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Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that add meaning to the main verb in a sentence. Modal verbs cannot
be a main verb. The first use of the modal verbs is to express possibility, ability, permission, or
obligation. The second use of modal verbs is to express degrees of certainty or uncertainty. There
modal verbs are: can/could, may/might, will/would, shall/ should, must/ought to, have to and need
to. Modal verbs are used before the infinitive form of main verbs without ‘to’, the exceptions to this
rule are the following modal verbs: ought to, have to and need to.

1A. Can
Can is used for: physical or intellectual ability (She can lift this weight, it’s not too heavy. We can’t
resolve this equation. It’s too difficult. I can speak, read and write English very well), for permission
(You can’t park here. She can leave her hat on. Can I go now?), for possibility (This plant can grow
up to ten feet. It can be a nice trip. You can avoid the traffic going that way), request (Can you open
the door please? Can she play that song again? Can I have a cup of tea?) and offer (He can help you
with this homework. We can drop the price if you buy two units. The airline can take you to London
via Paris.) Can is the commonest and most informal modal verb. Can’t is the contraction of cannot
(can + not)
1B. Could
The modal could is used for: physical or intellectual ability in the past (You could play the piano when
you were 9 years old. We could run faster when we were younger. I couldn’t go swimming yesterday),
for polite requests, could is more polite and less direct. (Could you tell the tourists where the British
Museum is? Could I have more, please? Could you please give us a hand?), for suggestions (I could
help you with your English. If you want, we could have dinner after class. You could try exercising
more), for possibility in the past (A lot of crime could be prevented. You could have crashed. You
could have called first), for polite permission (Excuse me, could I come in? Could he sit next to you?
Could I speak to the Manager?), for ability in a conditional or unreal sense (You could pass the exams
if you studied. I could visit Korea if I had more money. If you call me, I could help.)

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of can, can’t, could or couldn’t, for example:
a) Penguins________swim. Penguins can swim.
b) It’s raining, we________go out. It’s raining we can’t go out.
c) ________we come to the party? Could we come to the party?
d) I __________speak English a year ago. I couldn’t speak English a year ago.

1. Carol ………….ride a bicycle, but when she was seven years old she………………………
2. Michael ……………...surf, but his older brother ……………………
3. Yesterday it was sunny and we ............…..... go out, but today is raining and we …….…..…..go out.
4. Peter……………..play the guitar, but he ………..…………play the trombone.
5. Joe………………….….whistle at all, but now he ………………………
6. Horses ……………..….gallop, but they………..……………..fly.
7. I………..……drive now, but last year I………………………because I didn’t have a driving license.
8. They ……….….…wear summer clothes now, but last month they…….…….…..because it snowed.
9. ………………..you drive us home? We…………………….find a taxi.
10.We ………..………hear you. ……………………..you speak louder?
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2A. May
The modal may is more respectful than can or could. The modal may is used to give request or
permission (May I see the Director in his office now? You may not go out today. May I leave early?
The modal may is also used to express probability or (I may see the dentist this afternoon. She may
win the lottery. They may be in Munich in Christmas) or for suggestions (You may take an English
course so you can communicate better in Europe. The tomatoes may grow bigger if you use natural
fertilizer. You may lower the volume of your earplugs to prevent future deafness)
2B. Might
The modal might is the most polite but the least common. It is be used for permission or request
(Might we close our books? Might I join the dance? Might you want some biscuits with your tea?) For
probability or possibility in the present, past or future (He might fly to London next week. It seems it
might snow. She said she might marry him) and to express suggestions (You might want to take a
break. If you need more information, you might try the internet. You might leave early to avoid the
traffic jam.)
May and might can normally be interchanged without significant difference in meaning. However,
might often implies a smaller chance of something happening e.g. It may rain (70% chance). It might
rain (40% chance). The contraction for may not and might not are mayn’t and mightn’t.

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of may, may not or might, might not, for example:
a) I have to take the metro, _________leave. I have to take the metro, may I leave?
b) We like that house. We _________ buy it. We like that house. We might buy it.

1. It ……………………have been lost forever.

2. You ……………… not smoke in a lift or elevator.
3. My car doesn't start so I ………………….. go on foot.
4. It will rain soon. You …………………….. go without an umbrella.
5. We thought we …………………… go together.
6. Thanks. You ……………………….be the best person I have ever known.
7. You ……………………… not borrow more than three books from the library.
8. …………………. I use your glue just for a moment?
9. Only fifty five people ………………….. go on this bus.
10. He admitted that he …………………. have enough money to buy his new car.

