There are three modal verbs used to show ability:

 Can
 Could
 Be Able To
Examples:

Present

I can play the guitar.

She can speak German.

* Can is always followed by a base verb.

Past
I could sing very well when I was young.
She could read when she was 2 years old.

Future
I will be able to drive a car in 2 years.
He will be able to buy a house next year.

"Able to" is used with many other verb tenses. Take a look at
these examples:
I have been able to visit many countries in my life.
I used to be able to dance the Tango.
I will have been able to finish by tomorrow.
Negatives

Negatives are formed by using "not".

I can not play piano.
She can't play piano.

She could not finish her homework last night.

They couldn't finish their homework last night.

I will not be able to go to the party tonight.

Susan won't be able to go to the party tonight.
Questions

Questions are formed by changing the order of the words.

Can you drive a car?
Could he swim?
Will Doug be able to bring his boots?

Notice that "will be able to" is separated when used in a

question:
Will he be able to finish on time?
Choose the correct modal verb for these statements of ability.
1. 8 years ago, I __________ play the piano.

a) can

b) could

c) will be able to
2. In 3 years I __________ drive.

a) can

b) could

c) will be able to
3. __________ you hear the music right now?

a) Can

b) Could

c) Could not
4. I __________ swim.

a) cant

b) can't

c) cant'
5. __________ go to the party tomorrow?

a) Can you

b) Could you

c) Will you be able to

6. She __________ finish the homework last night.

a) could no

b) couldn't

c) not could
7. The singer __________ dance very well.

a) can

b) can no

c) could no
8. The teacher __________ see the books right now.

a) can't

b) couldn't

c) can no

d) could no
9. I __________ vote in the election next year.

a) could

b) wasn't able to

c) will be able to
10. I __________ hear you. Could you please speak louder?
 a) can't

b) can

c)

Modal Verbs are used to give advice or suggestions. There

are two modal verbs used for advice: Should and Would.

Should

Should is used for advice in the present. The structure is as

follows:

Subject + Should + Base Verb

You should eat healthy food.
You should exercise every day.

Should is used for advice in the past. Here is the structure:

Should + Have + Past Participle

You should have gone to the party.
She should have studied more often.

It is common to use "should" to give negative advice. In this

case, add "not".
You should not smoke.
You should not eat too much candy.

The contraction is "shouldn't".

You shouldn't drive too fast.

Would

The modal verb "would" is used to give advice. In this

situation, the speaker is giving hypothetical advice as if
he/she were the listener. Here are some examples:
If I were you, I would return the book.
If I were you, I would not wear that jacket.

It is not always necessary to include "If I were you".

I wouldn't eat that.
I would choose the red shoes.

Normally, would is used to talk about yourself, and should is

used to talk about someone else.

Example:
I would study tonight if I were you.
You should study tonight.
It is also common to ask for advice using these modal verbs:
What should I do?
What would you do?
Choose the correct modal verbs for these pieces of advice.
1. You __________ eat more vegetables.
a) would
b) should
2. I __________ buy those shoes if I were you.
a) wouldn't
b) shouldn't
3. She __________ pay attention in class.
a) would
b) should
4. The students __________ arrive on time for class.
a) would
b) should
5. If I were you, I __________ take a different course.
a) would
b) should
6. I __________ wear those pants if I were her.
a) wouldn't
b) shouldn't
7. The children __________ play soccer in the house. They may break something.
a) wouldn't
b) shouldn't
8. How _________ make the cake?
a) I should
b) should I
9. You __________ change your shoes.
a) would
b) should
10. My car is broken. I ________ take it to a mechanic.
a) would
b) should
There are two modal verbs to show obligation or necessity.
Must
Have to

Must

Must is for simple present and usually shows general

obligations.
Travellers must show their passport before boarding a
plane.
You must use a pencil on the test.

It is formal and normally used only in writing.

All employees must wear proper safety equipment.

Have to

Have to is not an actual modal verb, but it is used like a modal.

You must conjugate the verb "have" depending on the time

and subject.
I have to work tomorrow.
She has to work tomorrow.

