THE MODAL VERBS

Here's a list of the modal verbs in English:

1. Can / could
2. may / might
3. will / would
4. must / shall
5. should / ought to

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.

2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go'
becomes 'can she go?').
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another
verb (without 'to').
Ability
We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability.

For example:
 She can speak six languages.
 My grandfather could play golf very well.
 I can't drive.
 Obligation
We can use the verb 'must' to express an order/ a
command / an obligation/ a rule.

For example:
 Children must do their homework.

Advice
We can use the verb 'should' or ‘ought to’ to express an
advice / a suggestion / a recommendation.
For example:
 You should stop drink coffee.
 Everybody ought to go to church.
Permission
We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for
and give permission. We also use modal verbs to say
something is not allowed.

For example:
 Could I leave early today, please?
 You may not use the car tonight.
 Can we swim in the lake?
 Habits
We can use 'will' and 'would' to talk about habits or things
we usually do, or did in the past.

For example:
 When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in the
restaurant next to my flat.
 John will always be late!

Probability:
We can use ‘might’ to express a probability in a formal/
polite way.
For example:
 It might rain tonight.
Possibility:
We can use ‘may’ to express a possibility in an informal
way.
For example:
You may choose any subject that you like best.
 ‘Shall’ is a modal verb used to indicate future action.
It is most commonly used in sentences with ‘I’ or
‘we’ and is often found in suggestions, such as ‘Shall
we go?’.
‘Shall’ is also frequently used in promises or
voluntary actions.
Shall I help you? - suggestion
I shall never forget where I came from. - promise
I shall take care of everything for you. - volunteering
In formal English, the use of ‘shall’ to describe future
events often expressed inevitability or predestination.
I am afraid Mr.Smith shall become our new director. -
inevitability
He shall become our next king. - predestination

NEGATIVE FORMS:

CAN’T/ CANNOT/ COULD NOT/ COULDN’T

MUST NOT / MUSTN’T/ SHALL NOT / SHAN’T
SHOULD NOT/ SHOULDN’T/OUGHT NOT TO/
OUGHTN’T TO
MAY NOT/ MAYN’T/ MIGHT NOT/ MIGHTN’T
WILL NOT/ WON’T/ WOULD NOT/ WOULDN’T
INFORMAL MANNER:
CAN
MUST
SHOULD
WILL

FORMAL MANNER:
COULD
SHALL
OUGHT TO
MAY
MIGHT
WOULD