Modal Verbs

Meaning Present Past

Ability and Possibility Can, be able to Could (repeated actions)
Was/were able to
Managed to (single actions)
Negative:
Couldn’t
Wasn’t able to
Didn’t manage to
Failed to
Guess May, might, could (maybe) May, might, could have +V3
May not / might not (maybe not) May not / might not have +V3
Must / can’t (certain) Must / can’t have +V3
Should (expectations) Should have +V3
Rules
Necessity
Advice/Criticism
Permission
Requests
Suggestion