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Modal Verbs PDF

The document discusses modal verbs in English. Modal verbs provide additional meaning about how the main verb functions, such as ability, obligation, or possibility. Examples are given of common modal verbs like can, may, must, and could along with the meanings they convey. A table lists all modal verbs in English and examples of how they are used.

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315 views3 pages

Modal Verbs PDF

The document discusses modal verbs in English. Modal verbs provide additional meaning about how the main verb functions, such as ability, obligation, or possibility. Examples are given of common modal verbs like can, may, must, and could along with the meanings they convey. A table lists all modal verbs in English and examples of how they are used.

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Alpha dook
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modal Verbs with Examples

Modals, or modal verbs, are special verbs that act differently from normal
verbs like study, work or play. Modals provide more information about how
the main verb function. They have a several varieties of communicative
functions.

Examples of modal verbs:

• You must study hard to succussed.


• Can you help me with my homework?
• May I have a cup of tea please!
• Could you close the window?
• You must be quite during exams.

Characteristics of modal verbs:

• Modals stay as they are. They never change their form that is to say
you cannot add endings such as “s” “ed” or “ing”.
• They are always followed by an infinitive without the bar infinitive
“to”.
• The use of modal verbs allows speakers to express ability, obligation,
certainty possibility, etc.
List of modal verbs in English:

Can, may, will, would, shall, should, must, could.

When to use modal verbs?

Modal verbs can be used to express:

1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
8. probability

Modal verbs with examples

The following table contains all modal verbs in English along with
expressing and examples for each:

Modal Verb Expressing Example

You must stop when the traffic lights


Strong obligation
turn red.
Between
He must be very tired. He's been working
logical conclusion / Certainty
all day long.

ability I can swim.

Can permission Can I use your phone please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

Could ability in the past When I was younger, I could run fast.
Modal Verb Expressing Example

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 I might go on holiday to Australia next


possibility, probability
year.

lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty


Need not
obligation of tomatoes in the fridge.

I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a


50 % obligation
terrible headache.

Should/ought advice You should / ought to revise your lessons


to

He should / ought to be very tired. He's


logical conclusion
been working all day long.

Had better Advice You 'd better revise your lessons

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