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Modal verbs

Modal verbs are helping verbs, which express the ‘mode’ or ‘manner’ of the actions indicated by
the main verbs. They express modes such as ability, possibility, probability, permission,
obligation, etc. The most commonly used modal verbs are shall, should, will, would, can, could,
may, might, must, ought to, used to, need and dare.
1.1 Uses of Modal Verbs

English has many modal verbs. Each modal verb can be used in several different contexts.
 Ability:
Examples,
I can speak three languages
I can’t read Latin because it is too difficult.
I couldn’t study it when I was at school.
 Permission:
Examples,
You can have more cake if you want.
You may take as much as you like
Could I have another slice of cake?
 Requests:
Examples,
Can/could you give me a ride home later?
Would you email James for me, please?
Will you lock up the office tonight?
 Offers:
Examples,
Can I help you with those?
May I take one of those for you?
Shall I carry some of your bags?
 Suggestions and Advice:
Examples,
You should/ought to go to the Doctor.

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 You could try the new medicine.

 Obligation:
Examples,
You must arrive on time for work.
You must not be late for work.
 Logical Deductions:
Examples,
It can’t be Jane because she’s on vacation.
It could/might/may be Dave. I don’t know.
It must be Tom, since nobody else ever calls.
1.2 Modal Verb Formations

Modal verbs share certain characteristics. They don’t change form to match the subject, and they
are always followed by a main verb in its base form. Their question and negative forms are made
without “do.”

Subject
Modal verb Base form Rest of sentence
I/You
can play the piano quite well.
He/She/It
We/They

The modal verb stays The main verb stays in

the its base form.
same for any subject.

 Negatives are formed by adding “not” between the modal verb and main verb.
e.g. You should run a marathon

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 You should not run a marathon

 Questions are usually formed by swapping the subject and the modal verb.

e.g. They should visit the castle.

Should they visit the castle?

 “Ought to” and “have to” are exceptions because they use “to” before the base form.
 “Ought to” is a more formal way of saying “should,” and “have to” means “must.” They
both act like normal verbs.
e.g. You ought to/have to learn how to drive.
 Ability:
 “Can” is a modal verb that describes what someone is able to do. It is used in
different forms to describe past and present abilities.
 “Can” goes between the subject and the main verb. The verb after “can” goes in its
base form.
Examples, I can ride a bicycle.

He can play the guitar.

 The negative form of “can” is “cannot” or “can’t.”

 “Could” for Past Abilities:
“Could” is the past form of “can” and is used to talk about ability in the past. “When”
plus a time setting can be used to say when someone had the ability.
Examples, I can’t climb trees now, but I could when I was younger.

When I was a student, I could study all night before an exam.

 “Can” in the Future:

It is not grammatically possible to talk about the future using “can.” “Will be able to” is
used instead.
Examples, At the moment, I can play the trombone quite well.

If I work harder, I will be able to play at concerts.

The negative is formed with “not able to” or “unable to”

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 Examples, Unfortunately, I can’t read music very well.

If I don’t learn, I won’t be able /will be unable to join the orchestra.

 Permission, requests, and offers

 “Can,” “could,” and “may” are used to ask permission to do something, or to ask
someone to do something for you. They can also be used to offer to help someone.
 Asking Permission and Making Requests
 “Can” is the most common modal verb used to ask permission or to make a request.
Example, Can I have some popcorn?
 “Could” replaces “can” for more formal situations, such as in business or to talk to
strangers.
Example, Excuse me, could I sit here, please?
 “May” can also be used in formal situations.
Example, May I make an appointment?

 Making Offers
“Can” and “may” can also be used to offer to do something for someone.
Examples, Can I help you carry those?

May I take your coat?

Can I get you a drink?

 ‘Shall’ for Offers and Suggestions

“Shall” is used to find out if someone thinks a certain suggestion is a good idea. This is
not often used in US English.
Examples, That bag looks heavy. Shall I carry it for you?
Shall I open the window?

 Suggestions and advice

 The modal verb “could” can be used to offer suggestions. “Could” is not as strong as
“should.” It communicates gentle advice.

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  “Should” for Advice

“Should” is used when the speaker wants to make a strong suggestion.

Example, It is very sunny, you should wear a hat.

 “Ought to” for Advice:

 “Ought to” is a more formal and less common way to say “should.” It is not usually used
in the negative or question forms.
Example, You should/ought to wear a scarf. It’s very cold outside.

