Grammar
Modal Verbs
Grammar in use
- Topic : Modal verbs
- Skills : Grammar
Use
What is a Modal verb?
We use modal verbs or other modal expressions when we want to express an opinion or attitude about a possible fact or to control a possible action.
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that express a variety of meanings, such as ability, obligation, permission, possibility, and necessity.
Because they are a type of auxiliary verb, they are used together with the main verb of the sentence. Common modal verbs include can, should, and must.
Here are the most common modal verbs in English:
Can: expresses ability, possibility or permission
Example: “I can speak Spanish.”
Could: expresses past ability or possibility, or present/future possibility with a degree of uncertainty.
Example: “I could speak French when I was younger” or “I could go to the party, but I’m not sure yet.”
May: expresses possibility or permission.
Example: “It may rain later” or “You may leave early today.”
Might: expresses a lower degree of possibility or a polite suggestion.
Example: “It might rain later” or “You might want to consider taking a break.”
Must: expresses strong obligation or necessity.
Example: “I must finish this project today.”
Should: expresses advice or recommendation.
Example: “You should get more sleep.”
Would: expresses a conditional situation or a polite request.
Example: “I would go to the concert if I had more time” or “Would you please pass the salt?”
It’s important to note that modal verbs do not have an “-s” or “-ed” ending,
and they are followed by the base form of the verb (e.g. “I can speak,” not “I can speaks”).
Construction
| normal verb | modal verb | |
|---|---|---|
| affirmative | he works | he can work |
| negation | he does not work | he cannot work |
| emphatic | he does work hard | he can work hard |
| question | does he work here? | can he work at all? |
| negation + question | does he not work here? | can he not work at all? |
| The Formation of Noun |
|---|
| Unfortunately, there is no simple rule that connects a noun to the adjective or verb it comes from. But they generally look similar. Examples: Nouns coming from a verb: to organize → organization to changeïƒ â†’ change to tryïƒ â†’ trial Nouns coming from an adjective: strongïƒ â†’ strength stupidïƒ â†’ stupidity intelligentïƒ â†’ intelligence |
Here are some common situations where modal verbs are used:
Ability: Modal verbs like can and could are used to express ability.
For example: “I can speak Spanish” or “She could play the guitar when she was younger.”
Permission: Modal verbs like may and can are used to express permission.
For example: “May I leave early today?” or “Can I borrow your book?”
Obligation: Modal verbs like must and should are used to express obligation.
For example: “I must finish my homework tonight” or “You should eat a healthy diet.”
Possibility: Modal verbs like may, might, and could are used to express possibility.
For example: “It may rain tomorrow” or “She might come to the party.”
Necessity: Modal verbs like must and have to are used to express necessity.
For example: “I must attend the meeting tomorrow” or “I have to take my medicine every day.”
Advice: Modal verbs like should and would are used to give advice or make suggestions.
For example: “You should study more” or “Would you like to try the new restaurant?”
It’s important to note that modal verbs are always followed by the base form of the main verb (e.g. “I can swim” not “I can swimming”).
Also, modal verbs are never used with auxiliary verbs like “do” or “have” (e.g. “I must go” not “I must do go”).
It’s important to remember that the use of modal verbs can change depending on the tense of the sentence. For example, “I must study for the exam” is in the present tense, while “I had to study for the exam” is in the past tense.
