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Understanding Modal Verbs in English

This document provides a guide on the use of modal verbs in English. It explains that modal verbs, such as "can", "may", and "must", are used to express ability, possibility, necessity, and other notions, and are always followed by a verb in the infinitive without "to". Additionally, it summarizes the most common uses of each modal verb and provides practice exercises to reinforce knowledge about their grammatical rules.

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12 views3 pages

Understanding Modal Verbs in English

This document provides a guide on the use of modal verbs in English. It explains that modal verbs, such as "can", "may", and "must", are used to express ability, possibility, necessity, and other notions, and are always followed by a verb in the infinitive without "to". Additionally, it summarizes the most common uses of each modal verb and provides practice exercises to reinforce knowledge about their grammatical rules.

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MODAL VERBS

THE MODALS

MODALS USES EXAMPLES

Skill Tina can run very fast.


Tiena can run very fast.
CAN Informal Request Can I stay here for two more weeks?
Can I stay here for 2 more weeks?
Possibility She can be very rude at times.
She can be very rude sometimes.
Impossibility Alice can't sing very well.
Alice doesn't sing very well.
CAN'T Prohibition You can’t take your children with you.
(You cannot take your children with you)
Incredulity That can’t be Paul. He is in Ireland!
Deduction That can't be Paul. He's in Ireland!
Ability in the past She could dance very well when she was a child.
She danced very well when she was a child.
COULD Formal request Could you introduce me to your friends?
Could you introduce me to your friends?
Polite suggestion You could take your parents out for dinner.
You could take your parents out to dinner.
Possibility He could meet new people at the party.
He could meet new people at the party.
MAY / MIGHT Possibility I may / might meet her mother tonight.
I could meet new people at the party.
MAY Formal Request May I ask you a question?
Permission. Can I ask you a question?
SHOULD / Advice / Opinion You should / ought to accept Tim’s proposal.
OUGHT TO You should accept Tim's proposal.
NEED TO Need / Obligation I need to talk to the boss
HAVE / HAS TO Need / Obligation Peter has to help his mother in the garden.
Peter has to help his mother in the garden
Obligation She must phone her father immediately.
MUST She must call her father immediately.
Strong belief Paul doit être très heureux dans sa nouvelle maison.
Paul must be very happy in his new house.
MUST NOT Prohibition You mustn’t use the phone after midnight.
(You should not use the phone after midnight)
DOESN'T Lack of obligation You don’t have to talk about our families.
DON’T HAVE TO Need We don't have to talk about our families.
NEEDN'T Lack of obligation You needn’t bring anything to my party.
Need You don't have to bring anything to my party.
WOULD Formal request Would you meet me tomorrow at the office, please?
Could you meet with me tomorrow in my office, please?
Offering Would you like to come to the opera with me?
Would you like to come to the opera with me?
Modal verbs: Review of the basic rules

Modal verbs are a type of 'auxiliary verbs' that accompany the infinitive to express
different conditions (ability, possibility, necessity...). They are necessary because in English there is no
conditional tense. To use them correctly, there are a series of basic rules:

They should always be used with another verb, never alone.


This verb comes after the modal and is in the infinitive form sinto.
Modal verbs do not conjugate or have tense.
Easy, right? Let's take a look at a summary of the uses of each modal verb:

Can: indicates ability or possibility (like 'poder' in Spanish).


Could: possibility or ability in the past. Also for formally asking for permission (in sentences)
interrogatives)
May: possibility in the future, permissions or instructions.
Might: possibility in the present or the future.
Will: willingness or determination (we are going to do X thing).
Shall: just like will, but more polite and more common in the United Kingdom.
Should: obligation or recommendation.
Ought to: synonym of should.
Must: obligation, prohibition, or necessity.
Would: preference. It also serves to ask or inquire about something politely.

Modal verbs exercises

The time to practice has arrived! So I suggest someexercisesto practice modals in English. Only
you have to select the correct option to complete each of these sentences. The solution is at the end,
but remember: cheating is not allowed!

Will you help me with my English exam?


might
will
c) Ought
d) Should

You must read the washing machine instructions carefully or you will ruin your clothes.
could
must
c) will
d) ought

3) We should take an umbrella. It looks like it's raining cats and dogs.
may
should
might
could

Will you always be late?


May
might
c) Would
d) Must

I would love to go to the beach this August.


will
b) may
c) should
would

She will have to train harder if she wants to break the record.
a) may
might
c) should
would

Rock climbing can be dangerous.


a) can
shall
c) ought
d) should

Should I wear a fancy dress for the party?


must
b) Should
c) Will
May

They need to work harder.


may
b) should
c) ought
d) must

10) You shouldn't play videogames when you should be studying.


mustn't
b) couldn't
c) shouldn't
won't

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