Learn modular verbs in English with helpful, interesting, and easy-to-understand examples. In this lesson, we’ll cover all about the English Modal Verbs, their Rules and example sentences.
In this lesson, we’ll discuss:
- What are Modal Verbs?
- Modal Verbs and their Rules
- Examples of Modal Verbs
- Modal Verbs Chart
- Use of Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs
- How to Use Modal Verbs
- Auxiliary Verbs and their Rules
Use of:
- Shall
- Should
- Will
- Would
- Can
- Could
- May
- Might
- Must
- Ought
So let’s get started our today’s lesson:
What is a Modal Verb?
Modal verb definition
In English, modal verbs are a small class of auxiliary verbs used to express ability, permission, obligation, prohibition, probability, possibility, and advice.
Modality
This is just what the modal verbs can help explain further for the verb that follows. These include:
- Ability
- Permission
- Obligation
- Prohibition
- Probability
- Possibility
- Advice
Examples of Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are easier to understand with examples:
- Can
- Could
- May
- Might
- Must
- Shall
- Should
- Will
- Would
All of these modal verbs must come before a verb to help express at least one of the modality examples listed above. In some cases, though they can be used to express more than one modality, you’ll see more on that in the following section.
Examples Sentences Containing Modal Verbs
Read the following examples and explanations carefully. The function and meaning behind modal verbs are best understood through sentence examples.
Can
- ‘I can run – is an example of the modal verb ‘can’ impacting upon the verb ‘run’. Here the modality that it is expressing is ability because the individual is stating that they are able to run.
- ‘Can I borrow your trainers?’ – this sentence shows the modal verb ‘can’ impacting upon the verb ‘borrow’. But, you may notice that the modality is different. This time the modality expressed his permission because the individual is seeking permission to borrow.
Could
- Often ‘could’ can be used to replace can express modality in a slightly different way. Look at the first example for can again–if you changed ‘I can run’ to ‘I could run’ you are still expressing ability, but you are now expressing past ability instead. Try replacing could in the other two sentences too.
May
- ‘I may swim tomorrow’ – ‘may’ is being used here to express both possibility and probability. Because it could be both possible and probable that the individual swims tomorrow.
- ‘May I swim tomorrow?’ – in this instance, we have simply moved the positioning of the words to create a, new sentence. In this case the individual is seeking permission, so the modality expressed is permission again.
Might
- Might relates to may and can be used to express probability, possibility, and permission.
Must
- The modal verb ‘must’ is being used to express the modality of obligation by impacting upon the verb, adding the word ‘not’ between the modal verb and the verb the modality that is being expressed is the prohibition.
Should
- The modal verb Should is used to express the modality of advice. The modal verb Should also be used to express the modality of obligation.
Modal Verbs
In this section, we are going to take a look at the modal verb in a little more detail as well as some examples of how it can be used, giving you a greater understanding of its function.
Modal Verbs List and Rules
Modal verbs list: the modals and modal phrases (semi-modals) in English are:
Modal Verb Will
The verb “will” is used to express:
Promise:
- Don’t worry, I will be here.
Instant decision:
- I will take these books with me.
Invitation/Offer:
- Will you give me a chance?
Certain predictions:
- John Smith will be the next President.
Future tense auxiliary:
- Tomorrow I will be in New York.
Modal Verb Shall
The verb “shall” is used to express:
Asking what to do:
- Shall I get the phone? Or will you?
Offer:
- Shall I call a cab?
Suggestion:
- Shall I call again on Thursday?
Modal Verb Would
The verb “would” is used to express:
Asking for permission:
- Would you mind if I opened the window?
Request:
- Would you make dinner?
Making arrangements:
- Would you be available at 6 pm tonight?
Invitation:
- Would you like to go out sometime?
Preferences:
- Would you prefer the window seat or the aisle?
Modal Verb Should
The verb “should” is used to express:
Advice:
- You should visit your dentist at least twice a year.
Recommending action:
- You really should go to the new museum on Main Street.
Uncertain prediction:
- I posted the cheque yesterday so it should arrive this week.
Logical deduction:
- I’ve revised it so I should be ready for the test.
Modal Verb Ought to
The verb “ought to” is used to express:
Advice:
- You ought to have come to the meeting. It was interesting.
Logical deduction:
- 30 dollars ought to be enough for the taxi.
Modal Verb Must
The verb “must” is used to express:
Obligation/necessity:
- I must memorize all of these rules about tenses.
Deduction:
- She lied to the police. She must be the murderer.
Modal Verb Mustn’t
The verb “mustn’t” (must not) is used to express:
Prohibition:
- You mustn’t smoke in this restaurant. It’s forbidden.
Modal Verb May
The verb “may” is used to express:
Possibility:
- Richard may be coming to see us tomorrow.
Ask for permission:
- May I borrow your dictionary?
Modal Verb Might
The verb “might” is used to express:
Slight possibility:
- It looks nice, but it might be very expensive.
The past form of “may” in reported speech:
- The President said he might come.
Modal Verb Can
The verb “can” is used to express:
Ability:
- David can speak three languages.
