\Modal verbs

The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They are used with other
verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on. Below is a list showing the most useful
modals and their most common meanings:
Modal Meaning Example
can to express ability I can speak a little Russian.
can to request permission Can I open the window?
may to express possibility I may be home late.
may to request permission May I sit down, please?
must to express obligation I must go now.
must to express strong belief She must be over 90 years old.
should to give advice You should stop smoking.
would to request or offer Would you like a cup of tea?
would in if-sentences If I were you, I would say sorry.
Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They do not change their form (spelling) and they have no
infinitive or participle (past/present). The modals must andcan need substitute verbs to express
obligation or ability in the different tenses. Here are some examples:
Past simple Sorry I'm late. I had to finish my math test.
Present perfect She's had to return to Korea at short notice.
Future You'll have to work hard if you want to pass the exams.
Infinitive I don't want to have to go.
Past simple I couldn't/wasn't able to walk until I was 3 years old.
Present perfect I haven't been able to solve this problem. Can you help?
Future I'm not sure if I will be able to come to your party.
Infinitive I would love to be able to play the piano.
Modals are auxiliary verbs. They do not need an additional auxiliary in negatives or questions.
For example: Must I come? (Do I must come?), or: He shouldn't smoke (He doesn't should
smoke).
Important: The explanations and examples on this page are just an introduction to this
extensive and complex area of English grammar. Students of English who want to learn more
should consult a good reference work, such as Swan's Practical English Usage.
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English

Modal verbs - easier Reset Answers Help

Q1. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I couldn’t eat anything.
cannot
couldn’t
mustn’t
Q2. You should look at me when I am talking to you.
could
should
would

Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It must be here

somewhere!
can
could
must
would

Q4. You really must not be late again.

must not
don’t have to be

Q5. If you don’t start working harder, you will have to repeat
the course next year.
have to
must
will have to

Q6. His parents spoil him. He’s always been allowed to do

whatever he wants.
been able
been allowed

Q7. Phone her now. She must be home by now.

 has to be
must be
would be

Q8. You mustn’t forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very
hot!
don’t have to
mustn’t
needn’t

Q9. I might be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet.
might
would

Q10. Entrance to the museum was free. We needn’t pay to get

in.
needn’t
didn’t need to

Q11. Already as a child Mozart could play the piano beautifully.

could
should
would

Q12. Which sign are you more likely to see at an

airport: Bags must not be left unattended.
can
must
 may

Q13. I really must try to get fit.

may
must
would

Q14. May I take a photograph of you?

Am I allowed to
May I

Q15. Students are allowed to borrow up to 6 books at any

time.
are allowed to
could

Q16. Whose is this bag? - I don’t know, but it may belong to

Yuta.
could
may
should
would

Q17. May I go to the bathroom, please?

May
Must
Would
Q18. His excuse may be true, but I don’t believe.
can
may

Q19. It’s very important to be able to speak more than one

language.
can
be able to

Q20. I don’t like having to get up early on a Sunday.

being able to
being allowed to
having to

Q21. Could you speak French? - Only a few words, but my

Russian is pretty good.
Can
Could

Q22. Could you help me move this table? (Both answers are
possible. Choose the more polite request.)
Can
Could

Q23. I could talk already before I was two years old.

could
 should
would

Q24. I could help you, but I don’t want to.

can
could
would

Q25. Can you open the window, please.

Can
May

Q26. I couldn’t move the table. It was too heavy.

couldn’t
mustn’t
shouldn’t
wouldn’t

Q27. You must not not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
must not
do not have to

Q28. If you continue to practise so hard, you will be able

to beat me before too long!
can
could
will be able to
Q29. Can you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)
Are you able to
Can

Q30. You shouldn’t eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for
you.
don’t have to
mustn’t
shouldn’t

Q31. I’m afraid I can’t play tennis tomorrow. I’ve got a dentist
appointment.
can’t
couldn’t
would not be able to

Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you don’t
have to.
have to
don’t have to
mustn’t

Q33. What do you want to do? - Well, we could have a picnic,

but it looks like rain.
can
could
should
 would

Q34. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!

can
could
must
should

Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You mustn’t be late.

don’t have to
mustn’t

Q36. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you!
could help
could have helped
was able to help
would help