It is used in all tenses.

I had to work last night.
She has had to work every day this week.

"Have to" is less formal than Must and is common in

conversation.

Must not and Don't have to

"Must not" and "don't have to" are completely different, and
their meanings are often confused.

"Must not" is a negative obligation and shows something that

is prohibited.

Example:
You must not eat in the computer room.
(Food in the computer room is prohibited.)

"Don't have to" shows something that is not necessary.

Example:
I don't have to work today.
Choose the correct option to fill in the blank.
1. You ___________ wear a helmet.
a) has to
b) have to
2. You ___________ use a key.
a) must
b) must to
3. She ___________ work tomorrow.
a) must to
b) must have
c) has to
d) have to
4. I __________ finish my homeowrk last night.
a) must
b) must to
c) had to
d) have to
5. We ___________ use the password.
a) must
b) must to
c) has to
d) must has to
6. They ___________ bring the money tomorrow.
a) has to
b) had to
c) have to
d) has
7. You _________ wear the uniform at all times.
a) must
b) must to
c) must have
d) must has
8. You __________ wait until 10 am.
a) having to
b) have
c) have to
d) to have
9. Students __________ register by last week.
a) must
b) must to
c) have to
d) had to
10. You __________ arrive on time.
a) has to
b) must to
c) have to
d) have
Modal verbs are used to ask for permission. The two verbs
used are May, Could, and Can.

May
May is a polite modal verb used to ask for permission. Here
are some examples:
May I use a calculator on the test?
May I have another piece of cake?

The polite answers using may are as follows:

Yes, you may.
No, you may not.

Could
Could is also used to ask for permission. It is less formal than
using may. Here are some examples with could:
Could I have some more juice?
Could I bring a friend to the party?

Can
Can is the least formal of the modal verbs used to ask
permission. Here are some examples with can:
Can I play music?
Can I wear shorts?

The examples above are all with "I". This is because it is most
common to ask permission for yourself. However, it is
possible to ask permission for another person:
May she bring a friend?
Could he try again?
Can they sleep here?

The examples are also all questions. These are very common.
But you can also give permission. Here are some examples:
You may sleep on the sofa.
You can wear my jacket.
Choose the correct sentence.
1.
a) May I go to the mall?
b) May I goes to the mall?
2.
a) Can she try again?
b) Can she tries again?
3.
a) She can has another glass.
b) She can have another glass
4.
a) Can drive they the car?
b) Can they drive the car?
5.
a) May I borrowing your bike?
b) May I borrow your bike?
6.
a) Yes, she cans.
b) Yes, she can.
7.
a) Could I speak with Fred please?
b) Could I speaked with Fred please?
8.
a) May the children play in the garden?
b) May the children plays in the garden?
9.
a) You may stay here?
b) You may stay here.
10.
a) May I say something?
b) May I say something.
There are several modal verbs used to show possibility. They
are Might, May, Could, and Must. All of these are different
ways to say maybe.

STRUCTURE

Modal Verb + Base Verb

Examples:
I may eat dinner at 7:00pm.
She might work late tonight.
They must be tired.

May

May shows possibility in the present or the future.

Present: Where are my keys? They may be in the car.

Future: I may go to the party tonight.

May is formal, and it is often used in writing.

Side effects of this medication may include an upset
stomach or fever.

Might

Might shows possibility in the present or future.

Where are my keys? They might be in the car.
I might go to the party tonight.

Might is less formal than may, and it is more common in

conversation.

Could

Could shows that something is possible in the present or

future.

Present: Where are my keys? They could be in the car.

Future: We could go to the party tonight.

Could shows options or possibility.

If I won the lottery, I could buy a house. I could also buy
a car.

Must
Must shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the
speaker.

Certain:
Everyone is wearing a jacket. It must be cold.

Belief of certainty:
He was running for 2 hours. He must be tired.
(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner
is tired.)

Have to

Have to shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the

speaker.

Certain:
Everyone is wearing a jacket. It has to be cold.

Belief of certainty:
He was running for 2 hours. He has to be tired.
(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner
is tired.)