Permission (informal):
- Can I sit in that chair, please?
Offers:
- Can I carry the luggage for you?
Modal Verb Could
The verb “could” is used to express:
Request:
- Could I borrow your dictionary?
Suggestion:
- Could you say it again more slowly?
Ability in the past:
- I think we could have another Gulf War.
Asking for permission:
- Could I open the window?
Have to/has to
The verb “have to/has to” is used to express:
External Obligation:
- You have to take off your shoes before you get into the mosque.
Don’t/ Doesn’t have to
“Don’t/Doesn’t have to” is used to express:
Is not necessary:
- You don’t have to do all the exercises, only the first one.
Modal Verbs To Talk About Probability
Possible Events
If something is possible in the future, we use ‘could’, ‘might’, or ‘may’ before the main verb to talk about it.
Examples:
- It could rain tomorrow. (but it might not)
- The glass might break if you drop it. (but it might not)
- She may go on holiday. (but she might not)
Modal Verbs and ‘Have’
If something is possible now or was possible in the past we add the word ‘have’ after the modal verb. This still expresses possibility.
Examples:
- It could have rained today.
- We could have won the game.
- The glass might have broken. (if you had dropped it)
- She might have gone on holiday.
- He might have left already.
General Situations in the Present & Past
We can use the word ‘can’ to talk about current general situations with modal verbs. We can also use the word ‘could’ to talk about past general situations.
Examples:
Current tense:
- It can get very hot in the summer.
- It could get very cold by the sea.
Impossible Events
We add the word ‘not’ after the modal verb to make it negative. In the contracted speech, we change this to ‘can’t’. For talking about an event in the past, we use ‘could not’ or ‘couldn’t’.
Examples:
- He can’t walk into town in those uncomfortable shoes.
- They can’t hope to repair the car in time for the race.
- We couldn’t have won the game.
Probable Events
If something is probably true, we use the word ‘must’ before the main verb to talk about it.
Examples:
- It must be time for dinner – it’s almost 8 pm.
- We have £50. That must be enough to buy the tickets.
Probable Events in the Past
To talk about a probable event in the past we use ‘must have:
Examples:
- You must have been scared on that rollercoaster.
- It must have been pleasant living by the sea.
- They must have caught the train they were so fast.
Probable Events in the Future
To talk about a probable event in the future we use ‘should’.
Examples:
- The timetable says the train arrives at 6 pm, so it should be here soon.
We use these Modal verbs to express ability:
List of Modals of Ability:
- Be able to
- Can/Can’t
- Be able to
- Could/Couldn’t
- Managed to
- Be able to
- Can/can’t
We use these Modal verbs for asking for permissions:
- Can
- Could
- May
- Would
Auxiliary Verbs
Modal Auxiliaries:
- Shall
- Should
- Will
- Would
- Can
- Could
- May
- Might
- Must
- Ought
Rules of Modal Auxiliary Verbs
- Modal Auxiliary + base form verb = will perform..
- Modal Auxiliary + be + present Participle = will be performing..
- Modal Auxiliary + have + past participle = will have performed.
- Modal Auxiliary + be + past participle = will be performed.
- Modal Auxiliary + have been + present participle = will have been performing.
- Modal Auxiliary + have been + past participle = will have been performed.
- Modal Auxiliary + be + being + past participle = will be being performed
- Modal Auxiliary + have + been + being + past participle = will have been being eaten.
The conversion of modal verbs in past and present forms:
| Present Tense | Past Tense |
|---|---|
| will | would |
| can | could |
| shall | should |
| may | might |
Huge list of Sentences with the use of Modal Verbs
Modal verbs Can use in Sentences
- He can talk French. (Ability)
- She can play the piano. (Ability)
- I am able to salsa dance. (Ability)
- He is not able to paint. (Ability)
- They can ski really well. (Ability)
- Can we buy food here? (talk about permission)
- Can I smoke here? (talk about permission)
- Can I help you with that? (For offers and invitations)
- You can borrow my camera if you like. (Giving permission)
- It can get very hot in the summer. (Probability)
Can’t, Could, and Couldn’t Example Sentences:
Modal verbs Can’t use in Sentences
- He can’t walk into town in those uncomfortable shoes. (Impossible events)
- They can’t hope to repair the car in time for the race. (Impossible events)
Modal verbs Couldn’t use in Sentences
- We couldn’t have won the game. (Impossible events)
- They couldn’t play football. (Ability)
- We couldn’t go on holiday last year because we didn’t have enough money. (Ability)
Modal verbs Could use in Sentences
- Could I offer you a lift? (For offers and invitations)
- Could they borrow that book? (Asking Permission)
- Could you write your name on the form, please? (Asking Permission)
- We could never have won the game. (more emphasis) (Impossible events)
- He could talk German. (Ability)
- She could play the flute. (Ability)
- It could have rained today. (Probability)
- We could have won the game. (Probability)
- She could have played the violin well if she had practiced. (Possible events that did not happen)
- He could have gone to Spain if he had wanted to. (Possible events that did not happen)
- They could have bought a house if they had saved enough money. (Possible events that did not happen)
- Could they borrow that book? (Asking permission)
