Modal verbs in English

This chapter will discuss the English modal verbs. The modal verbs are used to give a certain attitude towards another verb. The modal verbs are not conjugated.

Lesson outline

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1.List of English modal verbs
2.Definition and usage of English modal verbs
2.1.Modal verb 'can'
2.2.Modal verb 'could'
2.3.Modal verb 'may'
2.4.Modal verb 'might'
2.5.Modal verb 'will'
2.6.Modal verb 'would'
2.7.Modal verb 'shall'
2.8.Modal verb 'should'
2.9.Modal verb 'must'
3.Rules for modal verbs
4.Exercises
4.1.Practice the English modal verbs
4.2.Exercise modal verbs in English
4.3.Choose the correct English modal verb

List of English modal verbs

can
could
may
might
will
would
shall
should
must

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Definition and usage of English modal verbs

Modal verbs have different functions:

Permission: can, could, may, might
Ability: can, could
Obligation: must, ought to, should
Prohibition: must not
Lack of necessity: need not
Advice: should, ought to, advice
Possibility: can, could, might
Probability: might

The modal verbs are always placed in the beginning of the sentence.

Modal verb 'can'

Use	Example
Ability	I can speak French.
Permission	Can I go to the beach today?
Possibility	It can be very cold at night in the Sahara.

Modal verb 'could'

Use	Example
Ability	I could speak French.
Permission	I could go to the beach today, if the weather was nice.
Possibility	It could be very cold at night in the Sahara.

Modal verb 'may'

Use	Example
Permission	May I go to the cinema tonight?
Possibility	It may rain tomorrow.

Modal verb 'might'

Use	Example
Permission	Might I give a suggestion?
Possibility	It might rain tomorrow.
Probability	I might go on holiday to Spain next month.

Modal verb 'will'

Use	Example
Prediction	I think it will snow on Friday.
Promise	I will go jogging tomorrow.
Habits	She will spend hours on the phone calling her mother.

Modal verb 'would'

Use	Example
Wish	I wish you would have come to the party.
Habits in the past	She would spend hours on the phone calling her mother.

Modal verb 'shall'

Use	Example
Suggestion	Shall I help you?

Modal verb 'should'

Use	Example
Advice	You should drive safely.
Obligation	You should do your homework.

Modal verb 'must'

Use	Example
Obligation	You must go to the library today to study.
Prohibition	You must not drink and drive.

Rules for modal verbs

The table below will show some general rules to keep in mind when using modal verbs.

Keep in mind	Explanation
The modal verbs do not have '-s' for 3rd person singular.	He can play the piano. She will study French.
Modal verbs are not used for things that will definitely happen.	New Year's Eve is on the 31st of December. The earth is round.
Questions are not formed with do/does/did.	Will it snow tomorrow? Can they still join the club?
Modal verbs are followed by infinitives (without to).	She might go to the party tonight. They will run the marathon next month.
Modal verbs have no past form (except could and would)	He could run very fast, but now he is old. Would you carry this for him please?
The past participle is used when talking about things that did not happen in the past.	You should have come. We could have eaten the pasta.

1 May or might in English	Learn all about the difference between the modal verbs may and might.
2 Will vs shall in English	Learn all about the difference between will and shall.
3 Would vs will in English	Learn all about when to use would in English.
4 Can or could in English	Learn what the difference between can and could is.