + have + past participle)

 That must have been my mother calling me last night, nobody else has my number.
 He must have won the lottery with the new house and car he has just bought.
 She must have been at home - her car was there.

5. A strong recommendation
Something that is highly recommended (stronger than using should)

 We really must get together for dinner sometime.

 You must see the new Peter Jackson movie, it's fantastic.
 The ice cream here is delicious. You must try some.

Must Summary Chart

Mustn't
The negative is Mustn't which refers to prohibition (negative obligation)
Mustn't = Must not

 You mustn't use your smartphone while you are driving.

 You mustn't get on the subway if you haven't paid for the ride.
 You must not open the gift until it is your birthday.
 We must not tell anyone.

Must vs. Have to

Must can be replaced by Have to with little difference in meaning:

 You have to study. (= you must study)

 He has to finish the report by Friday. (= He must finish the report by Friday)
 They have to resit the test. (= They must resit the test)

Have to is a more informal while Must is mostly used in written orders or instructions.
Also, Must expresses obligation imposed by the speaker while Have to expresses external
obligation.
  Teacher: You must complete this essay by Friday
 Student: We have to complete this essay by Friday.

When we are mentioning someone else's obligations, we use Have to.

 John has to quit smoking.

For questions it is more common to use Have to instead of Must (which sounds very
formal):

 When do you have to pay finish the report?

 Does he have to take a blood test?

The past tense of Must is Had to:

 I had to pay my speeding ticket yesterday.

Mustn't vs. Don't have to

Be careful with the negative of Must and Have to where they DO have a different
meaning. Mustn't is a negative obligation (= it is important that you do NOT do something)
while Don't have to is an absence of obligation.
Mustn't = it is prohibited; it is not allowed
Don't have to = no obligation; you are not required to do something, especially if you don't
want to.

 You must not drink that. (= it is forbidden to drink that; it is not allowed)
 You don't have to drink that. (= you don't need to drink that but you can if you want)
 You mustn't tell John (= Do not tell John)
 You don't have to tell John (= you can tell John if you want to but it is not necessary)
Auxiliary Verbs "Will/Would" and "Shall/Should"

The verbs will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, and must cannot be the main
(full) verbs alone. They are used as auxiliary verbs only and always need a main verb to
follow.

Will
Used to express desire, preference, choice, or consent:

 I will take this duty.

 Will you stop talking like that?

Used to express the future:

 It will rain tomorrow.

 The news will spread soon.
Used to express capacity or capability:

 This bucket will hold two gallons of water.

 This airplane will take 200 passengers.

Used to express determination, insistence, or persistence:

 I will do it as you say.

Would (past form of will)

Often used in auxiliary functions with rather to express preference:

 I would rather go shopping today.

 We’d rather say something than stay quiet.

Used to express a wish or desire:

 I would like to have one more pencil.

Used to express contingency or possibility:

 If I were you, I would be so happy.

Used to express routine or habitual things:

 Normally, we would work until 6 p.m.

Shall
Mainly used in American English to ask questions politely (it has more usages in British
English). For the future tense, will is more frequently used in American English than shall.

 Shall we dance?
 Shall I go now?
 Let’s drink, shall we?

Often used in formal settings to deliver obligation or requirement:

 You shall abide by the law.

 There shall be no trespassing on this property.
 Students shall not enter this room.

Should (past form of shall)

Often used in auxiliary functions to express an opinion, suggestion, preference, or idea:

 You should rest at home today.

  I should take a bus this time.
 He should be more thoughtful in the decision-making process.

Used to express that you wish something had happened but it didn’t or couldn’t (should +
have + past participle):

 You should have seen it. It was really beautiful.

 I should have completed it earlier to meet the deadline.
 We should have visited the place on the way.

Used to ask for someone’s opinion:

 What should we do now?

 Should we continue our meeting?
 Should we go this way?
 Where should we go this summer?

Used to say something expected or correct:

 There should be an old city hall building here.

 Everybody should arrive by 6 p.m.
 We should be there this evening.