- Modal Verbs -
Can
"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or
offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.
Examples:
Modal Use Positive Forms Negative Forms You can also use:
1. = Present 2. = Past 1. = Present 2. = Past 3.
3. = Future = Future
can 1. I have some free time. 1. I don't have any time. I be able to
OPPORTUNITY I can help her now. can't help her now.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO"
I had some free time yesterday. I I didn't have time yesterday. I wasn't
was able to help her at that time. able to help her at that time.
3. I'll have some free time 3. I won't have any time later. I can't
tomorrow. I can help her then. help her then.
can 1. I can drive Susan's car 1. I can't drive Susan's car may
2
can Anyone can become rich It can't cost more than a could
POSSIBILITY, and famous if they know dollar or two.
IMPOSSIBILITY
the right people. You can't be 45! I thought you were
Learning a language can be a about 18 years old.
real challenge.
THIS USE IS USUALLY A GENERALIZATION
THIS USE IS USUALLY A OR A SUPPOSITION.
GENERALIZATION OR A SUPPOSITION.
Could
"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly
used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."
Examples:
• Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. POSSIBILITY
• Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. PAST ABILITY
• You could see a movie or go out to dinner. SUGGESTION
• Could I use your computer to email my boss? REQUEST
• We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. CONDITIONAL
could 1. John could be the one who 1. Mary couldn't be the one who might,
POSSIBILITY stole the money. stole the money. may
2. John could have been the one who stole 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who
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3. John could go to jail for stealing the 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the
money. crime.
3. If I had more time this winter, I could 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I
travel around the world. couldn't travel around the world.
could I could run ten miles in my I couldn't run more than a mile in be able to
PAST ABILITY twenties. my twenties.
I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. I couldn't speak Swahili.
Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by
Not Correct myself. Correct
Examples:
• Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
• Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.
Have To
"Have to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.
Examples:
have to 1. She has to read four books 1. She doesn't have to read "Grapes must
NECESSITY for this literature class. of Wrath." It's optional reading for
2. She had to finish the first book before extra credit.
the midterm. 2. She didn't have to write a critique of "The
Scarlet Letter." She had to give a presentation to
3. She will have to finish the other books her class.
before the final exam.
3. She won't have to take any other literature
classes. American Literature 101 is the only
required course.
Examples:
May
"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or request permission, although this usage is
becoming less common.
Examples:
may 1. Jack may be upset. I can't 1. Jack may not be upset. Perhaps might
POSSIBILITY really tell if he is annoyed or he is tired.
tired. 2. Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he
2. Jack may have been upset. I couldn't was tired.
really tell if he was annoyed or tired.
3. Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him
3. Jack may get upset if you don't tell him the truth
the truth.
may 1. You may leave the table now 1. You may not leave the table. can
GIVE PERMISSION that you're finished with your You're not finished with your
dinner. dinner yet.
2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO" 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"
You were allowed to leave the table after You were not allowed to leave the table
you finished your dinner. because you hadn't finished your dinner.
3. You may leave the table when you finish 3. You may not leave the table until you are
your dinner. finished with your dinner.
Might
"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also
use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English.
Examples:
might 1. She might be on the bus. I 1. She might not be on the bus. could,
POSSIBILITY think her car is having She might be walking home. may
problems. 2. She might not have taken the bus. She
2. She might have taken the bus. I'm not might have walked home.
sure how she got to work.
3. She might not take the bus. She might
3. She might take the bus to get home. I get a ride from Bill.
don't think Bill will be able to give her a
ride.
3. You might try the cheesecake. 3. You might not want to eat the cheese
cake. It's very calorific.
Examples:
• Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.
• Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY.
Must
"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation,
although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds
very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.
Examples:
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• This must be the right address! CERTAINTY
• Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. NECESSITY
• You must take some medicine for that cough. STRONG RECOMMENDATION
• Jenny, you must not play in the street! PROHIBITION
must 1. That must be Jerry. They 1. That must not be Jerry. He is have to
CERTAINTY said he was tall with bright supposed to have red hair.
red hair. 2. That must not have been the right
2. That must have been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one
restaurant. There are no other around here somewhere.
restaurants on this street.
3. NO FUTURE FORM
3. NO FUTURE FORM
must 1. You must take some time 1. You mustn't drink so much. should
STRONG off and get some rest. It's not good for your health.
RECOMMENDATION 2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" 2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
(Americans You should have taken some time off You shouldn't have drunk so much. That
prefer last week to get some rest. caused the accident.
the form
"should.")
3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" 3. SHIFT TO "SHOULD"
You should take some time off next You shouldn't drink at the party. You are
week to get some rest. going to be the designated driver.
Examples:
Ought To
"Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also expresses assumption or expectation as well as
strong probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing
something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."
Examples:
ought to 1. She ought to have the "OUGHT NOT" IS USED PRIMARILY TO EXPRESS should
NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. (SEE ABOVE.)
ASSUMPTION, EXPECTATION, package by now.
PROBABILITY 2. She ought to have received the
package yesterday.
Examples:
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Shall
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in
suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use
of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in
British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in
suggestions or formalized language.
Examples:
also
use:
shall I shall be replaced by someone I shall not be replaced after all. will
FUTURE ACTION from the New York office. I shall not be there. I have a previous
(British form) I shall be there by 8:00. obligation.
shall I shall take care of everything for I shall never forget you. will
VOLUNTEERING, you. I shall never give up the fight for freedom.
PROMISING I shall make the travel arrangements.
(British form) There's no need to worry.
shall Man shall explore the distant Man shall never give up the
INEVITABILITY regions of the universe. exploration of the universe.
(British form) We shall overcome oppression. He shall not be held back.
Should
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well
as expectation.
Examples:
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• When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. RECOMMENDATION
• You should focus more on your family and less on work. ADVICE
• I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. OBLIGATION
• By now, they should already be in Dubai. EXPECTATION
Will
"Will" is used with promises or voluntary actions that take place in the future. "Will" can also be used to make predictions about
the future. For more information on using "will" and associated exercises, visit the Simple Future section of our Verb Tense
Tutorial.
Examples:
will The marketing director will be The marketing director will shall
FUTURE ACTION, replaced by someone from the New not be replaced after all.
PREDICTION
York office. Fred will not be there. He has a
Fred will be there by 8:00. previous obligation.
will I will take care of everything for you. I will never forget you. shall
VOLUNTEERING, I will make the travel arrangements. There's no I will never give up the fight for
PROMISING need to worry. freedom.
Would
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will."
Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past. For more information on the grammar behind the modal verb "would,"
visit the following tutorials: Conditional Tutorial, Future in the Past, and Would Always.
Examples:
3. If I were elected president next year, I 3. If I were president, I would not sign the
would cut the cost of education. tax increase next week.
would When I was a kid, I would When I was a kid, I wouldn't go used to
REPETITION IN always go to the beach. into the water by myself.
PAST
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When he was young, he would always do When he got older, he would never do his
his homework. homework.