Modal verbs and their meaning

What are modal verbs?

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special verbs which
behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They
give additional information about the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great
variety of communicative functions.
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...

They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)

They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility,
willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

List of modal verbs

Here is a list of modal verbs:

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to
a large extent and my be added to the above list

Use of modal verbs:

Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:

1. Permission

2. Ability

3. Obligation

4. Prohibition

5. Lack of necessity

6. Advice

7. possibility

8. probability

Examples of modal verbs

Here is a list of modals with examples:

Modal Verb Expressing Example

Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

must
He must be very tired. He's been working all day
logical conclusion / Certainty
long.

must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

ability I can swim.

can permission Can I use your phone please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone please?

may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of

need not
obligation tomatoes in the fridge.

I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible

50 % obligation
should/ought headache.
to
advice You should / ought to revise your lessons
 He should / ought to be very tired. He's been
logical conclusion
working all day long.

had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons

Remember

Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.

Examples:

You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.

You should see to the doctor.

There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.

Modals in the Present and Past

Modals in the present and past

Generally speaking modals in the past have the following form:

modal + have + past participle

Example:

Present:
You should see a doctor.

Past:
You should have seen a doctor

Except for modals that express obligation,ability and lack of necessity:

Obligation:
Present = I must / have to work hard. -- Past = I had to work hard.

Ability:
Present = I can run fast. -- Past = I could run fast when I was young.

Lack of necessity:
Present = You don't have to / needn't take your umbrella. -- Past = You didn't have to /
didn't need to take your umbrella.
 Modals in the Present Modals in the Past

You must / have to stop when the traffic

Obligation You had to stop.
lights are red.

Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor

Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked there.

Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.

He has a Rolls Royce. He must be very He must have been rich. He had a big
rich. house and an expensive car.
Certainty
He can't be American. His English is He can't have written that poem. He
terrible. was illiterate.

She could drive her father's car when

Permission Can I go out?
she was only 15.

It may / can / could / might rain. It's I guess it may / can / could / might
Possibility
cloudy. have been Lacy on the phone.

Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy any You didn't have to / didn't need to
necessity tomatoes. There are plenty in the fridge. buy tomatoes.

Uses of Need

August 18, 2010 -

Need is used both as an ordinary verb and as an auxiliary verb. As an ordinary verb need is used in
the sense of require. The ordinary verb need has -s in the third person singular. Questions and
negatives are made with do.

Do you need any help?

We need more volunteers.

 We have got what we needed.

I need more time to decide the question.

He needs our help.

The auxiliary verb need remains unchanged, whatever be the number or person of the subject. It
is common in negative clauses. It does not have -s in the third person singular.

You need not wait.

He need not ask my permission.

They need not make such a fuss over it.

The auxiliary need is sometimes used with hardly.

We need hardly say that we are very grateful.

I need hardly say that you are always welcome.

It can also be used with only.

You need only sign this paper and I will do the rest.

The auxiliary need is usually used in questions without not.

Need we wait any longer?

Need I come again?

If the answer is in the negative, say No, you need not. If the answer is in the positive, say Yes,
you must.
When referring to past time, need is followed by the perfect infinitive (have + past participle).

We need not have waited for them.

We need not have wasted our time and energy on that project.

You need not have lost your temper.

Modality: forms

from English Grammar Today

Modal verbs
Core modal verbs have only one form. They have no to-infinitive form, -ing form, past form or -ed
form. We have to reword what we want to say by using other expressions:

Id love to be able to see the Taj Mahal one day.

Not: Id love to can see the Taj Mahal one day.

They had to sell their house.

Not: They musted sell their house.

Affirmative (+) forms

Modal verbs are placed first in the verb phrase (after the subject) and are followed by a verb in the
base form. The next verb may be a main verb or an auxiliary verb (be, have):

Modal verbs do not change form for tense or person. Modal verbs can be followed by the
substitute verb do:

A:

We thought he might sell the house

B:

Yes, he could do.

Modal verbs cannot be used with another modal verb:

Windsurfing can be difficult.

Not: Windsurfing can might be difficult. or Windsurfing might can be difficult.

Modal verbs always go before other verbs in a verb phrase:

[in a restaurant after a meal]

I think the bill could be expensive.

Not: I think the bill could expensive.

You can go swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition.

Not: You can swimming, go for a long walk or visit the exhibition.

