SHOULD WOULD

MUST MIGHT

HAVE TO SHALL

CAN COULD

MAY OUGHT TO

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that adds specific meaning to the main verb
in a sentence. Modals express a speaker's attitude or mood about an action, such
as possibility, necessity, ability, obligation, prohibition, etc.

GRAMMAR STRUCTURE:

(+) Modal verb + base form of the main verb. Modal verbs do not change for
different subjects (exp. "She must come" not "She musts come" nor “She must to
come”).
(-) Modal verb + "not" + base form of the main verb (exp. "You can not go").
(?) Base form of the main verb + Modal verb (exp. "May I help you?").

MUST: It expresses obligation in positive (+) or prohibition in negative (-)

sentences, it is mainly used to talk about rules and laws. In addition of that, MUST
is used to do strong suggestions or deductions (based on evidence).

Examples:

• I must do my bed before going to school.

• Must we use a helmet to go on a motorcycle in this country?
• We must not use our cellphone in class.
• Joe hasn’t come to class. I saw him at the pharmacy. He must be sick.

Practice:
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CAN: This modal verb indicates ability or possibility. “CAN” is also used to ask
for permission or requesting in informal contexts. Can translates “Poder” or “Ser
capaz” in Spanish.

Examples:

• I can speak five languages.

• We can work late tonight if you need us.
• Neither Tim nor Mike can help you.
• Can I have a slice of peperoni pizza, please?

Practice:
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MAY: It is used to talk about possibility, it is more appropriate than

can. It is used to make deductions as well. May translates to Spanish
“Poder”, “De pronto”, “Quizá’.

Examples:

• I have studied English a lot, I may win the trip to Malta next year.
• She may come at any moment.
• May I help you?
• This soda is flat; someone may have left the bottle open.
• May God bless you and fill you with joy and happiness.

Practice:
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COULD: As may, “could” is used to talk about possibility.
Examples:

• I could do this all day.

• Could you do me a favor?
• I couldn’t do it without you.

Practice:
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It can be used as the past tense of CAN to express past ability.

- I could jump higher when I was a child.

- I could not go to school yesterday.
- Joe couldn’t find a new job before his work permit expired.

Practice:
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MIGHT: "Might” is a modal verb primarily used to express possibility. As “May”,

“Might” can express possibility, but "might" sometimes suggests a lower probability
than "may", especially when there is a low or uncertain probability that something
will happen or be true. "Might" can be more polite than "may" or "could" when
asking for permission.

Examples:

• I might travel to Europe next year.

• She might not come today.
• I saw this and thought you might like it.
• Might I go to the restroom?

Practice:
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SHOULD: It is used for giving advice or to advise somebody. It is also used to
express good ideas or bad ideas. Translated to Spanish, Should means “Debería”.

Examples:

• We should go to the cinema tonight, there’s a new film I’ve been expecting.
• You should not smoke, it’s unhealthy.
• My English should be better taking into consideration I’ve already studied
English for 10 months.
• Should I ask for a second chance?

Practice:
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HAVE TO: This modal verb is used to express obligation especially when
we are talking about logical things or responsibilities. The right translation of
“HAVE TO” is: “Tienes que”. This is the only modal verb subject to follow all the
grammar conjugations according to the tense which is being used.

Examples:

• I have to do it as good as possible if I want to win.

• Eliana does not have to clean the classroom at the end of the class.
• To impress my father I have to do it even better.
• Do you have to do all that noise?
• I want my life to be better, I have to commit to build a better version of me.

Practice:
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WOULD: The modal verb "would" is used for hypothetical situations and polite
requests or invitations. It's also used for talking about the future from the past, in
reported speech, and to express past willingness or refusal. Additionally, it can be
used to make polite offers or state preferences. As a translation from English to
Spanish, “would” does not have a certain translation but the addition ending -ría to
the verb in infinitive in Spanish (exp. Correr = Correría, Gustar = Gustaría, etc.).

Examples:

• I would love to go to the party but, I can’t.

• It’s up to you but, I wouldn’t do it.
• Would you like to have a cup of coffee?
• What would you like to do tomorrow?
• If I were you, I would study English every day and not only on class days.

Practice:
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SHALL: The modal verb “shall” is used to express future actions, make
suggestions, show determination, or state formal rules and obligations, especially in
British English and official contexts (Similar to “Must” in American English). It is often
used for offers and suggestions with "I" and "we" (Shall we go?) and to state rules in
formal documents, where it is typically a command that is not optional (The tenant
shall pay rent on the first of each month).

Examples:

• Shall I get you a drink? (Offer)

• The plane shall land in a couple of minutes. (Future)
• You shall not pass, you’re not authorized. (Prohibition)
• I shall never forget you. (Promise)
• I shall be there by 8:00pm. (Obligation)
Practice:
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OUGHT TO: The modal verb "ought to" is used to express obligation, advice, or
expectation, similar to "should," but it is more formal and less common. "Ought to" is
always followed by "to" and the base form of the verb, except in the negative, where
"not" is placed between "ought" and "to".

Examples:

• You ought to apologize.

• They ought to put more seats in the classroom.
• She ought to receive the package tonight.
• We ought to have locked the gate.

Practice:
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Logical obligation,
HAVE TO
responsibility