Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are special auxiliary verbs that help us express ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice, and necessity. They are used with main verbs to show different meanings and moods
Modal verbs are essential in everyday English and are commonly tested in exams. Understanding modal verbs helps you speak and write more accurately and confidently.
This article explains modal verbs in depth, including definition, types, structures, rules, examples, common mistakes, and practice exercises, in simple and clear English.
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, or future intentions. They do not change form according to the subject and are followed by the base form of the main verb. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, and ought to, each serving a specific function in a sentence.
Types of Modal Verbs
| Modal Verb | Usage | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Can | Ability or permission | I can speak English. |
| Could | Past ability or polite request | Could you help me? |
| May | Permission or possibility | May I come in? |
| Might | Less possibility | It might rain today. |
| Must | Strong necessity or obligation | You must obey the rules. |
| Should | Advice or suggestion | You should exercise daily. |
| Will | Future intention or promise | I will help you. |
| Would | Polite request or imaginary situation | I would like some water. |
Will
Will is a modal verb used to express future actions or events that have not happened yet. It is commonly used to make promises, offers, instant decisions, and predictions based on opinion or belief. The modal verb will also shows willingness, determination, or certainty about an action.
Future Actions or Events:
1. I will call you tomorrow.
2. We will go to the cinema tonight.
3. The shop will open at 9 a.m.
4. The sun will rise at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
Promises or Offers:
1. I will always love you.
2. I will do my best.
3. I will lend you the money.
4. I will call you every day.
Predictions or Expectations:
1. Prices will rise soon.
2. This movie will be hit.
3. You will enjoy this music.
4. The exam will be difficult.
Habits or Tendencies:
1. My dog will bark at every stranger.
2. He will not listen to anyone's advice.
3. My car will not start on cold mornings.
4. She will often go for a walk after dinner.
Would
Would is a modal verb used to talk about past habits, polite requests, and imagined or hypothetical situations. It is often the past form of will and is used in conditional sentences to show results of unreal or possible situations. The modal verb would also makes statements sound more polite, formal, or less direct.
Polite Request or Offers:
1. Would you like some tea?
2. Would you lend me your pen, please?
3. Would you like to come with us?
4. Would you close the door, please?
Future in the Past :
1. She said she would call me later.
2. I knew she would pass the exam.
3. I thought it would rain today.
4. She expected that he would understand.
Hypothetical or Unreal Situations:
1. I would travel the world if I had money.
2. If I knew her number, I would call her.
3. I would tell you if I knew the answer.
4. If it stopped raining, we would go outside.
Shall
Shall is a modal verb used to indicate future actions, suggestions, or offers, especially in formal English. It is often used with I and we to make promises, seek advice, or show determination. Additionally, shall can express obligation or duty in a polite or formal way.
Expressing Future Actions:
1. I shall visit my parents next week.
2. I shall send the documents soon.
3. We shall discuss this matter later.
4. We shall celebrate your success tonight.
Promises or Strong intention:
1. I shall make you proud one day.
2. We shall rise again, stronger than before.
3. We shall fight for justice.
4. I shall always support you.
Suggestion or Offers:
1. Shall we go out for dinner?
2. Shall we dance?
3. Shall I make some tea?
4. Shall I call a taxi for you?
Should
Should is a modal verb used to give advice, suggestions, or recommendations. It expresses what is proper, expected, or the best course of action in a situation. Additionally, should can indicate obligation, probability, or a mild sense of certainty.
Giving Advice or Suggestion:
1. You should study harder for your exams.
2. You should eat more vegetables.
3. You should apoligize to him.
4. You should drink more water every day.
Expressing Duty and Responsibility:
1. You should obey the law.
2. We should protect the environment.
3. Citizens should pay their taxes.
4. Driver should follow traffic signals.
Expressing Expectation or Probability:
1. The train should arrive at 5 o'clock.
2. The results should be announced tomorrow.
3. The meeting should start in ten minutes.
4. We should finish this task by tomorrow.
Can
Can is a modal verb used to express ability or capacity to do something. It is also used to ask for or give permission and to indicate possibility. Additionally, can is often used in informal situations to make offers or suggestions.