Modal verbs can only be used alone when the main verb is clearly understood:

A:

She could take the bus.

B:

Yeah, thats true. She could. (She could take the bus.)

A:

He may be wrong, you know.

B:

Yes, he may. (Yes, he may be wrong.)

Negative () forms

Warning:

Negatives are formed by adding not after the modal verbs. We dont use dont/doesnt/didnt
with modal verbs:

We cant hear very well at the back.

Not: We dont can hear very well

Question (?) forms

Warning:

The subject and the modal verb change position to form questions. We dont use do/does/did:

Could you help me?

Not: Do you could help me?

Will it be a problem?

Not: Does it will be a problem?

Why cant you come too?

Not: Why dont you can come too?

We use modal verbs in question tags:

You cant live like that, can you?

It could be any of those things, couldnt it?

See also:

Question tags
 Tags

Contracted forms

In speaking shall and will are often contracted to ll and would is contracted to d, especially when
they follow a pronoun:

Ill see you later.

Well never get there.

I knew theyd love it.

The negative forms of modal verbs are often contracted.

modal verb uncontracted negative contracted negative

can cannot (usually written as one word not two) cant /knt/

could could not couldnt /kdnt/

may may not

might might not mightnt /matnt/

will will not *wont /wnt/ or ll not

shall shall not *shant /nt/ or ll not

would would not *wouldnt /wdnt/ or d not

should should not shouldnt /dnt/

must must not mustnt /msnt/

* is the more common of the two forms.

Modal verbs and adverbs

We usually put adverbs in mid position between the modal verb and the main verb:

Loud noises may sometimes frighten dogs and other animals.

Youll probably notice something different about the house.

When the main verb is understood, we can put the adverb between the subject and the modal
verb:
A:

I can never remember Flos number.

B:

I never can either. (I can never remember Flos number either.)

Dare, need, ought to and used to (semi-modal verbs)

Dare, need, ought to and used to are often called semi-modal because in some ways they are
formed like modal verbs and in some ways they are like other main verbs.

Like modal verbs, ought to and used to do not change form for person. Neednt and darent do not
have a third person -s in the present:

It used to be so easy. It ought to be easy now.

She neednt worry.

John darent tell Ruth about the accident.

Like main verbs, the negative form of need, dare and used to is made by using do. But it can also
be made without using do (like modal verbs).

Compare

You dont need to dress smartly. You neednt dress smartly.

We dont dare (to) tell him. We darent tell him.

The negative form of ought to is not made with do:

We oughtnt to spend so much money.

Not: We dont ought to spend so much money.

Like main verbs, the question form for need, dare and used to is made by using do:

Does she need to get a camera before she goes away?

Did you use to play football when you were a child?

Question and negative forms of ought to are rare.

See also:

Dare
 Need

Ought to

Used to

(Modality: forms from English Grammar Today Cambridge University Press. Need grammar
practice? Try English Grammar Today with Workbook.)

Modal verbs

The modal verbs include can, must, may, might, will, would, should. They are used with other
verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, and so on. Below is a list showing the most useful
modals and their most common meanings:

Modal Meaning Example

can to express ability I can speak a little Russian.

can to request permission Can I open the window?

may to express possibility I may be home late.

may to request permission May I sit down, please?

must to express obligation I must go now.

must to express strong belief She must be over 90 years old.

should to give advice You should stop smoking.

would to request or offer Would you like a cup of tea?

would in if-sentences If I were you, I would say sorry.

Modal verbs are unlike other verbs. They do not change their form (spelling) and they have no
infinitive or participle (past/present). The modals must and can need substitute verbs to express
obligation or ability in the different tenses. Here are some examples:

Past simple Sorry I'm late. I had to finish my math test.

Present perfect She's had to return to Korea at short notice.

Future You'll have to work hard if you want to pass the exams.

Infinitive I don't want to have to go.

Past simple I couldn't/wasn't able to walk until I was 3 years old.

Present perfect I haven't been able to solve this problem. Can you help?

Future I'm not sure if I will be able to come to your party.

Infinitive I would love to be able to play the piano.

Modals are auxiliary verbs. They do not need an additional auxiliary in negatives or questions. For
example: Must I come? (Do I must come?), or: He shouldn't smoke (He doesn't should smoke).
Important: The explanations and examples on this page are just an introduction to this extensive
and complex area of English grammar. Students of English who want to learn more should consult
a good reference work, such as Swan's Practical English Usage.

