A modal is a type of auxiliary

(helping) verb that is used to

express: ability, possibility,
permission or obligation and
many others.
PERMISSION

OBLIGATION

PROHIBITION
 The modal verbs that we often use to give
and ask for permission are can, could and
may.

• Can I borrow your pen?

• Could I borrow your pen?
• May I borrow your pen?
We often use can to ask for and give
permission.

Can I sit here? Yes, you can.

Can I make a suggestion? Sure, you can.
Can I leave early? No, you can’t.
We also use could to ask for permission (but
not to give it). Could is more formal and
polite than can.

• Could I ask you something?

• Could I have some more juice?
• Could I bring a friend to the party?
We can also use ‘could’ to say that someone was
allowed to do something in the past. We use ‘could
not’ or ‘couldn’t,’ to say that they were NOT
allowed to do it.

We could go to any shop in the mall we wanted to.

Both staff and students could use the ice rink.
We couldn’t study in the library after 6 pm.
May is the most formal way to ask for and give permission.
We mostly use ‘may’ for more formal situations and ‘may
not’ used to say that someone is not allowed to do
something.

• May I see your passport, please?

• May I use a calculator on the test?
• May I have another piece of cake?
• You may go as soon as you have finished your exam.
• I’m sorry, but you may not enter the premises.
 CAN COULD MAY
‘Can’ is less formal When being polite, or ‘May’ can also be
and more direct than wanting to show used when asking
‘could.’ When asking respect, ‘could’ is a permission but is
in a simple or direct better choice than much more formal.
way we use ‘can.’ can as it is a more
polite form than ‘can.’

Can I ask a question? Could I ask you a May I use your

question, please? restroom, please?
Can we have
something to drink? Could I try this coat? May I ask what your
We are thirsty. name is?
When we talk about obligation in English,
we can use ‘must,’ ‘have to,’ ‘need to,’ and
‘can’t.’

We use have to and must to express

obligation. There is a slight difference
between the way we use them.
Have to shows us that the obligation comes from outside the
speaker. Perhaps the rule is a general law or obligation.

• We have to wear a uniform when we’re working in reception.

• We have to check everyone’s ID.
• Al has to work tomorrow so he can’t come.

We sometimes call this “external obligation.”

We use “must,” the authority for the obligation comes from the
person who is speaking. Must expresses a strong obligation or
necessity.

• I must phone my dad. It’s his birthday today.

• (Teacher to student) You must hand in your homework on
Tuesday or you will lose ten percent of your mark.
• (Sign on a plane) Seat belts must be worn by all passenger.
Note, we don’t use must to express obligation in
the past. We use have to instead.

I had to pay P1,000 to renew my passport last

week.
Should is a weak obligation, and we use it to give
advice, telling people what you think is a good
idea.

• You should study hard so you can pass the exam.

• He should see a doctor.
• Maybe you should go for a coffee or lunch and
see how you feel?
These modal verbs for prohibition are used when
we want to say that something is not allowed or
permitted.
The modal verbs used are may and can.
The following are used as negatives:
• Can’t
• Must not
• May not
We use can’t to talk about something that is
against the rules, particularly when we didn’t
make the rules.

• What does this sign say? Oh, we can’t park here.

• You can’t take photos in the museum. They’re
really strict about it.
• Sorry, we can’t sell knives to under-18 years old.
May not is the formal way to prohibit
something.

•You may not smoke in this house.

•You may not wear shoes in the office.
•You may not eat in the conference room.
Must not is used when talking about things that
are not allowed. They are prohibited and forbidden
due to either real laws, regulations or personal
obligations.

• You must not use a cellphone.

• You must not write with pencil.
• You must not play music.