Modal Verbs

Why, when, and how to

use them.
 Main caracteristcis
 A special type of auxiliary verb;
 They alter or complete the meaning of the
main verb;
 They express ideas such as capacity,
possibility, obligation, permission, prohibition,
probability, supposition, request, and desire.
 They can also indicate the level of formality in
the conversation.
 They do not take “s” for the third person
singular.
 Main modal verbs

CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT,

MUST, SHALL, WILL, SHOULD,
OUGHT TO, and WOULD.
 CAN
One of the most commonly used
modals in English. It can express
ideas such as capacity,
permission or request.
Examples:

She can speak French. (capacity)

He can come in now. (permission)

Can you lend me your pen, please?

(request)
 COULD
It expresses possibility,
past ability as well as
suggestions and requests.
Examples:

Extreme rain could cause the river

to flood the city (possibility)

John could run very fast when he

was younger (past ability)
We could go to an ice-cream parlor or
stay home and watch a movie.
(suggestion)

Could I use your cell phone for a

moment? (request)
 MAY
It is most commonly used to
express possibility. It can
also be used to give or ask
for permission.
Examples:
Maria may be at school or at home.
(possibility)

May he leave the room with me?

(asking for permission)

Yes, he may leave the room with you.

(giving permission)
 MIGHT
It is more commonly used to
indicate possibility. However, it
can also be used to make
suggestions or requests; this is
a rare use, though.
Examples:

Your backpack might be under the desk.

(possibility)

You might go to the Bodódromo during

your visit. (suggestion)

Might I open the door?

(request – British standard)
 MUST
It can be used to talk about certainty,
that is, something you are almost
sure is true. Moreover, it can be used
to talk about obligation, prohibition,
necessity or strong recommendation.
Examples:

She must be sick. She never gets

late to school. (probability)

Students must pass an entrance

examination to study at this
school. (necessity)
You must drink a lot of water to
protect your voice. (strong
recommendation)

Sarah, you must always do your

homework. (obligation)
 SHALL
It indicates a future action. It is
more commonly used with the first
person singular and plural (I and
we) often found in suggestions,
promises, or predestinations.
Examples:

Shall we set the table? (suggestion)

I shall never leave your side. (promise)

She shall become our next queen.

(predestination)
 WILL
It is more commonly used to talk about
future situations. Nonetheless, it can
also be used to talk about the present
when we want to make a request. It is
also used in situations in which we
make instant decisions.
Examples:

I will call you later. (future action)

Will you close the window, please?

(request)

I loved that T-shirt! I’ll take it. (instant

decision)
 SHOULD
This modal is more commonly
used to give recommendations
or advices. It can also be used
to talk about obligation as well
as expectation.
Examples:

When you have many classes, you

should take a bottle of water with
you. (recommendation)

You should focus more on your

assignments. (advice)
I should be at work before 7pm.
(obligation)

At this moment, they should already

be in New York. (expectation)
 OUGHT TO
It is used to advise or make
recommendations. It can also express
assumption, expectation, or strong
probability when the context implies
that something is deserved.
Examples:

She ought to stop eating red meat.

(recommendation)

Sam ought to get a promotion.

(expectation – because he deserves it)
Those apartments ought to increase in
value due to the construction of the new
mall. (assumption)

You ought to know. (Alanis Morissette’s

1995 hit “You Ought to Know”.
 WOULD
It is more commonly used to
create conditional verb tenses.
In addition, it can be used to
make offers, requests, and talk
about past habits.
Examples:

If I were you, I would not do that

again. (2nd conditional)

Would you like some cake? (offer)

Would you turn down the volume,
please? (request)

We would swim in the dam for

hours when we were kids. (past
habits)
Other modals which can be used to
make conditional sentences: could,
might, will and should.

If I knew her name, I might tell.

I could have told you the truth if you
had listened to me.
If I should see him, I’ll give him the
message.