Modal verbs

This lesson has two parts. Part 1 explains the grammar of modal verbs and where they are placed
in a sentence or question. Part 2 explains the meaning of each modal verb and provides example
sentences.

Modal verbs are also called modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries, or simply
modals. These verbs are a subcategory of auxiliary verbs , which means they Read lesson
cannot be used without a main verb. English has ten modal verbs. * en espaol
* en franais
can could

may might

shall should

will would

must ought

While the meaning and usage of modal verbs is complicated, the grammar is simple. Modal verbs
are not conjugated: they have no tense and no person, so they never change.

All modal verbs must be followed by a main verb in the base form except for ought which is
followed by an infinitive.
subject modal main verb
verb (base form)

They can come

Mike should walk.

You must go

We will wait.

She ought study. incorrect

Attention: many English learners make the mistake of placing an infinitive after every modal verb.
This is incorrect.

subject modal main verb

verb (infinitive)

They can to come. incorrect

Mike should to walk. incorrect

You must to go. incorrect

We will to wait. incorrect

She ought to study.

In statements, the word order is subject + modal + main verb.

subject modal main

verb verb

Tom and Sue might arrive later.

Everyone can swim.

In questions, the word order changes to modal + subject + main verb. Here are some examples
with Yes / No questions.

modal subject main

verb verb

Can they come?

Should Mike drive?

Here are some examples with Wh questions.

Wh word modal subject main

verb verb

When can they eat?

How could he walk?

When forming negative statements, the negative adverb not is placed between the modal verb
and the main verb.

subject modal main

verb verb

You must not disturb the baby.

They should not drive at night.

When asking questions in the negative, the modal verb and a negative adverb not are always
contractions.

modal + not subject main

(contracted) verb

Couldnt Tom come to the party?

Shouldnt you rest?

To learn more details about modal verbs and how they express moods such as ability, possibility,
necessity or other conditions, go to page 2.

English grammar lesson on-line for advanced level students or teachers - Complete overview of
modal auxiliary verbs.

Introduction - Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Auxiliary Verbs are a very rich area of the English language. They are used with great
frequency and with a wide range of meanings.

can could may might will

would shall should /ought to must need

All of them (except for NEED) can express degress of certainty, probability or possibility of an
event. But they can also express ideas such as willingness and ability, permission and refusal,
obiligation and prohibition, suggestion, necessity, promise and intention.

Modal Verbs expressing certainty, probability or possibility

In order of certainty:

WILL and WON'T are used to predict a future event or action which are seen as certain. The truth
or certainty of what is asserted is more or less taken for granted.

I will see you later.

His latest book will be out next month.

WILL and WON'T are also used to express what we believe or guess to be true about the present.
They indicate an assumption based on our knowledge of people and things, their routine,
character and qualities.

Don't take the meat out of the oven. It won't be ready yet.

MUST is used to assert what we infer or conclude to be the most logical or rational interpretation
of a situation or event. As we do not have all the facts, it is less certain than will. The negative form
is CAN'T.

He walked across the Sahara desert! You must be joking!.

She can't have a ten-year old daughter! She's only twenty-five herself!

SHOULD expresses what may reasonably be expected to happen. Expectation means believing that
things are or will be as we want them to be.This use of SHOULD carries the meaning of "if
everything goes according to the plan, then something should happen"; therefore it doesn't
suggest negative or unpleasant ideas.

You have worked hard. You should pass the exam.

If the flight was on time, he should have arrived in Jakarta early this morning.

MAY expresses the possibility that something will happen or is already happening.

We may go to Spain this year. We haven't decided yet.

A - "Where's Sandra?" B - "I don't know. She may be having a bath".

MIGHT, like may, expresses possibility, but is more tentative and slightly less certain.

I might not be back in time for supper, so don't wait for me.

It might rain. Take your umbrella.

CAN is used to say that something is possible and actually happens.

It can be expensive to keep a dog (it can be and sometimes is).

We also use CAN to indicate that there is a very real possibility of a future event happening.

We can stay with Jessica in London (we will be able to stay)

COULD expresses the theoretical possibility of something happening. It is used in a similar way to
might.

