Modal verbs

Group

Name

NIM

Explanation

Modal Auxiliaries is a helping verb that usually express a speaker’s attitudes,or “mood”. For the
axample, modals can express if the speaker feels something is necessary/obligation, advisable,
permissible, possible, or probable; and, in addition, they can tell the strength of these attitude. In modal
verbs we don’t have to add “s” for the third singular in present tense, don’t have the infinitive form (I’m
canning, I’m woulding), and that followed with the main verbs.

Could

Might

Have to

Should

Would

1. Can, could, and (be) able to

Can : we can use “can” for the permittion, possibility or the ability of person e.g. :

 Rina can speak Korean language.

The modal verb is “can” that show if Rina has the ability of speaking Korean with the verb
“speak”

Could : we can use “could” for the general ability or permission to do something, also we can
use to talk about probability.

 Deni was an excellent singer. His voice could beat any body.
The modal verb is “could” with the following verbs “beat” show that if Deni had the general
ability to beat anybody with his voice.
 Could I open the book now?
The modal verb “could” is for asking permittion to open the book that following with verbs
“open”
  It could get much hotter in summer
The modal verb “could” with following verbs “get” is the probability that in summer month is
hotter

(be) able to : is possible instead of can but can is more usual. Can has only two forms, can (present)
and could (past) so sometimes it is necessary to use (be) able to … compare :

 I can’t sleep but I haven’t been able to sleep recently

Because can has no present perfect so we use “been able to”

2. May and might

May and Might : Used to say that something is possible but also has a similar with “could” as the
probable thing.

 Rahman isn’t home, he may be in his friend’s house.

The modal verb “may” with the following verbs “be” tell that the possibility if Rahman doesn’t
home perhaps he is in his friend’s house.
 The phone is ringing. It might be Tim
The modal verb “might” with the following verbs “be” tell that the probability if Tim the one
who call in the phone.

3. Must and Have to

Must : Used for personal feelings to say that it is necessary to do something. Sometimes it
doesn’t matter which you use and this can be used to talk about present or future, but not the past.

 “Jeena is a really nice person. You must meet her!”

The modal verb “must” with the following verbs “meet” tell that it is necessary to meet Jeena
because she was a really nice person.

Have to : Used for impersonal that shown facts to say that it is necessary to do something
because the rule or the situation. Sometimes it doesn’t matter which you use and can be used in all past
present and future form.

 My eyesight isn’t very good. I have to wear a glasses for reading.

The modal verb “have to” with the following verbs “wear” tell that I must use the glasses
because the situation, that my eyesight isn’t very good.

Reference/source ( book/url)