21 Modals

At the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

€€ identify modal verbs.
€€ use different types of modal verbs in writing.

Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct options from the brackets.
1. I ____________ (can/could) play football very well when I was young.
2. ____________ (may/might) I take your notebook?
3. She ____________ (must/would) study daily to get good marks in the exam.
4. ____________ (could/would) you like to have some tea?
5. We ____________ (should/could) always speak the truth.
Read the following sentences:
1. Would you like to eat something?
2. She can speak in English.
3. I could swim when I was a kid.
4. She may come to study today.
5. We should wear cotton clothes in summer.
In the above sentences, the highlighted words are called modal verbs or modals. They
are used when making a request, asking for or giving permission, speaking of ability and
also when speaking of possibility. Just like auxiliary verbs (helping verbs), they are always
used before the main verb.

Modal verbs are verbs that add meaning to the main verb in a sentence.
They express request, possibility, permission or ability in a sentence.

The most commonly used modal verbs are— can, could, may, might, shall, should and would.

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Modals are used in many ways. Let us understand modals in detail.
Let us have an overview of the usage of different modals.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
can/cannot modals
I can swim across the I have the ability to swim
ability to do something
river. across the river.
I am unable to lend you my
I cannot lend you my bat. inability to do something
bat.
Do you permit me to
Can I borrow your book
seeking permission borrow your book for a
for a week?
week?
Can you help me with my I request you to help me
request for help
work? with my work.
You can rely on him for It is possible for you to rely
general fact
the work. on him for the work.
The modal can is used to show the ability to do something, to seek or give permission, to
request for help or to express general fact.
The negative of can is cannot. It is used to show inability.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
could/could not modals
He could play the piano ability to do something He was able to play the piano
when he was in grade two. in the past when he was in grade two.
I could not complete the inability to do I was not able to complete
pending work. something in the past the pending work.
The modal could is used to show the ability to do something in the past.
The negative of could is could not. It is used to show the inability to do something in the
past.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
may/may not modals
seeking permission— Am I permitted to come
May I come in?
polite and formal in?

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 Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
may/may not modals
You may come and work giving permission—polite I permit you to come and
with me. and formal work with me.
I may go shopping It is possible that I will go
future possibility
tomorrow. shopping tomorrow.
I may not be able to attend It is uncertain that I will
future uncertainty
the meeting. attend the meeting.
The modal may is used to seek and give permission, or to indicate future possibility or
indecisiveness, in a more polite and formal manner.
The negative of may is may not. It is used to show future uncertainty.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
might/might not modals
seeking permission— Kindly allow me to use
Might I use your bicycle?
politest form your bicycle.
You might be able to help I humbly suggest you to
polite suggestion
him with his work. help him with his work.
We might finish the work It is possible that we finish
present possibility
today. the work today.
There is a possibility for
They might win less certain future
them to win tomorrow’s
tomorrow’s match. possibility
match.
It is possible that he does
He might not go to Delhi. possible idea
not go to Delhi.
The modal might is used to seek polite permission, make a polite suggestion or show
present or future possibility.
The negative of might is might not. It is used to show a possible ideas.

€€ In order to express some future possibility, both may and might are used. However,
we use might when the possibility of a future action is more tentative or unsure
than may.

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A. Choose the correct option and fill in the blanks.
1. He is ninety, but he ____________ still walk without the help of a walking stick.
(ability)(can/could/may)
2. When he was a kid, he __________ swim like a fish. (past ability) (can/may/could)
3. You ____________ take rest if you are tired. (polite permission) (can/may/could)
4. Although he tried hard, he ____________ complete his work. (past inability)
(cannot/could not/may not)
5. It ____________ rain tomorrow. (future possibility) (can/could/may)
6. He ____________ bring the parcel today. (present possibility) (can/may/might)
7. She ____________ go to Delhi along with her parents. (not sure)
(cannot/could not/may not)
8. ____________ I be allowed to go home now? (seeking permission—formal)
(may/can/might)
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
should/should not modals
He should reach here It is probable that he reaches
probability
within an hour. here within an hour.
We should read the lessons I suggest we read the lesson
recommendation
thoroughly. thoroughly.
Do you think she requires my
Should I help her? to ask question
help?
She should stop eating I advise/suggest that she stop
suggestion or advice
junk food. eating junk food.
He should not fight with I advise/suggest to him not to
suggestion or advice
anyone. fight with anyone.
The modal should is used to indicate something that is probable, to recommend something,
to ask a question or to give suggestion or advice.
The negative of should is should not. It is used to give a suggestion or advice.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
must/must not modals
You must follow the traffic I strongly suggest you follow
necessity
rules. the traffic rules.

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 Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
must/must not modals
when something is It is highly possible that he is
This must be your brother.
likely to be true your brother.
I highly suggest/recommend
You must read the book to a good idea to do
you read the book to gain
gain knowledge. something
knowledge.
You must not litter the I do not permit you to litter
suggestion—formal
floor. the floor.
The modal must is used to express necessity, when something is likely to happen or when
it is a good idea to do something.
The negative of must is must not. It is used to express a suggestion in a formal manner.
Study the table given below.
Examples with modals— Examples without using
Function
would/would not modals
She would like to have tea. express desire She desires to have tea.
Would you please open the polite request in the form I request you to open the
door? of a question door.
I wouldn’t eat that cake if I I advise you not to eat the
advice
were you. cake.
The modal would is used to express a desire or make a polite request in the form of a
question.
The negative of would is would not. It is used to give general advice.

€€ Modals do not change forms.

B. Choose the correct modal verb for each sentence.
1. Kavita ____________ have reached the office by now. (should/must/would)
2. I ____________ like to go to a movie. (should/must/would)
3. You ____________ brush your teeth twice a day. (should/must/would)
4. ____________ you come with me to the library? (should/must/would)
5. I think it is too late. You ____________ travel now. (shouldn’t/mustn’t/wouldn’t)
6. I ____________ go out so late if I were you. (shouldn’t/mustn’t/wouldn’t)

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C. Fill in the blanks by choosing the most suitable modals from the brackets.
1. _______________ you help him with the homework, please?
(polite request) (may/should/must)
2. He _______________ become the head boy of our school next year.
(future possibility) (can/might/should)
3. When one goes abroad, one _______________ carry one’s passport.
(necessity) (must/should/could)
4. I _______________ complete the work as I was held up in a meeting.
(inability to do something) (should not/could not/must not)
5. You _______________ leave your house unlocked when you go out.
(advice/suggestion—informal) (must not/should not/could not)
6. You ___________ eat so many sweets. (advice) (must not/would not/should not)
7. We _______________ throw pencil shavings on the floor.
(advice—formal) (would not/should not/must not)
8. We _______________ exercise regularly to keep ourselves fit.
(recommendation) (must/should/could)

Leadership & Responsibility

Initiative & Self-Direction
Play this game in groups of four.
Choose a group leader amongst yourselves. Each member should write down a list of
four jobs in their notebooks. Once all the members have written down the list, the group
leader starts the activity by giving an example of the responsibilities of a doctor or a chef.
For example, A doctor must take care of his patients. A chef can try different ingredients to
prepare a new dish.
After the briefing, each member should go back to the list they have made. They need to
then pen down at least five similar sentences for the jobs they have written down.
After everyone finishes writing, take turns sharing your sentences with the group.
The usage of modal verbs in this exercise will further help the students in understanding
the usage of modals in both their writing as well as their speaking skills.

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