It could be expensive to keep a dog (if we had one, it could or it may not be expensive)

It also suggests that something is less likely or that there is some doubt about it.

We could stay with Jessica in London (it's possible, if she's there)

Could not is not used to express a future possibility. The negative of could is MIGHT NOT.

It might not be right.

Couldn't has a similar meaning to can't, but only slightly weaker. Compare it to the previous
example.

She couldn't have a ten-year old daughter! She's only twenty-five herself!

OUGHT TO, as well as SHOULD, + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE are used to talk about an expectation
that something happened, has happened, or will happen.

If the flight was on time, he should/ought to have arrived in Paris early this morning.
 The builders should/ought to have finished by the end of the week.

Other uses of modal auxiliary verbs

Obligation and Advice: MUST / HAVE TO / SHOULD / OUGHT TO / HAD BETTER

MUST and MUST NOT are used in formal rules and regulations and in warnings. They express
strong obligation, the opinion of the speaker and are associated with a more formal, written style.
We can also use it to remind ourselves to do something.

Bookings must be made at least seven days before departure (formal rule)

You mustn't steal. It's very naughty (strong negative obligation, opinion of the speaker)

I must phone Steve when I get home. I said I'd call him last night, but I forgot (to remind
ourselves to do something)

HAVE TO expresses a general obligation based on a law or rule, or based on the authority of
another person.

Children have to go to school until they're sixteen (It's the law)

DON'T HAVE TO expresses the absence of obligation.

You don't have to go to England if you want to learn English.

Sometimes we can use either HAVE TO or HAVE GOT TO. But we use HAVE TO with frequency
adverbs such as always, never, normally, rarely, sometimes, etc.

I often have to work at the weekend to get everything done.

With the past simple HAD TO is used especially in questions and negative sentences.

When did you have to give it back?

We didn't have to wait too long for an answer

If HAVE is contracted, then we must include GOT. It is often preferred in informal speech.

The experiment has failed twice before, so it's got to work this time.

Don't have a late night. We've got to get up early tomorrow.

Sometimes it is possible to find MUST and HAVE TO together. In this case MUST signifies a logical
interpretation and HAVE TO an obligation. For a present situation:

Now John's mother is nearly 90 she must have to be looked after.

For a past situation:

I don't know where Sarah is. I presume she must have had to go out to meet someone.

We can often use either SHOULD or OUGHT TO to talk about obligations and recommendations,
although SHOULD is much more common. They describe a sort of obligation where you have a
choice.

I think you should wear your glasses whenever you feel like watching TV.

I haven't heard from Evelyn for ages. Do you think I should give her a ring?

I don't think parents should/ought to give their children sweets

We can use HAD BETTER instead of SHOULD/OUGHT TO, especially in spoken English, to say that
we think it is a good idea to do something. We prefer it if we want to express particular urgency
and in demands and threats.

If you are not well, you'd better ask Ann to go instead (good idea to do something)

There's someone moving about downstairs. We'd better call the police, quickly. (urgency)

The negative form is HAD BETTER NOT. In question forms the subject comes after HAD.

He'd better not be late again or he'll be in trouble.

Hadn't we better get a taxi?

Permission: MAY / MIGHT / CAN / COULD

They are used asking for permission, or saying whether we or other people have it. To talk about
permission generally, or permission in the past, we use CAN or COULD. MAY is used to ask for and
give permission but it sounds very formal.

Can/Could I borrow your car tonight?

May I help you?

Ability: CAN / COULD

CAN expresses ability or is used to say what someone knows how to do, or what is possible. The
past is expressed by COULD.

I can speak three languages.

Thanks to his new glasses, he could make out what was written on the notice.
In these sentences we can also use ABLE TO without any important change of meaning. To express
a fulfilled ability on one particular occasion in the past, COULD is not used. Instead, we use WAS
ABLE TO or MANAGED TO.

She was able to survive by clinging onto the wrecked boat.

The prisoner managed to escape by climbing onto the roof.

There is a useful difference of meaning between COULD and WAS/WERE ABLE TO: the latter form
says not only that you could do something (it was possible for you), but also that you did it.

a) The door was open and he could go into the room.

b) The door was open and he was able to go into the room.

In sentence a) (COULD) we only know for sure that it was possible; Sentence b) (WAS ABLE) tells us
also that he managed to get in, he succeeded in getting in.