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Modal verbs and their meaning
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What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs,
modal auxiliaries) are special verbs that behave
irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs
like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information
about the function of the main verb that follows it. They Free English Grammar
have a great variety of communicative functions.
Lessons and Exercises
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs: SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER

They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed",
"ing"...
They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i.
Study Pages
the bare infinitive.) Grammar
They are used to indicate modality and allow speakers to
Speaking
express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

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Phrasal verbs

Idioms

Exercises

List of modal verbs Figures of speech

Here is a list of modal verbs:
Study Skills

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

Global tests
The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries
to a large extent and may be added to the above list Business English

Literature
Use of modal verbs:
Modal verbs are used to express functions such as: Dictionaries

1. Permission Holidays
2. Ability
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3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
World news
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice Studying in the USA
7. possibility
8. probability Visit the world

Examples of modal verbs ELT books

Here is a list of modals with examples:

Modal Verb Expressing Example

Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red. Teachers
must logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day Resources
long.
Shared resources
must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.
Teaching materials
ability I can swim.
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can permission Can I use your phone, please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone, please?

may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.
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lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of

need not
obligation tomatoes in the fridge.
Learn English the fun
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible
headache.
way
should/ought
advice You should / ought to revise your lessons
to Quotes
logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been
Lyrics
working all day long.

had better advice You'd better revise your lessons Jokes

Remember
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive. EFL and ESL community
Examples: YouTube

You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

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You should see to the doctor.
There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any. Twitter

Related pages Pinterest

Modal verbs
Present and past of modals
Exercise on modals
Exercise on modals in the past
Exercise on modals: mustn't or needn't
Exercise on the meaning of modals
Must and have to
Shall and will
Is need a modal verb?

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A List of Idiomatic Expressions
What are idioms? And how can idioms help you become a fluent speaker? Discover a list of
the most widely used idiomatic expressions!

A list of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are generally used in spoken English and informal texts. Check out our list of
hundreds of phrasal verbs classified in alphabetical order.

A list of figures of speech

Do you want to provide emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity to your writing? Check
out this list of figures of speech!

A list of irregular verbs

Do you need to learn the irregular verbs in English? Here is a list of irregular verbs with
definitions and examples!

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