MODAL VERBS

What are modal verbs?

The most common modal verbs are:

Can
Could
May

They are auxiliary verbs that provide

additional and specific meaning to the
main verb of the sentence

Might

Must
Should
Would

Modal verbs are sometimes referred to as

Modal auxiliary verbs because they help
other verbs

MODAL VERBS

How do we use modal verbs?

Subject

Verb

Example: Mary could play the piano

They do not accept conjugation
They do not need other auxiliary verbs

How do we use modal verbs?

MODAL VERBS

There is no s in singular
There is no do / does in the question
There is no dont / doesnt in the negative

He can ski
He cans ski or He can skis
Would you like to come with me?
Do you would like to come with me?
They cant be serious
They dont can be serious

How do we use modal verbs?

MODAL VERBS

Modal verbs do not have all the tenses

Modal verbs use other verbs to complete the tenses

Can is completed with be able to
Must is completed with have to

They can play the piano

They will be able to play the piano in the future

You must come early

You had to come early yesterday

They have different meanings depending

on the situation:

MODAL VERBS

Obligation and prohibition

Must for obligation; mustnt for prohibition (law, rules, orders):

You must wear a school uniform; you mustnt eat chewing gum in class

Have to / need to when we know its important to do something (tengo que):

I have to / need to remember this, the teacher says itll be in the exam
Dont have to / neednt when there is no obligation (its not necessary to):
You dont have to / neednt wear the uniform to the school party

Ability

Can(t) to speak about ability in the present:

Sam can say hello in more than twenty languages.

Could(nt) to speak about ability in the past:

I could play chess when I was a child, but I forgot how to do it.

Possibility and certainty

Can when something is possible You can buy tickets online.

May (not) / might(nt)* / could(nt)* when were not sure if something will happen
It may/might/could rain tomorrow.
*might/could: the possibility is more remote

Must / cant when we are sure that something is/isnt possible or true:
That must be John, he was about to arrive.
Those girls cant be Jackie and Jill, they are on holiday in France.

They have different meanings depending

on the situation:

MODAL VERBS

Advice, recommendations and opinions

Should(nt) / ought to*:

You should / ought to look before you cross the road
* ought to is not very common in the negative and interrogative forms; should is
the most used modal of advice in affirmative, negative and interrogative

Requests (asking somebody to do something, or if you can do something)

Can for requests:

Can I go to the concert?

May / could for polite requests:

Could you take me to the concert?

Would for formal requests (Would _____, please?):

Would you stop singing that song, please?

May I borrow your phone for a moment?

Suggestions

Can / could*:

You can use my guitar tonight. You could invite them to your party.

* could is more polite

Polite offers (Would you like to___?)

Would:
Would you like to sing in the concert with us today?