FORM

MODAL VERBS do not have a third person –s

Ex: She can swim. (not - She cans swim.)

MODAL VERBS take the bare infinitive (without “to”)

Ex: I should go now. (not – I should to go now.)

MODAL VERBS take “not” to form the negative

Ex: You can’t smoke in here. (not – You don’t can smoke in here.)

MODAL VERBS use inversion of the subject in questions

Ex: Can I come in? (not – Do I can come in?)
 USE
MODAL VERBS can have more than one meaning.

What does “can” mean in each sentence?

He can speak five

Can I go to the cinema?
languages.

In this case someone is In this case someone is

asking for PERMISSION talking about ABILITIES
 ABILITY
CAN / COULD (being able to do something)

He can run quite fast. ability in the present

He could run quite fast when he ability in the past

was younger.

lack of ability in the

I can’t speak English fluently.
present

I couldn’t speak English at all a lack of ability in the

year ago. past
 PERMISSION
CAN / COULD / MAY
Can / could / may I answer the asking for permission
phone, please? to do something

CAN (less formal) COULD (formal) MAY (more formal)

Yes, you can / may. You can / may giving permission

answer your phone.

No, you can’t / may not. refusing permission

To give or refuse permission we use CAN/MAY but not COULD.

 POSSIBILITY (1)
MAY / MIGHT / COULD

There is someone at the door. It to show that

may / might / could be Ann. something is possible,
but not certain

MAY(more possible) MIGHT/COULD (less possible)

to express a
It may not / might not be Ann. present/future
uncertainty

We do not use COULDN’T to express uncertainty in the present.

 POSSIBILITY (2)
CAN/ COULD

It can be very cold in winter.

to make general
(it is sometimes very cold)
statements about what
It could be very cold in winter. is/was possible
(sometimes it was very cold)

SHOULD (very likely or certain)

It’s nearly 6. They should be here to suggest something

that is true or will
any minute. happen
 POSSIBILITY (3)
MUST
You haven’t eaten all to show that we are
sure something to be
day. You must be true (we have reasons
quite hungry. for it)

CAN’T / COULDN’T

She can’t be in Italy. I saw her to show that

something is
today.
impossible
We knew it couldn’t be true.
 OBLIGATION
MUST (strong obligation)

You must stop at a red to say that it is

necessary to do
light. something

SHOULD(N’T) (weak obligation)

He should drive more carefully. to show what is right /

appropriate to do
You shouldn’t drink and drive.
 PROHIBITION
MUSTN’T / CAN’T

to show that something

You mustn’t / can’t smoke here. is prohibited / not
allowed

Can’t tells us that something is against the rules. 

Mustn’t is usually used when the obligation comes from the

person who is speaking.
 ADVICE / SUGGESTIONS
SHOULD(N’T) / COULD

You should send him
to make a suggestion
an email. and give advice
You should see a doctor.

We could meet at the weekend. to make a suggestion

 REQUESTS
CAN / COULD / WILL / WOULD

Would you carry this for

me please? to tell or ask someone to do
something
Could I have the bill please?

Can you take a message please? can and will are less polite

Will you carry this for me please?
 OFFERS / INVITATIONS
CAN / COULD / SHALL / WILL / WOULD
Can I help you? We use Can I? / Shall I?
Shall I call the police? to make offers

I can do that for you if you like. We say I can ... or I

I’ll do that for you if you like. could ... or I’ll (I will) ... to
I could give him a lift. make an offer

We use would you like

Would you like my help?
(to) ... for offers and
Would you like to go to the cinema?  invitations