Modal Verb Tutorial





What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences:

1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.

Examples:

* He can speak Chinese.
* She should be here by 9:00.

2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.

Examples:

* He should not be late.
* They might not come to the party.

3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.

Examples:

* He will can go with us. Not Correct
* She musted study very hard. Not Correct

Common Modal Verbs
Can
Could
May
Might
Must Ought to
Shall
Should
Will
Would

For the purposes of this tutorial, we have included some expressions which are not modal verbs including had better, have to, and have got to. These expressions are closely related to modals in meaning and are often interchanged with them.










TOPICS COVERED

# Can
# Could
# Had Better
# Have to
# Have Got to
# May
# Might
# Must
# Ought to
# Shall
# Should
# Will
# Would
# Modal Forms




Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.

Examples:

* I can ride a horse. [ability]
* We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. [opportunity]
* She cannot stay out after 10 PM. [permission]
* Can you hand me the stapler? [request]
* Any child can grow up to be president. [possibility]

Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts.

Could

"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can."

Examples:

* Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. [possibility]
* Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. [past ability]
* You could see a movie or go out to dinner. [suggestion]
* Could I use your computer to email my boss? [request]
* We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. [conditional]


Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts.

Had Better

"Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It can also be used to express desperate hope as well as warn people.

Examples:

* You had better take your umbrella with you today. [recommendation]
* That bus had better get here soon! [desperate hope]
* You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! [warning]










Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "had better" behaves in different contexts.

Have To

"Have to" is used to express certainty, necessity, and obligation.

Examples:

* This answer has to be correct. [certainty]
* The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning. [necessity]
* They have to leave early. [obligation]







Using "Have to" in Present, Past, and Future

"Have to" behaves quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "have to" behaves in different contexts.

Have Got To

"Have got to" is used to express necessity and obligation.

Examples:

* Drivers have got to get a license to drive a car in the US. [necessity]
* I have got to be at work by 8:30 AM. [obligation]







Using "Have Got to" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "have got to" behaves in different contexts.

May

"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or request permission, although this usage is becoming less common.

Examples:

* Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at work. possibility
* Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finished your dinner. give permission
* May I use your bathroom? request permission













Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.

Might

"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English.

Examples:

* Your purse might be in the living room. possibility
* If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. conditional
* You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit. suggestion
* Might I borrow your pen? request











Using "Might" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "might" behaves in different contexts.

Must

"Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or "ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.

Examples:

* This must be the right address! certainty
* Students must pass an entrance examination to study at this school. necessity
* You must take some medicine for that cough. strong recommendation
* Jenny, you must not play in the street! prohibition








Using "Must" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "must" behaves in different contexts.