MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs (kata kerja bantu) digunakan untuk menyatakan kemampuan, kemungkinan, izin, kewajiban,
larangan, atau nasihat.
Modal selalu diikuti oleh verb 1 (base form).
Rumus umum: Subject + Modal + Base Verb + Object/Complement
Contoh:
a. She can sing beautifully. b. You must study harder.
Daftar Modal Verbs dan Fungsinya
Modal Fungsi Contoh Kalimat Arti
Can Ability / Permission / I can swim. Dapat / bisa
Possibility
Could Past ability / Polite request Could you open the Bisa (lebih sopan)
door?
May Permission / Possibility You may go home. Boleh / mungkin
Might Possibility (less certain) It might rain. Mungkin (lebih ragu)
Must Obligation / Deduction You must wear a Harus
helmet.
Have to External obligation I have to wake up Harus (karena aturan
early. luar)
Should / Ought Advice / Moral duty You should eat more Sebaiknya
to fruit.
Will Future / Intention I will call you tomorrow. Akan
Would Politeness / Hypothesis I would love to join. Akan / ingin
Shall Suggestion / Offer (formal) Shall we begin? Apakah sebaiknya
Need to Necessity You need to sleep Perlu
early.
Mustn’t Prohibition You mustn’t smoke Dilarang
here.
Can’t / Couldn’t Impossibility That can’t be true! Tidak mungkin
Ciri-ciri Modal Verbs
1. Tidak berubah bentuk walau subjeknya berbeda
✅ She can dance. / I can dance. ❌ She cans dance.
2. Tidak diikuti “to” sebelum verb (kecuali have to, ought to, need to).
✅ You must go. ❌ You must to go.
3. Tidak memiliki bentuk infinitive atau participle (tidak ada “to must”, “musted”, dll).
Contoh
Situasi Kalimat Fungsi
Di sekolah You mustn’t cheat during the Larangan
exam.
Dalam pertemanan You should apologize to your Nasihat
friend.
Di rumah I have to help my mom with Kewajiban
chores.
Saat bermimpi I will be a designer someday. Niat / harapan
Saat meminta Could you help me with my Permintaan
bantuan project? sopan
Penggunaan Modals dalam Konteks
1. Ability (Kemampuan) 4. Advice (Saran)
Present: can You should study harder.
We ought to save money.
Past: could
5. Possibility (Kemungkinan)
Future: will be able to
It might rain today.
I can play guitar. This could be dangerous.
I could ride a bike when I was six.
6. Prohibition (Larangan)
2. Permission (Izin)
You mustn’t smoke here.
You may go home now. You can’t park there.
Can I borrow your book?
7. Politeness (Kesopanan)
3. Obligation & Necessity (Kewajiban /
Keperluan) Could you help me?
Would you mind closing the door?
You must wear a helmet.
I have to do my homework.
Perbandingan Tingkat Kepastian
Degree of Example
Certainty
100% Certain It must be true.
70–80% Possible It may/might be
true.
0% Possible It can’t be true.1
A. Fill in the blanks with suitable modals:
1. You ___ wear a uniform at school.
2. ___ I borrow your dictionary?
3. It looks cloudy. It ___ rain.
4. I ___ speak French when I was ten.
5. You ___ not cheat during the exam.
6. You ___ finish your project before the deadline.
7. When I was in junior high school, I ___ run very fast.
8. Students ___ bring their ID cards during the school trip.
9. I’m not sure, but he ___ be the new student everyone talks about.
10. You ___ apologize to your friend after the argument.
B. Read the Text Carefully
Last week, our class had a discussion about school rules and students’ well-being. Many students said that we
should have more time to rest because we often feel tired after extracurricular activities. The teacher agreed
and said that we must learn how to manage our time better. Some students said they could help organize a
study schedule for everyone. The school counselor reminded us that we mustn’t compare ourselves with others
and that we should focus on our own progress. In the end, we decided that everyone will try to support one
another and we might start a new “Wellness Week” next month!
C. Choose the Best Answer (A–E)
1. The word “should” in the text expresses... 6. Choose the sentence that expresses possibility.
A. Ability A. You must finish this by tomorrow.
B. Prohibition B. We might have an exam next week.
C. Obligation C. You should be careful.
D. Advice D. I can help you with that.
E. Permission E. You mustn’t use your phone.
2. The teacher said that we must learn how to 7. Which of the following shows a polite request?
manage time. The modal must shows... A. You must give me your notes.
A. Weak obligation B. You may help me.
B. Strong necessity C. Could you explain this problem to me?
C. Future plan D. You can’t leave the room.
D. Possibility E. You should study harder.
E. Polite request 8. Which sentence is grammatically incorrect?
3. The students said they could help organize a A. She can dance well.
schedule. The modal could shows... B. We must to finish our project.
A. Future ability C. You should drink more water.
B. Past ability D. I might go to the library.
C. Willingness E. He could play guitar when he was little.
D. Politeness 9. Which modal best fits this sentence?
E. Possibility Students ___ arrive on time for the school
4. The counselor said we mustn’t compare assembly.
ourselves with others. The modal mustn’t A. should
expresses... B. might
A. Suggestion C. could
B. Prohibition D. may
C. Advice E. would
D. Obligation 10. Analyze the situation:
E. Future intention Your friend forgot to bring a raincoat, and it’s
5. Which sentence shows a future plan using a starting to rain.
modal verb? Which sentence best shows advice?
A. We will start a new program next month. A. You mustn’t walk in the rain.
B. We should take more rest. B. You can take mine.
C. You must arrive early tomorrow. C. You should bring a raincoat next time.
D. You can go home now. D. You will be wet soon.
E. It might rain later. E. You could borrow an umbrella.
D. Task: “Making Decisions Using Modals”
Read the short story, analyze the situation and write your response using at least 3 modal verbs.
a. Situation 1
Your friend invites you to go to a concert on Saturday night, but you have a final test on Monday. You also
promised your parents you would help clean the house that weekend.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
3. ___________________________________________________________________________
b. Situation 2
You are the class leader. The class is planning a charity event, but some students are unsure if they can
participate because of exams.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________