Modal Verbs

Sometimes the verbs in a sentence need a little help from other words to make their meaning
clearer. These helping words are a special type of verb, called 'modal verbs' or
'modals.' Modals help us talk about ability, necessity (the things that are necessary for us to
do), and help us give advice.
In this unit we are going to look at the following modal verbs:

Necessity Ability Advice

must can should
have to able to ought to
need to could
Formation:
 Models are followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without to).
 Modals have no –s in the third person singular.
 I can send a check online.
 Modal questions and negative sentences don't require an auxiliary verb (do).
Can I send a check online?
I can't send a check online.
 Ought to behaves like a modal but is followed by to.
He ought to  open a new bank account.
 Most modals do not have past forms. However, we use could to talk about ability in the past.
When I was younger you couldn't  get money out of the bank on the weekend.
 Some verbs such as: need to, have to, be able to are used like modals. These verbs behave like
regular verbs and have negative, question and past forms.
I have to  take out money tonight.
I wasn't able to  get to the bank before it closed.
Do you need to take out a loan to pay for this?
Read the sentences to see how we use modals:

I can withdraw money from the ATM nearby.

We should try to find a bank with the lowest maintenance fees.
I have to deposit a check tomorrow.
You must pay a fee in order to have a debit card.
We ought to deposit more money into our savings account.
Are you able to do all your banking online?
I spent more money than I had and had to pay an overdraft fee.
I couldn't take out a loan to buy a car.