Modals, or modal auxiliaries, are helping verbs. Some quick rules about modals follow.

• Modals are always accompanied by other verbs.

• Modals are never conjugated.
• Modals are followed by the simple form of the verb.

Uses of Modals
Modals are used to convey many different kinds of meaning. Most modals have more
than one meaning.

Modals are used to show the following meanings.

• ability
• possibility
• probability
• permission
• advisability
• necessity
• requesting assistance
• making conclusions
• giving instructions
• making suggestions
• showing preference
• making offers
• maing promises or predictions

Reference by Usage

Function MODAL(S)
can
ability
could
could
possibility may
might
must
probability
must not
permission may
can
 could
had better
advisability ought to
should
have got to
necessity have to
must
do not have to
lack of necessity and prohibition
must not
can
could
requesting assistance
will
would
making conclusions must
giving instructions simple form of a verb
let's
making suggestions
why don't
like ... better than ...
showing preference prefer
would rather

Reference by Modal

Modal Function(s)
ability
can permission
requesting assistance
ability
could
requesting assistance
had better advisability
have to necessity
have got to necessity
let's making suggestions
like ... better than ... showing preference
possibility
may
permission
 might possibility
probability
must necessity
making conclusions
must not prohibition
prefer showing preference
simple form of the verb giving instructions
why don't making suggestions
will requesting assistance
would requesting assistance

2004 by Long Beach