Modal Verbs

The modal verbs are:

can could may

might must shall
should will would
 Modal Verbs
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are used to express certain hypothetical conditions, such as advice, capability, or requests.

Consider the difference between these two examples:

• I swim every Tuesday.

• I can swim every Tuesday.

The first example is a simple factual statement. The speaker participates in a swimming activity every week on
Tuesdays.

The second example uses the modal verb can. Notice how the meaning changes slightly. The speaker does not
swim every Tuesday; they’re saying they are capable of swimming every Tuesday if they need to. It’s
hypothetical.
 Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?

Likelihood

Some things seem likely, but we don’t know for sure. In these cases, you can use
the modal verbs should and must to show probability without certainty.

• Her parents must be so proud.

• My baby brother should be asleep by now.

parents must proud Her so be.
baby should be by brother
asleep now My.
 Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?

Possibility

In situations when something is possible but not certain, use the modal verbs
could, may, or might.

• Judging by the clouds, it might rain today.

• He may become the youngest professional soccer player ever.

 Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?

Suggestion/advice

What if you want to recommend something, but not command it? If you’re
giving suggestions or advice without ordering someone around, you can use the
modal verb should.

• You should try the lasagna.

• That guy should wear less cologne.

should lasagna try You the.
wear That less guy cologne should.
 Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?

Obligation or necessity

Modal verbs can express a necessary action, such as an obligation, duty, or

requirement. Likewise, the negative form expresses that an action is not
necessary. Use the same modal verbs as with commands: must, have to, or need
to.

• We have to wait for our boss to arrive before we open.

• You don’t need to come if you don’t want to.

 Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?

Habit

To show an ongoing or habitual action—something the subject does regularly—

you can use the modal verb would for the past tense and will for the present and
future. The phrase used to is also acceptable if you’re talking about a habit that
no longer exists.

• When I lived alone, I would fall asleep with music.

• I will arrive early and leave late to every meeting.

As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.

Will
Would
As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.

Will
Would
Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in the
park.

Will
Would
Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in the
park.

Will
Would
Last summer, he would always take his dog for a walk
in the evening.

Will
Would
Last summer, he would always take his dog for a walk
in the evening.

Will
Would
 Ability
 We use can and can't to talk about someone's skill or general abilities:

• She can speak several languages.

• He can swim like a fish.
• They can't dance very well.

 We use can and can't to talk about the ability to do something at a specific
time in the present or future:

• I can see you.

• Help! I can't breathe.
 Ability

We use could and couldn't to talk about the past:

• She could speak several languages.

• I couldn't see you.

John _____ Speak German really well. He sounds
like a native.

Could
Can
John _____ Speak German really well. He sounds
like a native.

Could

 Can
When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.

Could
Can
When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.

Could
Can
The police searched the whole area but they _____
find her.
The police searched the whole area but they _____ not
find her.
I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the morning.
I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the morning.
_____ you play the guitar?
_____ you play the guitar?
I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how hard I
try.

Couldn’t
Can’t
I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how hard I
try.

Couldn’t
Can’t
He _____ jump over the fence when he was younger.

Couldn’t
Can’t
He _____ jump over the fence when he was younger.

Couldn’t
Can’t
I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies, right
now.

Couldn’t
Can’t
I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies, right
now.

Couldn’t
Can’t
 Requests
We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or asking
someone to do something:

• Could you take a message, please?

• Would you carry this for me, please?

can and will are less polite:

• Can you take a message, please?

• Will you carry this for me, please?
 Offers and invitations
We use can I … to make offers:

• Can I help you?

• Can I do that for you?

We can also use shall I …:

• Shall I help you with that?

• Shall I call you on your mobile?

 In formal English, Shall will be used to explain and describe the events that
will happen in the future.
I help you Can?
I call you Shall on mobile your?
 Offers and invitations
We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... or I'll (I will) ... to make an offer:

• I can do that for you if you like.

• I could give you a lift to the station.

• I'll do that for you if you like.

• I'll give you a lift to the station.

 Offers and invitations
We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:

• Would you like to come round tomorrow?

• Would you like another drink?

We can use you must … or we must … for a very polite invitation:

• You must come round and see us.

• We must meet again soon.
_____ I carry your bag for you?

Shall
Would
Can
_____ I carry your bag for you?

Shall
Would

 Can
_____ you like to go out tonight?

Shall
Would
Can
_____ you like to go out tonight?

Shall

 Would
Can
_____ we start the lesson?