Q37. How did you do in the test? - Ok. It could have

been worse!
could be
could have been
might be
would have been

Q38. He couldn’t have broken the classroom window. He

wasn’t even in school today.
 couldn’t have
mustn’t
shouldn’t have

Q39. You can’t be tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!
don’t have to be
can’t be
mustn’t be

Q40. She must be very pleased with herself. She got the best
grades.
has to
must
cannot

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Information English

Modal verbs - easier Reset Answers Help

Q1. I didn’t feel very well yesterday. I ..... eat anything.
cannot
couldn’t
mustn’t

Q2. You ..... look at me when I am talking to you.

 could
should
would

Q3. I was using my pencil a minute ago. It ..... be here somewhere!

can
could
must
would

Q4. You really ..... be late again.

must not
don’t have to be

Q5. If you don’t start working harder, you ..... repeat the course
next year.
have to
must
will have to

Q6. His parents spoil him. He’s always ..... to do whatever he wants.
been able
been allowed

Q7. Phone her now. She ..... home by now.

has to be
must be
 would be

Q8. You ..... forget your sun cream. It’s going to be very hot!
don’t have to
mustn’t
needn’t

Q9. I ..... be able to help you, but I’m not sure yet.
might
would

Q10. Entrance to the museum was free. We ..... pay to get in.
needn’t
didn’t need to

Q11. Already as a child Mozart ..... play the piano beautifully.

could
should
would

Q12. Which sign are you more likely to see at an

airport: Bags ..... not be left unattended.
can
must
may
Q13. I really ..... try to get fit.
may
must
would

Q14. ..... take a photograph of you?

Am I allowed to
May I

Q15. Students ..... borrow up to 6 books at any time.

are allowed to
could

Q16. Whose is this bag? - I don’t know, but it ..... belong to Yuta.
could
may
should
would

Q17. ..... I go to the bathroom, please?

May
Must
Would

Q18. His excuse ..... be true, but I don’t believe.

can
may
Q19. It’s very important to ..... speak more than one language.
can
be able to

Q20. I don’t like ..... get up early on a Sunday.

being able to
being allowed to
having to

Q21. ..... you speak French? - Only a few words, but my Russian is
pretty good.
Can
Could

Q22. ..... you help me move this table? (Both answers are possible.
Choose the more polite request.)
Can
Could

Q23. I ..... talk already before I was two years old.

could
should
would

Q24. I ..... help you, but I don’t want to.

 can
could
would

Q25. ..... you open the window, please.

Can
May

Q26. I ..... move the table. It was too heavy.

couldn’t
mustn’t
shouldn’t
wouldn’t

Q27. You ..... not put your feet on the cafeteria tables.
must not
do not have to

Q28. If you continue to practise so hard, you ..... beat me before too
long!
can
could
will be able to

Q29. ..... you swim? (Both are possible. Which is better?)

Are you able to
Can
Q30. You ..... eat so much chocolate. It’s not good for you.
don’t have to
mustn’t
shouldn’t

Q31. I’m afraid I ..... play tennis tomorrow. I’ve got a dentist
appointment.
can’t
couldn’t
would not be able to

Q32. You can come to the meeting if you want but you ......
have to
don’t have to
mustn’t

Q33. What do you want to do? - Well, we ..... have a picnic, but it
looks like rain.
can
could
should
would

Q34. I’m so hungry I ..... eat a horse!

can
could
 must
should

Q35. The test starts at 10.30. You ..... be late.

don’t have to
mustn’t

Q36. Why didn’t you tell me? I ..... you!

could help
could have helped
was able to help
would help

Q37. How did you do in the test? - Ok. It ..... worse!

could be
could have been
might be
would have been

Q38. He ..... broken the classroom window. He wasn’t even in school

today.
couldn’t have
mustn’t
shouldn’t have

Q39. You ..... tired. You’ve only just got out of bed!
don’t have to be
s
 can’t be
mustn’t be

Q40. She ..... be very pleased with herself. She got the best grades.
has to
must
cannot

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

can could may might will

would must shall 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').
Probability:
First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening /
will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or 'probability'.

For example:
It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.
I don't know where John is. He could have missed the train.
This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!
Click here to find out more about probability.
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.
Click here to find out more about ability.
Obligation and Advice
We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to
give advice.

