JAN FERNÁNDEZ, WILLIAM LIFEL
MODAL VERBS
ENGLISH
Moda l ve rb s an d gr ou ps
Ability
can, could, be able to
Permission
can, could, may, might
Obligation / Necessity
must, have to, have got
to, should, ought to
Advice
should, ought to, could
Possibility
may, might, could
Sy nt ac ti c St ru ct ur e
Affir m a t i ve
Subject + m o dal verb
+ base v e rb
She ca n dance.
We sho u l d study .
Negat i v e
Subject + m o dal verb
+ NOT + b ase verb
He must n o t
smoke h e r e.
You shouldn ’ t
worry.
Us es / F un ct io ns
Abilit y
Describes skills or
general c a p a bility.
She can spe a k
Japanese.
Permis s i o n
Asking or gi ving
permissio n
(formal/i n f o rmal).
May I l e a v e early?
Obligatio n / Rules
Expresses necessity or
strong re q u i rements.
You must we a r a
helmet.
Advice
Recommend a t i ons or
suggestio n s .
Y o u should dr i nk
more wate r .
E xa mp le s
Modal Verb Correct Use Example
can ability She can ride a bike.
could polite request Could you repeat that?
may f ormal pe r m ission Y o u may en t e r the ro o m .
might weak possibility They might come later.
Quest i o n s
Modal v erb + subject
+ base v e rb?
Can yo u help me ?
Should we go
now?
Rules
No “-s” in 3rd
person.
No infinit i v e f o rm
(“to”).
Same fo r m for a l l
subject s .
Possibility
may, might, could
Prediction / Certainty
will, would, must
(deduction)
Requests / Offers
can, could, will, would,
shall
Possib i l i t y
Talks about uncertain
future or pr esent
situation s .
It might r a in later.
Deduct i o n / Logic a l
Conclu s i o n
Used to i nfer something
based on e v i dence.
She mus t be tire d (I
can tell) .
Predic t i o n
To talk a b o u t the futu r e .
He will a r r ive at 6.
Reques t s
Polite questions or
asking fo r h elp.
Could you cl o s e the
door?
1
2
3
4