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Use Examples: Modals in English Grammar 1. Can

This document discusses modal verbs in English grammar. It lists 12 modal verbs - can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, need not, ought to, and had better. It explains their uses and provides examples to show how they express ideas like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Modal verbs are irregular verbs that convey additional meaning about the function of the main verb that follows them.

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204 views5 pages

Use Examples: Modals in English Grammar 1. Can

This document discusses modal verbs in English grammar. It lists 12 modal verbs - can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, need not, ought to, and had better. It explains their uses and provides examples to show how they express ideas like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Modal verbs are irregular verbs that convey additional meaning about the function of the main verb that follows them.

Uploaded by

angelito pera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals in English Grammar

1. can
Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be


I can speak English.
able to)

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form:


Can I go to the cinema?
to be allowed to)

request Can you wait a moment, please?

I can lend you my car till


offer
tomorrow.

Can we visit Grandma at the


suggestion
weekend?

possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

2. could
Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be


I could speak English.
able to)

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to


I could go to the cinema.
be allowed to)

polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

I could lend you my car till


polite offer *
tomorrow.

Could we visit Grandma at the


polite suggestion *
weekend?

possibility * It could get very hot in Montana.

3. may
Use Examples

possibility It may rain today.


Use Examples

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be May I go to the


allowed to) cinema?

polite suggestion May I help you?

4. might
Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.

hesitant offer * Might I help you?

5. must
Use Examples

force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

possibility You must be tired.

advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6. must not/may not


Use Examples

You mustn't work on dad's computer.


prohibition (must is a little stronger)
You may not work on dad's computer.

7. need not
Use Examples

sth. is not I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant


necessary tonight.

8. ought to
simliar to should – ought to sounds a little less subjective
Use Examples

advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

9. shall
used instead of will in the 1st person
Use Examples

suggestion Shall I carry your bag?

10. should
Use Examples

advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

11. will
Use Examples

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than


Will you please shut the door?
would)

prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.

promise I will stop smoking.

Can somebody drive me to the station? -


spontaneous decision
I will.

She's strange, she'll sit for hours without


habits
talking.

12. would
Use Examples

wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?

habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.


Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal
auxiliaries) are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They
are different from normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give
additional information about the function of the main verb that follows
it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:
 They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
 They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare
infinitive.)
 They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express
certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
List of modal verbs
Here is a list of modal verbs:
can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must
The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need
not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to
the above list
Use of modal verbs:
Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:
1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
8. probability
Examples of modal verbs
Here is a list of modals with examples:
Modal Verb Expressing Example
Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic
lights turn red.
must
logical conclusion / He must be very tired. He's
Certainty been working all day long.
prohibition You must not smoke in the
must not
hospital.
ability I can swim.
can permission Can I use your phone please?
possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
could ability in the past When I was younger I could run
fast.
polite permission Excuse me, could I just say
something?
possibility It could rain tomorrow!
permission May I use your phone please?
may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!
polite permission Might I suggest an idea?
might possibility, probability I might go on holiday to
Australia next year.
lack of I need not buy tomatoes. There
need not necessity/absence of are plenty of tomatoes in the
obligation fridge.
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a
doctor. I have a terrible
headache.
should/ought advice You should / ought to revise
to your lessons
logical conclusion He should / ought to be very
tired. He's been working all day
long.
advice You 'd better revise your
had better
lessons
Remember
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the
bare infinitive.
Examples:
 You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
 You should see to the doctor.
 There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.

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