Modal Verbs

Why, when, and how touse them.

A special type of auxiliary verb;

They alter or complete the meaning of themain verb;

They express ideas such as capacity,possibility, obligation, permission, prohibition,probability, supposition, request, and desire.

They can also indicate the level of formality inthe conversation.

They do not take “s” for the third personsingular.

Main caracteristcis

CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHALL, WILL, SHOULD,

OUGHT TO, and WOULD.

Main modal verbs

One of the most commonly usedmodals in English. It can expressideas such as capacity,permission or request.

CAN

Examples:

She can speak French. (capacity)

He can come in now. (permission)

Can you lend me your pen, please? (request)

It expresses possibility,past ability as well assuggestions and requests.

COULD

Examples:

Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city (possibility)

John could run very fast when he was younger (past ability)

We could go to an ice-cream parlor or stay home and watch a movie. (suggestion)

Could I use your cell phone for a moment? (request)

It is most commonly used toexpress possibility. It canalso be used to give or askfor permission.

MAY

Maria may be at school or at home. (possibility)

May he leave the room with me? (asking for permission)

Yes, he may leave the room with you. (giving permission)

Examples:

It is more commonly used toindicate possibility. However, itcan also be used to makesuggestions or requests; this isa rare use, though.

MIGHT

Examples:

Your backpack might be under the desk. (possibility)

You might go to the Bodódromo during your visit. (suggestion)

Might I open the door? (request – British standard)

It can be used to talk about certainty,that is, something you are almostsure is true. Moreover, it can be usedto talk about obligation, prohibition,necessity or strong recommendation.

MUST

Examples:

She must be sick. She never gets late to school. (probability)

Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. (necessity)

You must drink a lot of water to protect your voice. (strong recommendation)

Sarah, you must always do your homework. (obligation)

It indicates a future action. It ismore commonly used with the firstperson singular and plural (I andwe) often found in suggestions,promises, or predestinations.

SHALL

Examples:

Shall we set the table? (suggestion)

I shall never leave your side. (promise)

She shall become our next queen. (predestination)

It is more commonly used to talk aboutfuture situations. Nonetheless, it canalso be used to talk about the presentwhen we want to make a request. It isalso used in situations in which wemake instant decisions.

WILL

Examples:

I will call you later. (future action)

Will you close the window, please? (request)

I loved that T-shirt! I’ll take it. (instant decision)

This modal is more commonlyused to give recommendationsor advices. It can also be usedto talk about obligation as wellas expectation.

SHOULD

Examples:

When you have many classes, you should take a bottle of water with you. (recommendation)

You should focus more on your assignments. (advice)

I should be at work before 7pm. (obligation)

At this moment, they should already be in New York. (expectation)

It is used to advise or makerecommendations. It can also expressassumption, expectation, or strongprobability when the context impliesthat something is deserved.

OUGHT TO

Examples:

She ought to stop eating red meat. (recommendation)

Sam ought to get a promotion. (expectation – because he deserves it)

Those apartments ought to increase in value due to the construction of the new mall. (assumption)

You ought to know. (Alanis Morissette’s1995 hit “You Ought to Know”.

It is more commonly used tocreate conditional verb tenses.In addition, it can be used tomake offers, requests, and talkabout past habits.

WOULD

Examples:

If I were you, I would not do that again. (2nd conditional)

Would you like some cake? (offer)

Would you turn down the volume, please? (request)

We would swim in the dam for hours when we were kids. (past habits)

Other modals which can be used to make conditional sentences: could, might, will and should.

If I knew her name, I might tell.I could have told you the truth if you had listened to me. If I should see him, I’ll give him the message.