Ability:
1. I can swim very well.
2. He can speak two languages.
3. She can solve difficult math problems.
4. My brother can run faster than me.
Permission:
1. Can I open the window?
2. Can I borrow your book?
3. Can I sit here?
4. Can I ask you a question?
Possibility:
1. Smoking can cause cancer.
2. Love can change a person completely.
3. Anyone can make mistakes.
4. Life can be difficult sometimes.
Requests:
1. Can you lend me some money?
2. Can you bring me a glass of water?
3. Can you call me later?
4. Can you pass me the salt?
Could
Could is a modal verb used as the past tense of can to express past ability or possibility. It is also used to make polite requests, suggestions, or offers. Additionally, could can indicate hypothetical or uncertain situations in the present or future.
Past Ability:
1. I could climb trees easily when I was young.
2. She could dance beautufully when she was in school.
3. I could swim across the river.
4. My father could fix any broken toy.
Polite Requests:
1. Could you lend me your notes?
2. Could you tell me what time it is?
3. Could you give me some advice?
4. Could you explain this again, please?
Possibility:
1. It could rain later today.
2. He could be at home right now.
3. He could win the competition.
4. That old man could be a famous writer.
Suggestions or Possibilities for the Future:
1. You could learn Python online.
2. We could go shopping later.
3. We could order pizza for dinner.
4. We could go to the beach this weekend.
May
May is a modal verb used to express possibility or probability of something happening. It is also used to ask for or give permission in a polite or formal way. Additionally, may can indicate a wish or hope for something to occur.
Permission(formal):
1. May I come in, sir?
2. May I know your name?
3. May I take this book home?
4. May I go to the restroom?
Possibility:
1. It may rain this evening.
2. He may be busy right now.
3. The train may be late.
4. This news may not be true.
Expressing Wishes or Blessings:
1. May God bless you.
2. May all your dreams come true.
3. May you live long and prosper.
4. May you always stay healthy.
Polite Suggestions or Offers(formal):
1. May I help you?
2. May I take your order, sir?
3. May I offer you some coffee?
4. May I introduce my friend to you?
Uncertainty or Doubt:
1. The rumor may not be true.
2. It may seem strange, but he's nervous.
3. It may take a few days to recover.
4. The teacher may have already left.
might
Might is a modal verb used to express a small possibility or uncertainty about something happening. It is often used when the likelihood of an event is less than when using may. Additionally, might can indicate hypothetical situations or polite suggestions.
Possibility(Weaker or Uncertain):
1. It might rain later today.
2. The train might be delayed.
3. This medicine might help you.
4. We might meet them at the restaurant.
Permission(Very Polite or Hypothetical):
1. Might I use your Laptop?
2. Might I leave early today?
3. Might I join your group?
4. Might I suggest another idea?
Uncertain Predictions:
1. It might snow tonight.
2. We might see him at the event.
3. The bus might leave early.
4. The teacher might cancel the class.
Must
Must is a modal verb used to express strong obligation or necessity. It shows that something is required or very important to do. Must is also used to express strong certainty or logical conclusion about a situation.
Obligation or Necessity(Strong Need or Duty):
1. You must wear a seatbelt while driving.
2. Everyone must respect the rules.
3. She must attend the meeting on time.
4. Visitors must leave by 7 p.m.
Strong Advice or Recommendation:
1. You must go to bed early tonight.
2. You must take care of your health.
3. You must listen to this song.
4. You must believe in yourself.
Prohibition:
1. You mustn't smoke here.
2. You mustn't drive without a license.
3. You mustn't talk loudly in the library.
4. You mustn't enter this restricted area.
Common Mistakes
1. Using “to” after modal verb
❌ He can to swim
✅ He can swim
Modal verbs are followed by base verb.
2. Using third person -s
❌ She musts go now
✅ She must go now
3. Double modal verbs
❌ He might can come
✅ He might come
4. Wrong past form of modal
❌ He must went home
✅ He must have gone home
5. Confusing “can” and “may”
❌ May you help me? (informal request)
✅ Can you help me?
6. Using modal with do/does
❌ He does can speak English
✅ He can speak English
7. Negative form mistake
❌ He cannot to drive
✅ He cannot drive
8. Wrong use of “must”
❌ You must not be late (meaning advice)
✅ You should not be late
Must not shows strong prohibition.
9. Using modal in past conditional
❌ If I could have money, I would travel
✅ If I had money, I would travel
10. Overusing modal verbs
❌ He can must finish the work
✅ He must finish the work
Modal verb Quiz — Pick the Modal verb
10 questions. Choose the correct Modal verb.