For example:
Children must do their homework.
We have to wear a uniform at work.
You should stop smoking.
Click here to find out more about obligation
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!
Past modals
The past modals 'could have + past participle', 'should have + past participle' and 'would have + past
participle' can be confusing.

Could have, should have, would have

These past modal verbs are all used hypothetically, to talk about things that didn't really happen in the
past.
Could have + past participle

1: Could have + past participle means that something was possible in the past, or you had the ability to
do something in the past, but that you didn't do it. (See also modals of ability.)
I could have stayed up late, but I decided to go to bed early.
They could have won the race, but they didn't try hard enough.
Julie could have bought the book, but she borrowed it from the library instead.
He could have studied harder, but he was too lazy and that's why he failed the exam.
Couldn't have + past participle means that something wasn't possible in the past, even if you had wanted
to do it.
I couldn't have arrived any earlier. There was a terrible traffic jam (= it was impossible for me to have
arrived any earlier).
He couldn't have passed the exam, even if he had studied harder. It's a really, really difficult exam.
2: We use could have + past participle when we want to make a guess about something that happened in
the past. (See also modals of probability.) In this case, we don't know if what we're saying is true or not
true. We're just talking about our opinion of what maybe happened.

Why is John late?

He could have got stuck in traffic.
He could have forgotten that we were meeting today.
He could have overslept.
We can also choose to use might have + past participle to mean the same thing:
He might have got stuck in traffic.
He might have forgotten that we were meeting today.
He might have got stuck in traffic.
Should have + past participle

1: Should have + past participle can mean something that would have been a good idea, but that you
didn't do it. It's like giving advice about the past when you say it to someone else, or regretting what you
did or didn't do when you're talking about yourself.

Shouldn't have + past participle means that something wasn't a good idea, but you did it anyway.
I should have studied harder! (= I didn't study very hard and so I failed the exam. I'm sorry about this
now.)
I should have gone to bed early (= I didn't go to bed early and now I'm tired).
I shouldn't have eaten so much cake! (= I did eat a lot of cake and now I don't feel good.)
You should have called me when you arrived (= you didn't call me and I was worried. I wish that you had
called me).
John should have left early, then he wouldn't have missed the plane (= but he didn't leave early and so
he did miss the plane).
2: We can also use should have + past participle to talk about something that, if everything is normal and
okay, we think has already happened. But we're not certain that everything is fine, so we use 'should
have' and not the present perfect or past simple. It's often used with 'by now'.
His plane should have arrived by now (= if everything is fine, the plane has arrived).
John should have finished work by now (= if everything is normal, John has finished work).
We can also use this to talk about something that would have happened if everything was fine, but
hasn't happened.
Lucy should have arrived by now, but she hasn't.
Would have + past participle

1: Part of the third conditional.

If I had had enough money, I would have bought a car (but I didn't have enough money, so I didn't buy a
car).
2: Because 'would' (and will) can also be used to show if you want to do something or not (volition), we
can also use would have + past participle to talk about something you wanted to do but didn't. This is
very similar to the third conditional, but we don't need an 'if clause'.
I would have gone to the party, but I was really busy.
(= I wanted to go to the party, but I didn't because I was busy. If I hadn't been so busy, I would have gone
to the party.)
I would have called you, but I didn't know your number.
(= I wanted to call you but I didn't know your number, so I didn't call you.)
A: Nobody volunteered to help us with the fair
B: I would have helped you. I didn't know you needed help.
(= If I had known that you needed help, I would have helped you.)
Try an exercise about these past modals here.
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Modal Verbs of Probability

We can use these modal verbs (also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty) when we want
to make a guess about something. We choose the verb depending on how sure we are.
1: Talking about the present:
must / might / could / may / can't
must + infinitive
might / might not + infinitive
could / could not + infinitive
may / may not + infinitive
can't + infinitive
For example:

I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David.

I ask: 'Where is Julie?'
David guesses:
She must be on the bus. (I'm fairly sure this is a good guess)
She might come soon. (maybe)
She could be lost. (maybe)
She may be in the wrong room. (maybe)
She can't be at home. (I'm fairly sure this isn't true)
Notice that the opposite of 'must' is 'can't in this case.
Will / won't
We use will and won't when we are very sure:
She'll be at work now.
Should / shouldn't
Should and shouldn't are used to make an assumption about what is probably true, if everything is as we
expect:
They should be there by now.
It shouldn't take long to drive here.
This use of should isn't usually used for negative events. Instead, it's a better idea to use will:
The underground will be very busy now (not: 'should be').
Can
Can is used for something that is generally possible, something we know sometimes happens:
Prices can be high in London.
Can is not used to talk about specific possibilities:
He could be on the bus (not: 'can be').