- Could you write your name on the form, please? (Asking permission)
- Could you pass the salt, please? (Request)
- Could I have the bill now, please? (Request)
- They could join the gym if they want. (Giving permission)
- Could I help you with that? (For offers and invitations)
May & Might Example Sentences
Modal verbs May use in Sentences
- She may go on holiday (but she might not). (Probability)
- If the car is just as slow as the train, I may as well take the train. (Benefit or advantage)
- I was going to stay up to see you, but as you won’t be back until tomorrow, I may as well go to bed. (Benefit or advantage)
- He didn’t understand my meaning. I may as well have been speaking in a foreign language. (Benefit or advantage)
- I am trying to see the stars, but it is so cloudy, I may as well be looking at a brick wall. (Benefit or advantage)
- May I use this pen? (Asking permission)
- May we leave now? (Asking permission)
- You may leave now if you wish. (Giving permission)
Modal verbs Might use in Sentences
- The glass might break if you drop it (but it might not). (Probability)
- The glass might have broken (if you had dropped it). (Probability)
- She might have gone on holiday. (Probability)
- He might have left already. (Probability)
- It is raining now, so I might as well stay at home. (Benefit or advantage)
- The tea tasted so horrible, it might as well have been mud. (Benefit or advantage)
- You will have to give me instructions and it will take so long, you might as well do it yourself. (Benefit or advantage)
- You could take a taxi to town. It might be quicker. (Advice and suggestions)
Must & Mustn’t Example Sentences
Modal verbs Must use in Sentences
- It must be time for dinner – it’s almost 8 PM. (Probability)
- We have £50. That must be enough to buy the tickets. (Probability)
- It’s raining. You must be soaked! (Probability)
- You must have been scared on that rollercoaster. (Probability)
- It must have been pleasant living by the sea. (Probability)
- They must have caught the train they were so fast. (Probability)
- It was late. They must have been hungry. (Probability)
- They were late for school. The must-have slept-in. (Probability)
- We must do this again soon. (For offers and invitations)
Modal verbs Mustn’t use in Sentences
- You must not talk in the library. (Obligation)
- He must not drive a supercar as its brakes are damaged. (Prohibition)
- You must not spit in this zone. (Prohibition)
- You mustn’t smoke in this restaurant. It’s forbidden. (Prohibition)
Would & Should Example Sentences
Modal verbs Would use in Sentences
- Would you lend me your book? (Request)
- Would you mind if I left early? (Request)
- Would you like to go out for dinner? (For offers and invitations)
- Would you like dessert? (For offers and invitations)
- It would be too far to walk. (Hypothetical situations)
- I would have called you if I had arrived home in time. (Conditional)
- I would buy a car if I had enough money. (Conditional)
- If I had a car, I would be able to take more bags. (Conditional)
- What would happen if we were late? (Conditional)
Modal verbs Should use in Sentences
- The timetable says the train arrives at 6 PM, so it should be here soon. (Probability)
- We should have enough food. There are only 3 people coming for dinner. (Probability)
- You studied hard so you should pass the test. (Probability)
- You should park your car there – it is nearer to the shops. (Advice and suggestions)
- We should aim to arrive early. It is more polite. (Advice and suggestions)
- They should never have gone to the party. It was boring. (Advice and suggestions)
- It is cold. You should wear a coat. (Advice and suggestions)
Will & Shall Example Sentences
Modal verbs Will use in Sentences
- You will have to give me instructions and it will take so long, you might as well do it yourself. (Benefit or advantage)
- I will give you a lift to the shop. (For offers and invitations)
- I will go to university tomorrow. (To talk about the Future)
- By this time next week, I will have already taken the exam. (To talk about the Future)
- I will have finished five novels this week. (To talk about the Future)
- By next year, scientists will have found a cure for the common cold. (To talk about the Future)
- How long will it have been since we last visited Tuscany? (To talk about the Future)
- It’s 6 PM already, mum will have finished work by now. (To talk about the Future)
- You will have lived in your house for 10 years this summer. (To talk about the Future)
- John will definitely pass the exams next week. (adjectives and adverbs in the context)
- You are surely not going to run in the rain? The ground is so wet, you will probably fall over. (adjectives and adverbs in the context)
- She always buys a black coffee when she arrives; now and then, she will buy a latte. (adjectives and adverbs in the context)
Modal verbs Shall use in Sentences
- Shall I get your coat? (For offers and invitations)
- Shall I give you my number? (For offers and invitations)
- Shall I sleep here on the footpath for an act? (For offers and invitations)
- We shall not register ourselves for the music concert. (For offers and invitations)
Modal verbs Ought to use in Sentences
- It is cold. You ought to wear a coat. (Advice)
- We ought to love our youngers. (Advice)
- You ought to clean up our room. (Advice)
- You ought to have come to the meeting. It was interesting. (Advice)
- 30$ ought to be enough for the taxi. (Logical deduction)
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