3A. Will
The modal will is used for the future and it has a similar meaning of going to. The negative contraction
of will is won’t. It is used for willingness in the present or future time (The chauffer will meet you and
drive you to your hotel. Will you please sign the papers? We told them to put their masks, but they
won’t cooperate. The modal will is also used for prediction (The train will arrive at Victoria Station at
8:22 am. This will be easy for you to learn. The weather forecast predicts that it will rain tonight), for
formal commands (Employees will report to work at 9am. You will stop what you are doing when the
Headmaster comes in. Baseball players will show their spikes to the Referee) and for promise or to say
that we are willing to do something or to offer to do something. The interrogative of will is often used
to express requests, the negative indicates refusal (If you marry me, I promise I will never be
unfaithful. If you lend me $100, I promise I will pay you back at the end of the month. If you take me
with you to the mall, I promise I will not ask you to buy me anything). Won’t is the contraction of will
not.
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3B. Would
The modal would is used for habitual actions in the past (When John was a student, he would often go
to the library to study. The candidate promised he would not raise the taxes. Every summer we would
go to the beach on holidays). The modal would is often used as a kind of past tense of will or going to
(He said he would arrive the next day. She met in London the man she would marry one day. He left 5
minutes late, unaware that the delay would save his life), for willingness in the past and polite requests
(My son said he would meet me at the airport. The postman would not give me the registered letter.
Would you pass me the salt, please? And for contemporary unreality or advice (I would come to see
you if I had time. If you asked me, I would tell you to go. If I won the lottery, I would buy a Mercedes
Benz). Wouldn’t is the contraction of would not.
Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of will, will not or would, would not, for example:
a) If you didn't call me, I __________ go. If you didn't call me, I won’t go.
b) His car _________ start so he took the bus. His car wouldn’t start so he took the bus.

1. If there wasn’t a flight, he………………………. travel by train.

2. I wish it ………………….. happen.
3. They are hungry so they …………………. eat anything.
4. Hello. We …….…………. like two tickets for the movie.
5. I didn't think it ………………..make such noise
6. ………………..you play with me when you finish your homework?
7. I told you he ……………….. agree with us.
8. She………………………..be at home this evening.
9. I'm very tired. I …………………. go to bed early.
10. I …………………….. like to have a dog than a cat.

4A. Shall
The modal shall is used with the first person (I and we) when the meaning is simple futurity (This time
next week, I shall be in Scotland. Don't worry, I shall be there to meet the train. We shall be there at 5
o’clock.). To make offers (Shall I carry your bag? Shall I show you around the school? Shall we have
coffee?). For suggestions (Shall I call again on Thursday? I'm cold. Shall I close this window? Shall
we go out for dinner tonight?). For seeking advice (What shall we do with this? Shall I go to the
Doctor? Shall I tell her to stop drinking?)
The modal shall is used with the second and third person (you, he, she, it, they) when the meaning is
intention or commitments (She shall get a saree if she stands first. They shall have it tomorrow. It shall
be done by the end of the month) as choice (They shall choose the President. Parents shall pay an extra
$20 for extra curriculum classes. She shall go with you if she likes you) or command (This
door shall be kept closed at all times. No child shall be allowed out of the school during the day.
He shall go at once). Shan’t is the contraction of shall not.

4B. Should
Should is most commonly used to make recommendations (When they go to Paris, they should see the
Eifel Tower. You should be wearing your seatbelt. She should study German if she is planning to go
to Munich. To give advice (You shouldn’t throw litter on the streets. Your hair is too long, you should
get a haircut. You should try to focus more on your writing skills). For obligation (You should go to
class now. Pedestrians shouldn’t cross the street on this corner. You shouldn’t speak with your mouth
full). For prediction or surprise (They should win tonight, they are a better team. Why should he lie?
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How should I know?). For polite suggestion (Should I tell the owner of the dog to stop the animal
from barking? You should ask her for pardon, you were not a gentleman. They should leave now, it is
getting late). Should is used in questions to give advice, a recommendation, or a suggestion.(Should I
wear the green shirt? What should we do now? Should I go now?). Shouldn’t is used to advise not to
do something, usually because it is bad or the wrong thing to do. This modal verb is not as strict as
the must (She shouldn’t buy that dress; it’s too big for her. You look tired. You shouldn’t work so
much. He shouldn’t talk to his boss like that).
Should can be replaced with ought to without a change in meaning. “Ought to” is more formal than
should.

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of shall, shall not or should, should not, for example:
a) You________ be more friendly. You should be more friendly.
b) _______ we enter? Shall we enter?

1. Listen to our neighbours. They…………………play that music so loud.

2. If your tooth is still hurting, tomorrow you……………….see the dentist.
3. I……………….take care of everything for you.
4. …………………we begin dinner?
5. We……………………..not know the result of the exam until next Tuesday.
6. You ……………….always knock on the door before entering.
7. We ……………..not leave late tomorrow if we want to arrive at the beach before 10am.
8. What ……………..we do with this situation?
9. Pregnant women …………………smoke, as it can damage the baby.
10. The management……………………….be responsible for damage to personal property.

