Modal Verbs Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which express the mood of another verb.

They are used to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity.

Modal Ability: Can

Concept Julie can swim.

Example

Permission : Offers :

Can I come with you? ('May' is also used) Can I help you? That story could be true - who knows!

Possibility: Past ability : Permission : Requests :

Julie could swim when she was four years old. Could I use your phone please? Could you tell me the way to the station please?

Could

Possibility : May Permission :

The President may come to visit our offices tomorrow if the meeting finishes before 5pm. May I borrow your dictionary?

Slight possibility : Might Past form of 'may' in reported speech.

We might win a prize but I doubt it! The President said he might come.

Should

Advice : Logical deduction

You should take an umbrella. It's starting to rain.

John has revised all day. He should be ready for his exam. Advice : Ought to Logical deduction : You ought to write to your grandmother. Here's 30. That ought to be enough for a taxi.

Shall

Offers and suggestions with 'I' and 'we' :

Shall I order a taxi? Shall we begin the meeting now?

Future tense auxiliary : Will Invitations/offers :

Tomorrow I will be in New York. Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in?