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Understanding Modal Verbs in English

Modals are verbs that combine with other verbs to indicate mood or modality such as necessity, uncertainty, ability, probability, permission, or improbability. The modal verbs are different from other verbs in that they don't use '-s' for third person singular, form questions through subject-auxiliary inversion, and are followed directly by the infinitive form of another verb without "to." Common English modal verbs include can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would.

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231 views2 pages

Understanding Modal Verbs in English

Modals are verbs that combine with other verbs to indicate mood or modality such as necessity, uncertainty, ability, probability, permission, or improbability. The modal verbs are different from other verbs in that they don't use '-s' for third person singular, form questions through subject-auxiliary inversion, and are followed directly by the infinitive form of another verb without "to." Common English modal verbs include can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would.

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ABREHAM
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What are modals?

In English grammar, a modal is a verb that combines with another verb to indicate mood or


modality. Modal verbs express a variety of moods or attitudes of the speaker towards the
meaning expressed by the main verb in a clause. A modal (also known as a modal auxiliary or
modal verb) expresses necessity, uncertainty, ability, probability, permission, improbability etc.
Modal verbs are different from the rest verbs:
1: They don't use /-s/ for the third person singular.
2: They make questions by inversion (she can go becomes 'can she go?').
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').
1. Can
Use Examples
 Ability to do something in the present I can speak English.
 Permission to do something in the present Can I go to the cinema?
 Request Can you wait a moment, please?
 Offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.
 suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?
 possibility It can get very hot in Dalol.
2.Could Examples
Use
Ability to do something in the past I could speak English.
Permission to do something in the past I could go to the cinema.
polite question Could I go to the cinema, please?
polite request Could you wait a moment, please?
polite offer I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
polite suggestion Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?
possibility It could get very hot in Dire Dawa.
3. May
Use Example
 possibility It may rain today.
 Permission to do something in the present May I go to the cinema?
 polite suggestion May I help you?
4. Might
Use Example
 possibility (less possible than may) It might rain today.
 hesitant offer Might I help you?

Modals in English Page 1


5.Must
Use Example
 force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.
 possibility You must be tired.
 advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.
 Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
 logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all
day long.
6. Must not
 prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.
 prohibition (must is stronger) You mustn't work on dad's computer.
7. Ought to
(Similar to should – ought to sounds a little less
subjective)

 advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.


You ought to switch off the light when you
 obligation
leave the room.
8. Shall
Used instead of will in the 1st person

 suggestion Shall I carry your bag?


9. Should
advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.
You should switch off the light when you leave
obligation
the room.
10. Will

wish, request, demand, order (less polite


Will you please shut the door?
than would)
prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.
Promise I will stop smoking.
spontaneous decision Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.
She is strange; she will sit for hours without
Habits
talking.
12.Would

 wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?


 habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

Modals in English Page 2

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