5A. Ought to
The use of ought to is similar to should, but it is much less frequent. It indicates a weaker obligation,
(You ought to listen carefully. Lucy ought to go by herself. People ought to be a bit nicer with the
asylum immigrants), an expectation to do something or duty (Annabel ought to be here by now. The
journey ought to take about 2 hours. Children ought to be able to read by the age of 7). To express
regret that something was not done or to reproach someone for doing or not doing something (I ought
to have spoken up earlier. I’m sorry. You ought to have offered to help. They ought to have told us
what to expect. Like should the verb ought to does not have a past form and it has only one form for
all the subjects. It is only used with reference to the present and the future. Ought to is rarely used in
questions and negatives, when it is, it is confined mainly to formal styles. The negative of ought to is
ought not to and the contracted negative form is oughtn’t to the subject comes between ought and to
(Ought she to work as a judge? I ought not to have said those things to her. That's awful. You really
oughtn't to have done that). In questions and negatives, should is frequently used instead of ought to
because it sounds more natural (Ought I to report it to someone in authority? Ought we to make a
start? Ought we to make such a sacrifice for the benefit of future generations?)

5B. Must
Must is used to say that something is essential or necessary, to express obligation (All
pupils must bring a packed lunch tomorrow. This is a hospital, you must be quiet. The meeting is at 10
o’clock and you mustn’t be late). To give orders and give advice (You must go to sleep now. You
must not smoke in here. She is sick, she must stay in bed). To give advice or make recommendations
emphatically (You must get a pair of these smooth shoes, they are great. You must see “You only live
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twice” it’s a fantastic James Bond film. If they travel to England, they must visit Windsor castle).
Must is also used to speculate about the truth of something (You must be joking. There must be some
mistake. The Teacher is here, it must be 5 o’clock). Must can only be used in the present and future (I
must go now. I must call my mother tomorrow. I mustn't forget Tara's birthday). Must has no past
form. The negative is must not or mustn't and is used for not for prohibition which can be subjective
(the speaker's opinion) or objective (a real law or rule). I mustn't eat so much sugar (subjective). You
mustn't watch so much television (subjective) Students must not leave bicycles here (objective)
Policemen must not drink on duty (objective)

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ought to, ought not to or must, must not, for example:

a) Passengers_______________talk to the driver. Passengers must not talk to the driver.

b) You____________listen carefully. You ought to listen carefully.

1. Medicine……………………… be free.
2. We ………………………….have ordered so much food.
3. You………………..………tidy your room.
4. You …………………………play with fire.
5. They………………....……have more parks in the city centre.
6. We………………..……..eat lots of fruit and vegetables every day.
7. There………………………be something wrong with the engine of this car.
8. We…………………………give up when we are so close.
9. It’s late, you……………………….be making so much noise.
10. We………………………..have locked the gate.

6. Have to
Have to is used to say that something is obligatory. The subject of have to is forced by laws or external
obligations to do, make or behave (In England, you have to drive on the left. In Arab countries, most
women have to wear burkes. John has to wear a tie at work. Have to sentences can be used in all
tenses: he has to, he had to, he has had to, he will have to. The negative and questions are formed
using the auxiliary verb do: doesn’t have to, do not have to.
Must and have to are both used to express an obligation, responsibility or necessity. Must can
generally be replaced by have to in the present tense. Must is generally used when the speaker decides
that something is necessary, or needs to be done. Have to is used when somebody tells the subject to do
something, or informs the subject that something needs to be done. Look at the difference in the
following examples with must: I must write a letter to John. I must book a hotel for my trip next week.
The subjects decided to do something, nobody told the subjects to write the letter or book a hotel. Now
look at the difference using have to: You have to use ear plugs in the factory. We have to wear a
uniform at work. It is an external obligation, a law to use ear plugs and to wear uniform; the speaker is
not making the obligation, someone else is. Compare the following sentences: The Teacher says:
“You must complete the essay by Friday”. We, the students say: “We have to complete the essay by
Friday”. The teacher has used must because he or she is giving the students an obligation. Since the
teacher has given us the obligation, we use have to. This is because somebody else, in this case the
teacher, has told us what needs to be done. When we mention someone else’s obligation, then we use
the correct conjugation of have to. For example: Mike can’t come because he has to work tomorrow. It
is Mike’s obligation to fulfill his work commitments. Susan and Steve have to pay their rent every
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Friday. They both have the obligation to pay their rent on that day. In both examples you would not use
must because we are talking about someone else’s obligations.

7. Need
Need is used for the absence of obligation or necessity (I need not play football. Nobody need to know
the name of the person who made the complaint. She needn’t arrive so early. I need not swim). Need is
also used for interrogative sentences, but this use is much more formal (Need you be working? Need I
bring you this report at once? Need she iron the clothes?)

Exercises:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of have to, have not to or need, need not, for example:

1. I……………………………..make my bed every morning.

2. You ………………………..wash your clothes if you live alone.
3. We have plenty of time, we…………………………hurry.
4. Due to China virus, students…………………….go to their schools, they receive classes by internet.
5. Since she is in the Navy Academy, she ……………………….stand guard every week.
6. I mop the floor, but you ………………..….polish it after.
7. …………. I put some refrigerant in the radiator of the car?
8. You ………………………………..to do this homework.
9. No one…………………..be surprised at what happened.
10. Do you have a minute? I…………………………………..talk to you about something.