MODAL VERBS

- In English, there is a special class of verbs called MODAL VERBS. They are used to put the main verb in a
specific situation (mode).
- Modal verbs always come before the main verb, which is used in the infinitive form (usually without “to”).
FORM:
[MODAL VERB] + [VERB]
I must go to work.
They can always count on me.
- The negative form is formed by adding NOT to the modal verb:
Lisa will not speak with you. She cannot talk to strangers.
- Questions are usually formed using the modal verb as an auxiliary verb, by placing it before the subject:
Should I stay or should I go?

- Below we have some of the most common modal verbs and their uses:
Can
Ability / Possibility I can drive very well.
Inability / Impossibility Women can’t park.
Asking for permission Can I smoke here?
Requests Can you help me?

Could is the past form of Can:

I couldn’t drive when I was 16.
*It is also used to make sentences with the same meaning of Can, but with a more polite, formal, tone:
Could I borrow your dictionary?
Could you say it again more slowly?
May
Asking for permission (polite) May I have another cup of coffee?
Future (real) possibility China may become a major economic power.

Might
Future possibility They might give us a 10% discount, if we ask.
*Might also works as the past form of may.
Jane might have been the president, if she wanted to.
Must
Necessity We must say good-bye now.
Obligation You must pay me back by next week.
Probable (logical) condition You must be tired after working out so much.
Prohibition (negative) They mustn’t smoke in this room.
Have to is used with the same meanings of Must, except in the negative.
We must study. We have to pass.
You don't have to pay, it's free (meaning: it is not necessary).
Should
Giving opinion We should go to sleep now.
I think you shouldn’t smoke.
Probable Future The movie should be good. The actors are all top notch.
Ought to
Same meanings of should. We ought to be studying.
The subway ought to arrive soon.
Will
Predictions Profits will increase next year.
Instant decisions I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk.
Promises I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday.
Would
Imaginary situations If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Making a polite request Would you pass the salt please?
Invitation Would you like to dance?
Stating or asking preferences - Would you prefer tea or coffee? - I’d like tea please.
Exercise
- Complete the sentences using can, could, have to, must, might and should. Some gaps may have more than
one correct answer.
1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He __________ be exhausted after such a long flight.
He __________ prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest.

2. If you want to get a better feeling of the city, you __________ walk downtown and explore the waterfront.

3. Hiking the trail to the peak __________ be dangerous if you are not well prepared for dramatic weather
changes. You __________ research the route a little more before you attempt the ascent.

4. When you have a small child in the house, you __________ leave small objects lying around. Such objects
__________ be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

5. Dave: __________ you hold your breath for more than a minute? Nathan: No, I __________.

6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It __________ have cost a fortune.

7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they __________ die.

8. I __________ speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we moved back to
Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I
__________ just say a few things in the language.

9. The book is optional. My professor said we __________ read it if we needed extra credit. But we
__________ read it if we don't want to.

10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It __________ be in this drawer but it's not here. Nancy: I just did a load of
dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It __________ be in there. That's the only other place it
_______ be.

11. You __________ take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the news said there's a
storm north of here and it __________ rain later on this afternoon.

12. __________ we pull over at the next rest stop? I really __________ use the bathroom and I don't know if I
__________ hold it until we get to Chicago.

13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He __________ have left it here last night.

14. Ned: __________ I borrow your lighter for a minute?

Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you __________ keep it if you want to. I've given up smoking.

15. I __________ believe she said that to Megan! She __________ have insulted her cooking in front of
everyone at the party last night. She __________ have just said she was full or had some salad if she didn't
like the meal.

16. Do you __________ chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it's making me sick watching you eat.

17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still warm! Nobody has left the
mansion this evening, so the killer __________ be someone in this room. It __________ be any one of us!!!

18. Ted: I don't know why Denise started crying when I mentioned the wedding. Pamela: It __________ have
been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow.

19. _________ you always say the first thing that pops into your head? ________ you think before you speak?

20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It __________ be
lying around here somewhere. Where __________ it be?