Modal verbs in English – Cheat Sheet

Modal verb Example Use

can She can swim. ability / opportunity / permission

She can’t swim. inability
This invoice can’t be right! impossibility / probability
You can’t go yet. prohibition
Can we leave early? request

could She could swim. ability (past)

He could have missed his bus. possibility / probability (past)
Could we leave early? request (polite)
We could see a movie. suggestion / opportunity (present)

may She may swim. permission

She may not swim. prohibition
She may have swum. possibility (past)
May we leave early? request (polite)
That may be Kelly at the door. possibility

might She might swim. possibility

She might swim if … conditional
You might try the apple cake. suggestion
Might we leave early? request (UK)

must She must swim. necessity / advice / certainty

She must not swim. prohibition
She must have swum. high probability (past)
It must be cold outside. probability
My keys must be here somewhere. expectation
When must we leave? obligation
You must try the apple cake. suggestion (strong)

shall She shall swim. command / certainty

(* UK English) I shall learn the cello. intention (1st person) / future
Shall we leave early? actions
suggestion / offer

should She should swim. advice / obligation

That should be Kelly at the door. expectation
You should try the apple cake. suggestion

will She will swim. certainty (future)

I will learn cello. intention (1st person)
That will be Kelly at the door. probability
They will always be late for dinner. habit
Will you help me? request (favour / information)

would She would swim if … conditional

She would like to swim. preference
They would often be late for dinner. habit / repetition (past)
Would you help me please? request (polite)

have to She has to swim. necessity / obligation / certainty

My keys have to be here somewhere. expectation
You have to try the apple cake. suggestion (strong)

Kymberly Fergusson, kymberly@learnedwords.com, 2014