Modal Chart Basic
Modal Chart Basic
ABILITY
COULD (past) When I was 5, I couldn’t swim.
POSSIBILITY MAY, MIGHT (weaker possibility) It may rain later, it’s getting cloudy.
DEDUCTION
MUST (sure) - The phone is ringing. It must be Mary,
she said she would call at 5.
CAN’T (impossible) - It can’t be her. She’s left her phone
here!
OBLIGATION MUST (present, sense of You must be on time for the lessons
duty)
I had to get up early for the trip on Sunday
HAVE TO (external authority,
other tenses) Did you have to work yesterday?
LACK OF OBLIGATION DON’T HAVE TO On Sat you don’t have to get up early
MUSTN’T (sense of duty) You mustn’t drink beer; you are too young.
PROHIBITION
CAN’T (external authority) You can’t take photos in this museum.
MODAL VERBS