Modal verbs

Modal verbs

A modal verb (also modal, modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary) is a type of auxiliary verb.

Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility, intention, obligation, possibility

There are 9 modal verbs:

• May

• Might

• Can/Can’t

• Could

• Should

• Must

• Be able to

• Have to

• Need to

Why modal verbs are special?

Because the modal verbs don’t follow the same rules of the normal verbs,they don’t have past or future.

May: Asking for permission; Future possibility

Eg: May I go to the conference?; I may be able to help u in your project tomorrow; May I go to the bathroom please?

Might: Present possibility

Eg: We might be interrupting their launch; They might make us an offer; They might play with us

Can/Can’t: Ability, Inability, Request, Ask for permission

Eg: I can play basquetball; I can’t play football; Can I play football?

Could: Request, Asking for permission, Suggestion, Future possibility, ability in the past

Eg: Could u help me?; I could go to LA tomorrow; Could I take tomorrow off?

Should: Advice, Recommending action, Uncertain prediction

Eg: You should see a doctor; We should get a specialist; Salaries should go up next month

Must: Obligation, Necessity, Prohibition

Eg: We must to study for this test; You must to eat something; you must to see a doctor.

Be able to: Ability

Eg: I would like to be able to speak Chinese; I have been able to swim since I was five; You will be able to speak perfect English very soon.

Have to/Haven’t to: Impersonal obligation

Eg: In France, you have to drive on the right; In England, most schoolchildren have to wear a uniform; John has to wear a tie at work.

Need to/ Needn’t to: Personal obligation

Eg: I need to study

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