2: Using modal verbs to talk about the past:

must / might / could / may / can't + have + past participle
(Click here to review how to make the past participle)
must have + past participle
might / might not have + past participle
could / couldn't have + past participle
may / may not have + past participle
can't have + past participle
For example:

You: Where was Julie last night?

David:
She must have forgotten about our date.
She might have worked late.
She could have taken the wrong bus.
She may have felt ill.
She can't have stayed at home.
Will / won't + have + past participle
Will and won't / will not + have + past participle are used for past certainty (compare with present use of
'will' above):
The parcel will have arrived before now.
Should + have + past participle
Should + have + past participle can be used to make an assumption about something that has probably
happened, if everything is as we expect (compare with present use of 'should' above):
The train should have left by now
Could
We can use could + infinitive to talk about a general possibility in the past (compare with the use of 'can'
above):
Prices could be high in the sixteenth century.
This is not used to talk about specific possibilites in the past (instead we usecould + have + past
participle):
He could have been working late (not: 'could be'. As this is a specific possiblity, 'could be' is present
tense)

Modal Verbs of Obligation

Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs

We can use have to + infinitive, must + infinitive and should + infinitiveto express obligation (something
you have to do).

Present Positive Negative

have to / strong obligation (possibly from no obligation

don't have to outside) I don't have to work on Sundays.
Children have to go to school.
(sometimes 'have got to') You don't have to eat anything you
 don't like.

must / mustn't strong obligation (possibly based on negative obligation

the speaker's opinion) You mustn't smoke here.
I must study today.

should / mild obligation or advice mild negative obligation or advice

shouldn't You should save some money. You shouldn't smoke so much.

Be careful about the difference between mustn't and don't have to!
Mustn't means it's not allowed, or it's a bad idea:
You mustn't eat so much chocolate, you'll be sick
Don't have to means you don't need to do something, but it's fine if you want to do it:
I don't have to get up early at the weekend(of course, if I want to get up early, that's fine, but I can stay in
bed if I want).

Past Positive Negative

had to / didn't obligation in the past no obligation in the past

have to I had to wear a school uniform when We didn't have to go to school on
I was a child. Saturdays.

must* changes to 'had to' -

should have + a past action which didn't happen: a past action which didn't happen:
pp / shouldn't the advice / regret is too late the advice / regret is too late
have + pp You should have gone to bed earlier, You shouldn't have taken that job., it
now you have missed the train. was a bad idea.

* Remember 'must have done' is a modal verb of deduction or speculation, not obligation in the past.
For example: Julie must have left. Her coat's not here. Seemodals of probabilty for more information.

Modal Verbs of Ability

Click here for all the exercises about modal verbs

When we talk about ability, we mean two things.

First, we mean general ability. This is something that once you have learned you can do any time you
want, like being able to read or swim or speak a language, for example.
The other kind of ability is specific ability. This mean something that you can or can't do in one particular
situation. For example, being able to lift something heavy, or find somewhere you are looking for.
Present:
can / can't (for both general and specific ability)
I can play the piano.
She can speak English.
He can't drive – he's too tired.
We can't come now.
Past:
could / couldn't (for general ability)
I could read when I was four.
She could speak French when she was a child, but now she has forgotten it.
He couldn't dance at all until he took lessons.
My grandfather couldn't swim.
was able to / couldn't (for specific ability)
When the computer crashed yesterday, I was able to fix it.(not 'I could fix it')
She was able to pass the exam, even though she hadn't studied much.(not 'she could pass')
He called us because he couldn't find the house.
I couldn't open the window.
could + have + past participle (an ability someone had in the past, but didn't use)
I could have played the piano well but I didn't practise enough.
We could have come earlier.
She could have studied law, but she preferred to become a secretary.
Future:
will / won't be able to (general ability)
At the end of the course, you will be able to make your own website.
He won't be able to speak Japanese in a week! It will take months.
can / can't (specific ability)
I can help you tomorrow
I can't come to the party