Modal verbs

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are helping verbs that follow their own rules, and express ability, permission, advice, obligation or possibility.

ability/inability: Can, Could

• • • I can speak fluent English.
    • Jim could read Latin when he was 10.

request/offer: Can, Could, May, Would, Will

• • • Can I use your phone? [informal]
    • Can I help you? [informal]
    • Could I have the bill please? [polite]
    • May I have your phone number? [polite]
    • Would you like some cake? [polite]
    • Will you stop here, please?

possibility: Can, could, May, Might

• • • It can be cold here in the winter.
    • He could arrive anytime now.
    • It may rain tonight.
    • I might be a few minutes late.

permission: May, Can, Could

• • • May I come in? [polite]
    • Could you wait for me, please? [polite]
    • Can I park here? [informal]
    • You can’t park here. [informal]

obligation: Must, have to

• • • You must keep your word.
    • You must obey the orders.
    • She had to come.

ask/give advice: Should, must

• You should see a doctor.
• Should I trust her?
• You must watch this movie. It’s really interesting.

probability: Should, must

• The plane should take off anytime soon.
• Jim has been working all day, he must be tired.

expressing certainty: Will, must

• I’m sure we will be late.
• Fred got promoted. He must be happy.

expressing willingness/refusal: would

• Who would work in the sun?
• The car wouldn’t start this morning.

 

Modals always take infinitive without “to”.

• ꭗ I can to swim. ✓ I can swim.
• ꭗ Can you swimming? ✓ Can you swim?

 

Modals are the same for all pronouns.

• • ꭗ She cans speak French. ✓ She can speak French.
  • ꭗ It mays not work. ✓ It may not work.

 

Modals are the same for all tenses.

• ꭗ He can play guitar. ✓ He will be able to play guitar.
• ꭗ You must come early. ✓ You had to come early yesterday.

 

To make a question; move the modal before the subject:

• Can you speak English?
• Will you sing us a song?

In negatives only cannot is one word:

• ꭗ I can not speak Japanese. ✓ I cannot speak Japanese.
• ꭗ I willnot wait for you. ✓ I will not wait for you.

 

They take direct negative forms:

• You cannot park here.
• We will not come to the party.
• ꭗ you don’t should come late.
• ✓ You should not come late.

 

We do not combine with another modal verb:

• ꭗ I will can to buy a car soon. ✓ I will be able to buy a car soon.
• ꭗ I would must be careful. ✓ I would have to be careful.

 

Modal verbs,  envocabulary.com