Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb in English that express a range of meanings related to possibility, ability, permission, obligation, and more. The following are the modal verbs in English:
Modal Verbs in Brief
- Can – used to express ability, possibility or permission Example:
I can swim. (ability) / Can I borrow your pencil? (permission) / It can be dangerous to swim in the sea. (possibility) - Could – used to express possibility, ability or past ability Example:
I could swim when I was younger. (past ability) / Could you pass me the salt please? (polite request) / If you study harder, you could pass the exam. (possibility) - May – used to express possibility or permission Example:
May I come in? (permission) / It may rain today. (possibility) - Might – used to express possibility or uncertainty Example:
I might go to the party tonight. (possibility) / The weather might be good tomorrow. (uncertainty) - Must – used to express obligation or necessity Example:
I must finish this work before the deadline. (obligation) / You must wear a seatbelt in the car. (necessity) - Shall – used to express a suggestion or to make an offer Example:
Shall we go for a walk? (suggestion) / I shall help you with your luggage. (offer) - Should – used to give advice or to express obligation Example:
You should eat more vegetables. (advice) / I should call my parents more often. (obligation) - Will – used to express future actions or intentions Example:
I will meet you at the train station tomorrow. (future action) / He will probably be late. (future intention)
Would – used to express hypothetical or polite requests Example:
If I had more time, I would read more books. (hypothetical) / Would you like some tea? (polite request)
Can” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Ability: “I can play the guitar.”
- Possibility: “It can be difficult to learn a new language.”
- Permission: “Can I borrow your pen?”
- Request: “Can you please pass the salt?”
- Offers: “Can I help you with your bags?”
- Suggestions: “Can we try a new restaurant tonight?”
- Expressions of doubt: “I can’t believe she did that!”
- Emphasis: “I can tell you for sure that he’s not coming.”
- Hypotheticals: “If I can get off work early, I’ll meet you for lunch .”
Could” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Ability in the past: “When I was younger, I could run faster.”
- Possibility: “It could rain later today.”
- Polite request: “Could you please pass the salt?”
- Offering help: “I could help you with your project if you want.”
- Suggestions: “We could take the train instead of driving.”
- Expressing doubts: “I don’t think he could finish the project on time.”
- Conditional sentences: “If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Japan.”
- Hypothetical situations: “If I could go back in time, I would change my decisions.”
- Expressing past ability or permission: “I could swim in the pool when I was younger.”
May” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Possibility: “It may rain later today.”
- Permission: “May I please use the restroom?”
- Request: “May I borrow your pen for a moment?”
- Polite suggestions: “May I suggest a different approach to the problem?”
- Expressing wishes or hopes: “May your dreams come true.”
- Expressing probability: “She may be late for the meeting.”
- Giving permission with conditions: “You may leave early if you finish your work on time.”
- Expressing surprise or disbelief: “I may be wrong, but I thought the meeting was at 2 pm.”
- Offering possibilities: “We may go to the beach or stay home and watch a movie. “
“Might” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Possibility: “It might rain later today.”
- Suggestion: “You might want to consider studying for the exam.”
- Uncertainty: “I might be able to attend the meeting, but I’m not sure yet.”
- Polite request: “Might I borrow your phone for a moment?”
- Hypothetical situations: “If I were rich, I might travel the world.”
- Expressing a small probability: “She might be able to come to the party, but it’s unlikely.”
- Expressing a tentative decision: “I might go to the concert, but I haven’t decided yet.”
- Expressing surprise or disbelief: “I might have misunderstood you, but did you say you’re moving to Japan?”
- Expressing regrets: “I might have been more careful and avoided the accident.”
“Should” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Advice: “You should study for the exam.”
- Obligation: “I should clean my room before guests arrive.”
- Expectation: “The project should be finished by next week.”
- Suggestion: “You should try the new sushi place downtown.”
- Probability: “He should arrive at the airport in about an hour.”
- Criticism: “You shouldn’t have spoken to her that way.”
- Emphasis: “You should have seen the look on his face!”
- Consequence: “If you don’t study, you should expect to fail the exam.”
- Expressing preference: “I should prefer to take the train instead of driving.”,
“Ought to” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples:
- Advice or recommendation: “You ought to start studying for the exam.”
- Moral obligation: “We ought to help those in need.”
- Strong suggestion: “You ought to try the seafood chowder; it’s delicious.”
- Probability: “He ought to be finished with his work by now.”
- Expressing expectations: “The contractor ought to finish the job by the end of the week.”
- Expressing regret or disappointment: “We ought to have finished the project on time, but we didn’t.”
- Indicating logical expectation: “She ought to know better than to talk on the phone while driving.”
- Expressing a duty or responsibility: “We ought to keep our promises.”
- Expressing a desirable or necessary action: “You ought to apologize for what you said.”
Shall” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Making suggestions or offers: “Shall we go for a walk?” or “Shall I help you with that?”
- Expressing future time: “I shall be arriving in London next week.”
- Formal permission or authorization: “You shall be allowed to enter once you show your ID.”
- Formal instructions or commands: “You shall not enter this area without permission.”
- Expressing obligation: “We shall ensure that the project is completed on time.”
- Making promises or commitments: “I shall do my best to finish the project by the deadline.”
- Expressing determination or strong intention: “I shall not give up until I find a solution.”
- Making predictions or expressing expectations: “The weather shall be sunny tomorrow.”
- In legal documents, used to express obligations or requirements: “The parties shall comply with all the terms of this agreement.”
Will” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Expressing future time: “I will go to the store tomorrow.”
- Making offers or promises: “I will help you with your homework.”
- Expressing willingness: “I will do whatever it takes to succeed.”
- Expressing determination: “I will not give up until I reach my goal.”
- Making predictions: “It will rain tomorrow.”
- Expressing habits or routines: “I will always have a cup of coffee in the morning.”
- Giving instructions or commands: “You will clean your room before going out.”
- Expressing requests: “Will you please pass the salt?”
- In conditional sentences: “If I win the lottery, I will buy a new car.” “would” is a modal verb in English that can be used in a variety of ways.
Here are some Examples
- Polite requests: “Would you please pass the salt?”
- Hypothetical situations: “If I had more time, I would study more.”
- Expressing preference: “I would prefer to stay home tonight.”
- Making offers or invitations: “I would like to invite you to dinner tonight.”
- Polite questions: “Would you mind if I borrowed your pen for a moment?”
- Indirect speech or reported speech: “She said that she would be there by 5 pm.”
- Expressing willingness: “I would love to help you with your project.”
“Have to” is more commonly used to express a general obligation or necessity, while “must” is often used to express a strong or urgent obligation.
For example:
- I have to go to work every day. (general obligation)
- I have to study for my exam tomorrow. (general obligation)
- I must finish this report by 5 pm today. (strong obligation)Expressing habits or routines in the past: “When I was young, I would often go camping with my family.”
