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A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is

used to indicate modality, like : ability, possibility,
permission or obligation.

SOURCE:
#1 Grammar and Spell checker. Gingersoftware.com. Retrieved 13 August 2020, from https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/modal-verbs/.

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We use ”be able to” when something is surprising

or requires some effort to achieve.
Examples:
It’s amazing – some animals are able to sleep standing up!
Because of COVID-19, Alice isn’t able to see visitors.

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 Also, we use ”be able to” as the future form of can.
Remember that we CAN NOT use more than one Modal
Verb in a phrase. It means that the structure “will can” is
NOT POSSIBLE.
Examples:
After you receive your password, you’ll be able to enter to the
Google Classroom platform.
I won’t be able to eat for three hours after the operation.

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 The verb NEED can be a modal verb for
necessary and unnecessary actions.

NECCESARY I’m tire. I need to get some sleep.

ACTIONS He really needs to lose weight.

don’t have to / haven’t got to

UNNECCESARY don’t (doesn’t) need to / needn’t
ACTIONS
You needn’t take any food, lunch is provided.
You don’t need to buy batteries, they are included.

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REMEMBER

• have to and must have SIMILAR meaning, but don’t / doesn't have
to and mustn’t have DIFFERENT meaning. Mustn’t means prohibition
and don’t / doesn’t have to mean it is not necessary.

• ought to could LOSE the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to,"
we say ought not. "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English.
Americans prefer should not. If you are using ought to for academic
purposes, I suggest you to use ought not to in the negative form.

• would gives an hypothetical advice as if he / she were the listener. It is

not necessary to include “If I were you.” Would is used to talk about
yourself and should is used to talk about someone else.

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