Have to is much less formal than must, and is common in

conversation.

Past Possibility

May, Might, and Could are all used to show possibility in the
past. Here is the structure:

Modal Verb + Have + Past Participle

He might have brought the cake.
She may have gone home early.
They could have worked late.

Must can be used in the same way to show certainty in the

past.
He must have won the game.

Might Not vs. Could Not

Although Might and Could express possibility in a similar way,

the negative forms of Might and Could are different.

Might not shows that something probably is not true.

These books might not be the teachers.

Might not shows that something probably will not happen in

the future.
I might not go to the party tonight.
Could not shows that something is impossible.
This could not be the only book available.
She could not know who my friend is. They have never
met.
Choose the correct option for these modal verbs of possibility.
1. He left the party early.
a) He must have to work tomorrow.
b) He must to have to work tomorrow.
2. He has to be finished the test by now.
a) He must be finished the test.
b) He might be finished the test.
3. There is new snow outside.
a) It might have snowed last night.
b) It must have snowed last night.
4. He didn't finish the exam on time.
a) He might not had studied.
b) He might not have studied.
5. She doesn't know if she will cook dinner tonight.
a) She might cook dinner.
b) She has to cook dinner.
6. Everyone is smoking outside.
a) You could not be able to smoke in here.
b) You must not be able to smoke in here.
7. He looks very tired.
a) He must have stayed up late last night.
b) He might had to stay up late last night.
8. Everyone received 100% on the math exam.
a) It must have been easy.
b) It could have been easy.
9. That book has her name on it.
a) It has to be hers.
b) It might be hers.
10. Who fixed the chair?
a) It couldn't been Jim. He was at work.
b) It couldn't have been Jim. He was at work.
Modal verbs are used for prohibition. This is when you want
to say no. These situations are the opposite of giving
permission. The modal verbs used are May and Can. They
are used as negatives:
May not
Can't

May not
May not is the formal way to prohibit something. Here are
some examples:
You may not smoke in this house.
You may not wear shoes in the office.

Can't
Can't is less formal than may. It also is used to prohibit
something. Here are some examples:
You can't drive here.
You can't wear a hat in class.
Choose the correct sentence for modal verbs of permission
1.
a) I may go home now?
b) May I go home now?
2.
a) Can I leave early today?
b) Can I early leave today?
3.
a) May I have another drink?
b) May I has another drink?
4.
a) You can to sit here.
b) You can sit here.
5.
a) She cans wear my shoes.
b) She can wear my shoes.
6.
a) Can my sister uses your textbook?
b) Can my sister use your textbook?
7.
a) May we play the radio?
b) May we to play the radio?
8.
a) You may leave now.
b) You may leave now?
9.
a) May I say something?
b) May I to say something?
10.
a) Where I may put my jacket?
b) Where may I put my jacket?
Modal verbs are used in English to make polite requests.

Can & Could

Can and Could are modal verbs used with other verbs to make
requests.

Can/Could + Subject + Verb

Can you help me?
Could you open the door?

Can is used to make a basic request.

Can you pass me the salt?
Can you turn off the radio?

Could is more polite than can, but has the same function.
Could you pass me the salt?
Could you turn off the radio?

Can/Could are used to turn basic orders into questions. This

is a much more polite way of asking for something rather than
making an imperative command.

Give me the salt => Can you pass me the salt?

Turn off the radio => Could you turn off the radio?

Would

Would is used with the verb like. It is a polite way to say want.

I want a drink. (Direct)

I would like a drink. (Polite)

Would you like is used to make offers.

Would you like something to drink?
Would you like another coffee?

I would like is used to make polite requests.

I would like another glass of water please.
Fill in the spaces with Would or Could
1. you like another drink?
2. you pass me the salt?
3. you mind turning off the radio?
4. you like to go to the movie theatre tonight?
5. you tell me where the bus station is?
6. she like to come with us?
7. you please lend me $100?
8. you like something to eat?
9. you like to go to the park?
10. you bring me another glass of water?
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We can also use I would love, I would really like, I would

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