Here is a complete list of modals associated to their expression with examples:
| Modal Verb | Expression | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| must | Necessity or obligation | I must attend the meeting tomorrow |
| Logical deduction or conclusion | He’s been working late every day this week, he must be under a lot of pressure. | |
| Advice or recommendation | You must take care of your health. | |
| Expressing certainty | I must say, this is the best pizza I’ve ever had. | |
| Expressing a condition | If you want to succeed, you must work hard. | |
| Making a suggestion | We must explore other options before making a final decision. | |
| Expressing a strong opinion or conviction | We must take immediate action to address this issue. | |
| Expressing a request | I must ask you to leave the room, I need to have a private conversation. | |
| must not | Prohibition | We must not share our passwords with anyone. |
| Strong recommendation | You must not miss this opportunity to study abroad. | |
| Necessity or obligation | We must not forget to send the report to the client by the deadline. | |
| Warning | You must not touch the electric fence, it’s dangerous. | |
| Negative advice | You must not stay up too late, it’s not good for your health. | |
| Expressing a logical conclusion | He must not have received my email, otherwise he would have replied. | |
| Expressing a strong suggestion | You must not skip breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day. | |
| Expressing a condition | You must not turn off the computer until the software update is complete. | |
| can | ability | I can speak French fluently. |
| permission | You can leave early today. | |
| possibility | She can come to the party if she finishes her work. | |
| Request or offer | Can I help you with anything? | |
| Expression of doubt | I can’t believe she did that. | |
| Expression of surprise | You can play the guitar? That’s amazing! | |
| Expression of ability in the past | When I was younger, I could run faster than anyone in my class. | |
| Concession or acknowledgment | I can see your point of view, but I still disagree. | |
| could | Possibility | I could go to the movies tonight if I finish my work in time |
| Ability | When I was younger, I could run a mile in under six minutes. | |
| Polite Request | Could you pass me the salt, please? | |
| Past habit | I could eat a whole pizza by myself when I was in college. | |
| Suggestion | You could try taking a warm bath to help you relax. | |
| Conditional statement | If I had more time, I could read all the books on my list. | |
| Uncertainty | I’m not sure if I could handle a job like that. | |
| Comparison | This cake is good, but it could be sweeter. | |
| may | Possibility | It may rain this afternoon, so I should bring an umbrella. |
| Permission | May I use your restroom? | |
| Probability | Based on the forecast, the project may be delayed. | |
| Wish or hope | May you have a happy birthday! | |
| Polite request | May I have another piece of cake, please? | |
| Concession or acknowledgment of a possibility | I may have been wrong about the time, it’s possible. | |
| Expressing a preference or opinion | I may prefer coffee over tea in the morning. | |
| Giving advice or making a suggestion | You may want to consider taking a break before continuing with your work. | |
| might | Possibility | I might go to the gym tonight, but I haven’t decided yet. |
| Permission | You might leave the party early if you’re not feeling well. | |
| Probability | There might be a traffic jam on the highway, so we should leave early. | |
| Suggestion or advice | You might want to try this new restaurant I heard about. | |
| Polite request | Might I have a glass of water, please? | |
| Expressing uncertainty or hesitation | I might not be the best person to ask about that. | |
| Making a tentative conclusion | Based on the evidence, the suspect might be innocent. | |
| Hypothetical scenario | If we leave early, we might be able to catch the last train. | |
| need to | Obligation | I need to finish this report before the deadline. |
| Necessity | I need to buy some groceries before I can make dinner. | |
| Advice or suggestion | You need to take a break and get some rest. | |
| Polite request | I need to ask you to lower your voice in the library. | |
| Planning or intention | We need to book our flights soon before the prices go up. | |
| Expressing urgency | I need to talk to you right away about an important matter. | |
| Consequence or result | If you don’t study for the exam, you’ll need to retake the class. | |
| Making a comparison | This jacket is nice, but I need to try on a smaller size. | |
| should/ought to | Advice or recommendation | You should/ought to take a break and relax |
| Moral obligation | We should/ought to help those in need. | |
| Expected behavior | You should/ought to be respectful to your elders. | |
| Probability | It should/ought to rain today based on the forecast. | |
| Expressing regret | I should/ought to have studied more for the exam. | |
| Making a suggestion | You should/ought to try the new Italian restaurant in town. | |
| Expressing expectation | You should/ought to arrive on time for the meeting. | |
| Expressing a preference or opinion | I should/ought to go for a walk in the park instead of watching TV. | |
| had better | Advice or warning | You had better leave now if you don’t want to miss your flight. |
| Suggestion or recommendation | You had better take an umbrella with you, it might rain later. | |
| Expressing a threat | You had better not tell anyone about this. | |
| Making a strong suggestion | You had better study hard for the exam if you want to pass. | |
| Expressing a preference or opinion | I had better stick to my usual routine for the best results. | |
| Expressing a necessary action | You had better take care of yourself after the surgery. | |
| Expressing a logical conclusion | Based on the evidence, you had better be careful around that dog. | |
| Expressing a regret | I had better not have said that, it was not appropriate. |