 “If I were you,…”

English uses “if I were you” to give advice in second conditional sentences. The advice is
expressed using “I would.”
Example, I don’t know if I should take this job. If I were you, I would take it.

 “Had better”
“Had better” can also be used to give very strong or urgent advice that can have a
negative consequence if it is not followed.
Example, You had better/You’d better leave for school! It’s already 8:45.

 “Could” for Suggestions

“Could” is often used to suggest a solution to a problem. It states a possible course of
action without necessarily recommending it.
Example, A: I hate my car.
B: Well, you could get a new one.
: - “Could” means that the action is a possibility; a choice that might solve the problem.
 “Could” and “or” for Suggestions
When people give suggestions using “could,” they often give more than one option to
choose from.
Example, A: Our friends are coming over for dinner, but the oven’s broken.
B: We could make a salad or we could order pizza.
 Making Recommendations
 One of the most common ways of recommending something or making a suggestion is to
use modal verbs.

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 Examples, You could/might visit the park. It is beautiful.

You should/ought to visit the castle. It’s great.

You must visit the palace. It is beautiful.

 Obligations
 In English, “have to” or “must” are used when talking about obligations or things that
are necessary. They are often used to give important instructions.
 “Must” and “have to” both express a strong need or obligation to do something.

E.g. You must/have to rest, or your leg won’t heal.

 “Must not” is a strong negative obligation. It means something is not allowed.

Example, You must not get your bandage wet, or your leg might not heal properly.

 “Don’t have to” means something is not necessary, or there is no obligation.

Example, You don’t have to come again. Your leg is better.

 Common Mistakes “must not” and “don’t have to”

 “Must not” and “don’t have to” do not mean the same thing.
 “Must not” is used to give an instruction that forbids someone from doing something.
 “Don’t have to” is used to tell someone that it is not necessary that they do something.
Examples, You must not use a calculator during this exam.

(It is against the rules to use a calculator during exam.)

You don’t have to use a calculator, but it might be useful.

(You are allowed to use a calculator, but it is not required).

 “Must” and “Have to” in the Future

There is no future form of “must.” The future of “have to” is formed with the auxiliary
verb “will.”
Examples, In some countries, people must/have to recycle. It’s the law.

In the future, I think everyone will have to recycle.

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 “Must” and “Have to” in the Past
There is no past form of “must.” The past tense of “have to” is used instead.
For example, For most jobs, you must/have to use a computer.

In the past, you didn’t have to use a computer.

 Making deductions

Modal verbs can also be used to talk about how likely or unlikely something is. They can be
used to guess and make deductions about what has happened or is happening now.
 Speculation and Deduction
The modal verbs “might” and “could” are used to talk about something with uncertainty.

For example, John has a sore ankle. It might/could be broken.

 “Might not” is used to describe negative things that are not certain.
For example, It is not very swollen, so it might not be serious.

 “Must” is often used to speculate about the present.

For example, John must be very bored at home. He’s usually so active.

 “Cannot” and “can’t” are used when someone is certain something is impossible.
For example, John’s leg cannot/can’t be broken. He walked to the doctor.

 Speculation and Deduction about the Past

“Must have” with a past participle is used to speculate about the past when the speaker
is sure something happened.
For example, He just disappeared. Aliens must have taken him.

 “Must” can be replaced with “may,” “might,” or “could” when the speaker is not sure
whether something happened or not.
For example, They might/may/could have taken him to another planet.

 “Can’t” or “couldn’t” can be used to refer to something that the speaker is certain did
not happen.

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 For example, It can’t/couldn’t have been aliens, they don’t exist.

 Possibility
 Modal verbs can be used to talk about possibility, or to express uncertainty. “Might” is
the most common modal verb used for this purpose.
 “Might” for Possibility
“Might” can be added to different phrases to refer to past, present, or future possibilities.
 Past Possibility

For example, I can’t find the compass. I might have dropped it earlier.

 Present Possibility

For example, I don’t remember this path. We might be lost.

 Future Possibility

For example, It is very cold outside. It might snow later on.

 “Might” with Uncertainty

 Other phrases can be added to sentences with “might” to emphasize uncertainty about
something.
For example, I might take the bus home. I’m not sure.

I don’t know. I might have more pizza.

 Past Possibility
 “might,” other modal verbs can be used to talk about something that possibly happened in
the past.
For example , The copier isn’t working. It might/may/could have run out of paper.