MODAL VERBS

shall /
should

will /
must
would
Main
Modals

may / can /
might could
 Modals
Modals are helping verbs.

MODAL
MAY/MIGHT COULD
VERBS

NOW
COULD CAN
CAN’T MAY

The white modal POSSIBILITY REQUEST

verbs are followed

IN THE PAST
by infinitive without TO.
MIGHT HAVE
The red modal verbs
COULD HAVE
are followed by
CAN’T HAVE
past participles.
MUST HAVE
NOW

DON’T HAVE
SHOULD
TO / NEED N’T

NO OBLIGATION ADVICE
IN THE PAST

DON’T HAVE
TO SHOULD
NEEDN’T HAVE
HAVE
NOW

CAN BE ABLE MUST HAVE

TO TO / CAN’T

OBLIGATION/
ABILITY PROHIBITION
IN THE PAST

COULD
WAS ABLE TO HAD TO
WERE ABLE COULDN’T
TO
 SHOULD MUST

some pills
SHOULDN’T more
I SHOULD warm clothes
take a doctor
She eat
They home
Paul
wear
see
ADVICE
Sue and Jane go

MODAL THE REST MODAL VERBS

SUBJECT VERB
VERBS

some pills
MUST more
MUSTN’T warm clothes OBLIGATION
I take a doctor PROHIBITION
She eat home
They wear
Paul see
Sue and Jane go

English Modal Verbs Table

Modal
Usage Example
verb
I can do several things
ability
at the same time.

when something is possible Miracles can happen.

can
permission You can go now.

informal requests Can you come for a minute?

 She said she could pay
past form of "can"
for us as well.

could Could you move

polite requests
your bag, please?
It could be that he
possibility
missed the train.

possibility It may rain tomorrow.

may
ask or give
May I speak?
permission (formal)
He said he might
past form of "may"
change his mind.
might
possibility This might fail.

you have to do it You must obey the law.

must
it's very logical or They left so early, they
very likely to happen must be home by now.
must not/ you are not
You mustn't smoke in here.
mustn't allowed to do it

future for "I" and "we" I shall see him tomorrow.

shall
questions and suggestions for "I"
Let's continue, shall we?
and "we"

the right thing to do She should call the police.

- What should I do?

should advice - You should stop
thinking about it.
what is likely or We should be
expected to happen back by midnight.
future action or states Prices will go up
(not plans) next summer.
will
promises and intentions It's alright, I'll pick it up.
 past form of "will" He told me he would come.

What would you do

imagined situations
if you were him?
- Would you please sit down?
would - Would you like some tea?
for polite requests, offers and
- We are meeting with Sarah
invitations
next Saturday, would you like to come
along?
to say what you
I would like a piece of cake.
want to do or have

ought to the right thing to do You ought to apologize.

English Modal Verbs – Situations Table

Modal
Situation Example
Verb
requests
may May I sit down?
(formal)
requests
can Can I sit down?
(informal)
requests
could Could I sit down?
(polite)
requests
would Would you mind if I sit down?
(polite)
permission
may You may sit down.
(formal)
permission
can You can sit down.
(informal)
obligation You must tell the
must
(full) police the truth.
obligation You should tell
should
(partial) your friends the truth.
obligation (partial) You ought to tell
ought to
(less common) your friends the truth.
logical conclusions
must He left an hour ago, so he must be there already.
(stronger than "should")
 He left half an hour ago,
logical conclusions
should I believe he should
(weaker than "must")
be there already.
possibility
can It can rain sometimes.
(general)
possibility It could rain, but it is
(weaker than could not very common in this
"may" and "might") part of the country.
possibility It's not very cloudy yet,
might
(weaker than "may") but it might rain.
possibility It starts getting cloudy –
may
(stronger than "might") it may rain soon.
future Look at the sky!
will
actions/states/intentions It will rain soon.

Notes:
The verb that follows a modal must always be the base form of the verb.

Examples:
Can sing shall write must follow will study

Notes:
He ought to keeps quiet when he is in the library.(χ)
He ought to keep quiet when he is in the library. (√)
 No matter what modals we use, the verb
following it must be in its base form.