Shall
Would
Can
_____ we start the lesson?

Shall
Would
Can
 Asking for permission
We use can to ask for permission to do something:

• Can I ask a question, please?

• Can we go home now?

could is more formal and polite than can:

• Could I ask a question, please?

• Could we go home now?
 Asking for permission
may is another more formal and polite way of asking for
permission:

• May I ask a question, please?

• May we go home now?

come I Can in?
I May a ask, please question?
 Giving permission
We use can to give permission:

• You can go home now.

• You can borrow my pen if you like.

may is a more formal and polite way of giving permission:

• You may go home now.

 Giving permission
We use can to say that someone has permission to do something:

• We can go out whenever we want.

• Students can travel for free.

may is a more formal and polite way of saying that someone has
permission:

• Students may travel for free.

 Refusing permission
We use can't and may not to refuse permission or say that
someone does not have permission:

• You can't go home yet.

• Students may not travel for free.

Finished can you've your go You
homework when out.
may Students for travel not free.
 'Will' and ‘Would'
We use will:

• to express beliefs about the present or future

• to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do
• to make promises, offers and requests.

Would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used:

• to talk about the past

• to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)
• for politeness.
 'Will' and ‘Would'
Beliefs
We use will to express beliefs about the present or future:

• John will be in his office. (present)

• We'll be late. (future)
• We will have to take the train. (future)

We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the future:

• I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the train.

will John be office in his
will We have train take to the.
 'Will' and ‘Would'
Willingness
We use will:

• to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do:

• We'll see you tomorrow.
• Perhaps Dad will lend me the car.

to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often do (because we are willing to
do them):
• We always spend our holidays at our favourite hotel at the seaside. We'll get
up early every morning and have a quick breakfast then we'll go across the
road to the beach.
Dad will Perhaps lend the me car.
 'Will' and ‘Would'
We use would as the past tense of will:

 to talk about what people wanted to do or were willing to do in the past:

• We had a terrible night. The baby wouldn't go to sleep.

• Dad wouldn't lend me the car, so we had to take the train.

 to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often did (because we were willing to do
them) in the past:

• When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their grandmother's at the
seaside. They'd get up early every morning and have a quick breakfast. Then they'd run
across the road to the beach.
 'Will' and ‘Would'
Promises, offers and requests

 We use I will or We will to make promises and offers:

• I'll give you a lift home after the party.

• We'll come and see you next week.

 We use Will you … ? or Would you … ? to make requests:

• Will you carry this for me, please?

• Would you please be quiet?
They ___ come tomorrow.

 Will
 Would
They ___ come tomorrow.


 Will
 Would
If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.

 Will
 Would
If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.

 Will

 Would
My husband ___ arrive soon.

 Will
 Would
My husband ___ arrive soon.


 Will
 Would
I ___ be on time for class.

 Will
 Would
I ___ be on time for class.


 Will
 Would
He said he ___ read that book.

 Will
 Would
He said he ___ read that book.

 Will

 Would
What ___ like to eat, sir?

 Will
 Would
What ___ like to eat, sir?

 Will

 Would
Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.

 Will
 Would
Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.


 Will
 Would
 Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:

Must: Used to express a strong deduction or conclusion based on evidence

or logical reasoning. In other words, guessing if something is likely to be
true.

We use must when we feel sure that something is true or it's the only
realistic possibility.
Example:

• He must be tired after working all day.

• This must be her house. I can see her car in the garage.
• He must live near here because he always walks to work.
must He be working tired day after all.
garage must her This house. I can be see car in
her the.
must to because live he always near
walks here work He.
 Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:

Might/May/Could: Used to express a possibility or a weaker deduction.

We use might, may or could to say that we think something is possible but
we're not sure.
Example:

• She might be running late due to traffic.

• He's not answering. He could be in a meeting.
• Unfortunately, the ferry may be delayed due to the bad weather.
might She be late due traffic running
to.
He answering. He's meeting could be
not in a.
weather, the may the ferry be delayed
to bad due Unfortunately.
 Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:

Can't/Couldn't: Used to express a strong negative deduction or

conclusion.

We use them when we’re sure something isn’t possible.

Example:

• He can't have left already; his car is still in the parking lot.
• It can't be far now. We've been driving for three hours.
• It can't be easy for her, raising those three kids on her own.
lot He still have already; his can't car is
in left the parking.
can't It be driving now. far We've
three been for hours.
It be kids own easy for, those raising
can't three on her her.