🧠 MODALS – Advanced Grammar Notes for Class 9
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🔷 What are Modals?
Modals are special auxiliary (helping) verbs that modify the mood of the main verb.
They help express various ideas such as possibility, necessity, permission, advice, ability,
compulsion, and more.
Unlike main verbs, modals do not stand alone—they always work with the base form of the main
verb (without ‘to’).
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🔷 Key Features of Modals
Fixed form: Modals do not change according to subject or tense. Example: “He can swim” and
“They can swim”—same form.
No -s/-es in third person singular.
No 'to' is used after modals (except in phrases like ought to).
Do not use 'do/does/did' for questions or negatives. Example: “Must you go?” not “Do you must
go?”
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🔷 Modal Verbs and Their Core Uses (Explained in Paragraph Style)
✅ 1. CAN
Used to express present or general ability, informal permission, and possibility.
Example: I can lift 20 kg. (ability), Can I use your phone? (permission), Anyone can make
mistakes. (possibility)
✅ 2. COULD
Indicates past ability, polite requests, or a lesser degree of possibility than 'can'.
Example: She could dance well when she was a child. (past ability), Could you help me? (polite
request), It could rain later. (possibility)
✅ 3. MAY
Used for formal permission, probable possibility, and wishes/blessings.
Example: May I enter the room? (formal permission), We may go to the beach tomorrow.
(possibility), May you live long! (blessing)
✅ 4. MIGHT
Expresses weaker or less certain possibility, or used in conditional sentences.
Example: It might snow tonight. (possibility), If you hurry, you might catch the bus. (condition)
✅ 5. MUST
Shows strong obligation, necessity, or logical deduction.
Example: You must complete the assignment by tomorrow. (obligation), She must be the new
teacher. (deduction)
✅ 6. SHALL
Used mainly with ‘I’ and ‘we’ to indicate future intention, suggestions, or formal
promises/commands.
Example: We shall overcome. (future), Shall we start the meeting? (suggestion)
✅ 7. SHOULD
Expresses advice, moral obligation, or expectation.
Example: You should respect your elders. (advice), She should be home by now. (expectation)
✅ 8. WILL
Indicates future actions, willingness, or determination.
Example: I will finish it by 5 PM. (future), I will help you. (willingness), She will never lie. (firm
determination)
✅ 9. WOULD
Used for polite requests, hypothetical situations, or past habits.
Example: Would you like some tea? (politeness), If I were rich, I would travel the world.
(hypothetical), He would go for walks every morning. (past habit)
✅ 10. OUGHT TO
Expresses moral obligation or strong advice.
Example: You ought to tell the truth. (moral duty), We ought to help the needy. (strong advice)
✅ 11. NEED (as a modal)
Used to express necessity, mostly in negative or interrogative sentences.
Example: You need not worry. (absence of necessity), Need I attend the meeting? (question)
✅ 12. DARE (as a modal)
Used in negative/interrogative forms to express challenge or courage.
Example: Dare he oppose the manager?, He dare not say a word.
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🔷 Grouped Usage of Modals by Function
➤ Modals for Ability
Can, Could
She can paint well. (present)
He could run fast when he was younger. (past)
➤ Modals for Permission
Can, Could, May, Might
Can I come in? (informal)
May I come in? (formal)
Could I leave early today? (polite)
Might I borrow your notes? (very polite or tentative)
➤ Modals for Possibility
May, Might, Can, Could
It may rain. (more probable)
It might rain. (less probable)
➤ Modals for Obligation / Necessity
Must, Should, Ought to, Have to
You must submit your exam form. (compulsion)
You should sleep early. (advice)
You ought to apologise. (moral duty)
I have to pay the bills. (external obligation)
➤ Modals for Advice / Suggestion
Should, Ought to, Shall
You should eat healthy.
Shall we go to the library?
➤ Modals for Requests / Offers
Can, Could, Would, May
Can you help me?
Could you wait a moment?
Would you like some juice?
➤ Modals for Deduction / Assumption
Must, Should
He must be the principal. (strong assumption)
She should be at work by now. (reasonable expectation)
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🔷 Common Mistakes with Modals
❌ He can sings well.
✅ He can sing well.
❌ I must to go now.
✅ I must go now.
❌ She should to try again.
✅ She should try again.
❌ Do you must leave?
✅ Must you leave?
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🔷 Practice Sentences – Choose the Right Modal
1. You ___ complete this project today. (must/should/can)
2. ___ I borrow your book? (May/Should/Would)
3. She ___ solve the puzzle when she was only six. (could/might/must)
4. You ___ not speak loudly in the library. (need/need to/need not)
5. He ___ be tired; he worked all night. (must/might/can)