INTRODUCTION TO MODAL VERBS – TEACHER CAROLINA CAIRUGA 1
What are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are helping verbs that show the possibility, intent, ability, or necessity of a subject. These are
basically helper verbs and are used alongside the main verb of the sentence because they are a sort of
auxiliary verb.
When are Modal Verbs Used?
Modal verbs are used to define certain hypothetical situations, such as advice, capability, or requests. A
modal verb alters the meaning of the other verb from basic fact to something else. Since they’re auxiliary
verbs, they can’t necessarily be used on their own. The modal verbs are different from other (ordinary) verbs,
such as:
1) they don’t have an “-ing” and “-ed” form.
2) they do not even have an “-s” form the third-person singular.
Some of examples of modal verbs are:
- Can
- May
- Will
- Must
- Could
- Should
- Would
- Might
- Shall
- Ought to
Modal verbs and their uses
Likelihood – Some things may be likely but we may not be sure. Here, we can use the modal verbs like should
and must to express probability without certainty.
1) Your parents must be so proud.
2) Isha’s baby sister should be asleep by now.
Possibility – There are some situations where something is possible but not certain. Here, we can use the
modal verbs like could, may or might.
1) Seeing the clouds, it might start thundering today.
2) Peter may become the youngest pro tennis player.
Ability – Modal verbs like ‘can’ explains whether the subject is able to do something or not. Its negative form
like ‘cannot or can’t’ explains that the subject is unable to do something.
1) Sarah can speak five languages, but none of them well.
2) I can read music but I can’t sing at all
INTRODUCTION TO MODAL VERBS – TEACHER CAROLINA CAIRUGA 2
Asking permission – If you want to seek permission for something, you may begin your question with ‘can,
may, or could.’ In more formal and polite usage, ‘may’ is more suitable for permission. However, in modern
usage, ‘may’ and ‘can’ can be used interchangeably while describing possibility or permission.
1) May I leave early today?
2) Could Trisha play too?
Request – While asking someone else to do something, always begin your question with ‘will, would, can, or
could.’
1) Could you help me with my homework?
2) Will he turn the music down?
3) Can you close the door, please?
Suggestion/advice – When you want to recommend something, you’re giving suggestions or advice. You can
use the modal verb ‘should.’
1) Julia should try the pasta.
2 Martha should wear less cologne.
3) Smoking is bad for your health. I think you should quit this habit.
Command – While commanding someone, use the modal verbs ‘must, have to, or need to.’
1) Children must wash their hands before meal.
2) The teacher needs to be at the park before 8:00 am.
Obligation or necessity – Modal verbs express a necessary action, such as an obligation, duty, or
requirement. Whereas the negative form expresses that an action is not necessary. Use the same modal
verbs as with commands: must, have to, or need to.
1) People have to wait in lines at the bank
2) You don’t need to go if you don’t want to.
3) you must fasten your seat belt when you travel by plane
Habit – It shows a habitual action, something the subject does regularly. We can use the modal verb ‘would’
for the past tense and ‘will’ for the present and future. The phrase ‘used to’ is also acceptable when we talk
about a habit that no longer exists.
1) When Carl lived alone, he would fall asleep with music.
2) Chris will arrive early and leave late to every meeting.
Use of Modal Verbs (with Examples)
Let’s see their use one by one:
CAN
a) is used to show capacity and ability
e.g. I can lift that heavy box easily.
e.g. Can he lift that heavy box?
b) is used for permission
e.g. You can do your work now. (May is more formal)
INTRODUCTION TO MODAL VERBS – TEACHER CAROLINA CAIRUGA 3
c) is used for the possibility (negative and interrogative)
e.g. Can this all be true?
e.g. This cannot be true.
COULD
a) is used to show past ability (that one could do in the past)
e.g. My sister could easily run 10 miles when she was in school.
b) is used as a past equivalent of ‘can’
e.g. I wondered if all that could be true.
e.g. My boss said that I could go.
c) is used to seek permission
e.g. Could I borrow your dress for tonight’s party?
d) is also used in the present-time contexts as a less positive version of ‘can’
e.g. I could go with you. (not confident enough; more hesitant)
MAY
a) is used to ask permission
e.g. May I drop you at your place?
b) is used in affirmative sentences as a possibility
e.g. It may rain today
c) is used to express a wish
e.g. May you have a good life!
MIGHT
a) is used as a past equivalent of ‘may’
e.g. Rajan’s boss said that he might go.
e.g. Reena thought that her husband might be at home.
b) is used to show weaker possibility (weaker than ‘may’)
e.g. She is not answering my call. She might be in some problem.
c) is used to seek permission (very politely)
e.g. Might I borrow your dress for tonight’s party?
d) is used to reproach someone; to show dissatisfaction
e.g. Patrick, you might pay a little more attention to your performance in the class.
Perfect infinitives of may, might, can and could-
May have – to show the possibility that an action took place in the past
e.g. The little girl may have lost the key.
Might have – to show a past possibility
e.g. Our neighbours might have heard some noises when our car was stolen.
Can have – is used to ask questions
e.g. Where can he have put the keys? I can’t find them anywhere.
Could have – used for a past reference about something that was not carried out
e.g. Yogesh could have participated in the event.
INTRODUCTION TO MODAL VERBS – TEACHER CAROLINA CAIRUGA 4
WILL
a) to express future
e.g. I will go to my hometown tomorrow.
e.g. He, along with his family, will visit us tomorrow evening.
b) to show a strong will
e.g. I will do your work for you, don’t worry.
c) to talk about someone’s characteristic habit
e.g. He will sit for hours watching movies on his laptop.
d) to show possibility (strong)
e.g. It will definitely rain tomorrow.
e) to request someone or to invite someone
e.g. Will you lend me your headphones?
e.g. Will you come to Sharma’s house party?
SHALL
a) is used to express the future with the first person
e.g. I shall go to college tomorrow.
*Nowadays, we use ‘will’ in place of ‘shall’ (for the first person).
b) To ask the person’s wish (with the first person)
e.g. Shall I open this jar for you?
e.g. Where shall we go for dinner tonight?
c) We use ‘shall’ with second and third persons to express a command, threat, or promise:
e.g. Your brother shall pay for this debt.
e.g. Catherine shall not enter my house again.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
After modal verbs we always use another verb in the base form. There’s never a variation.
I CAN COOK
HE SHOULD GO HOME NOW
YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS
Modal verbs are independent verbs, which means we can NEVER make a questions using other auxiliary
verbs before them (such as DO, DOES, DID, WOULD, WILL)
Will you can come to the party? – WRONG
Will you be able to come to the party? – CORRECT
Do you can dance? – WRONG
Can you dance? - CORRECT
INTRODUCTION TO MODAL VERBS – TEACHER CAROLINA CAIRUGA 5
