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Modal VerbsExplanation and Rules

Modals verbs are auxiliary verbs that help us to express possibility, ability, obligation and permission.

Can, Could and Be Able To

- We use “can, could or be able to” to express an ability or lack of ability.

Present and Futurecan/can’t + base form of the verb

• She can run really fast. • I can play the guitar.

am / is / are / will be + able to + verbam not / isn’t / aren’t / won’t be + able to + verb

• She is able to do whatever she wants. • We won’t be able to join you at dinner.

- We use “can and could” to express possibility or impossibility.

can / can’t + verb

• I can’t text her because my phone doesn’t work. • You can get on that bus to go to the city center.

could / couldn’t + verb

• Mike could go to jail for stealing. • She couldn’t be the one who called you.

- We use “can and could” to ask or give permissions.

can + subject + verb? (informal)subject + can + verb (informal)

• Can you open the window? • My daughter can paint the wall.

could + subject + verb? (polite/formal)

• Could you please open the window? • Could you tell me the time, please?

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- We use “may” for formal permission

may / may not + verb

• You may go to the bathroom.• He may smoke outside.

- We use “may” for polite requests

may + subject + verb?

• May I go to the bathroom, teacher?• May I enter the room?

- We use “may or might” for possibilities

may / might + verbmay not / might not + verb

• They may visit us tonight.• It might not rain tomorrow.

- We use “might” for suggestions (polite or formal)

might + verb

• You might like to taste sushi.• You might like today’s special.

Past

could / couldn’t + verb

• I couldn’t whistle when I was a child.• She couldn’t swim last year.

was / wasn’t / were / weren’t + able to + verbhave been / haven’t been / has been / hasn’t been + able to + verb

• I wasn’t able to do my homework last week.• He has been able to play the guitar since he was a child.

May and Might

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- We use “shall” when we o�er or suggest something. We only use it with I and We in question sentences

shall / subject / verb?

• Shall we go to the cinema? • Shall I turn on the lights?

- We use “should” in question sentences for o�ers and suggestions

should / subject / verb?

• Should I tell them the truth? • Should I call a taxi?

- We use “should” to give advice

should / shouldn’t + verb

• I think you should start learning English. • They should study hard to pass the exam.

- We use “should have” if something in the past wasn’t done properly

should + have + v3shouldn’t + have + v3

• You should have listened to me. Everything would be di�erent now. • They shouldn’t have cheated. That’s why they failed.

Shall, Should and Ought to

Must, Have to, Need to and Don’t have to

Present and Future

- We use “must or have to” for obligations. Must is used if the obligation is the speaker’s feeling. Have to is used if the obligation comes from outside but sometimes, we may see “must” on sign-boards.

must + verbhave to + verb

• I smell terrible. I must take a shower. (no obligation from someone) • The students have to uniform at school. (the school has rules) • All visitors must wear a helmet. (it is a signboard)

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Past - We use “had to or needed to” for obligations in the past

had to + verbneeded to + verb

• I had to visit my grandpa because he was sick. • He needed to wake up early because of work.

- We use “must” if we are sure about something in the past

must + have + v3

• I cannot �nd my wallet. Someone must have stolen it. • Your mom was angry. She must have seen you leaving.

- We use “must” if we are sure about something

must + verb

• Someone is at the door. It must be John. • There is a lot of noise coming from outside. It must be kids.

- We use “must” to persuade

must + verb

• The movie was awesome! You must watch it. • You must eat there. The hamburger was delicious.

- We use “must not” if something is forbidden

must not / mustn’t + verb

• You mustn’t smoke here. It is forbidden. • He must not drive his car in this area.

- We use “not have to or not have to” for lack of necessity

don’t have to / doesn’t have to + verbdon’t need to / doesn’t need to + verb

• You don’t have to wash the dished. I’ve already done it. • She doesn’t need to buy the tickets. I bought them.