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  • What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples

What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples

Published on February 14, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on December 6, 2023.

A modal verb (also called a modal auxiliary verb ) is used along with a main verb to express possibility, ability, permission, or necessity. For example, in the statement “you must leave,” “must” is a modal verb indicating that it’s necessary for the subject (“you”) to perform the action of the verb (“leave”).

The modal verb “will” is used to form the future tense, indicating an action that has not yet occurred (e.g., “I will clean the garage”).

Can you drive me to the airport?

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Table of contents

How are modal verbs used in sentences, modal verbs list, modal verbs and auxiliary verbs, modal verbs and mood, other uses of modal verbs, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

Modal verbs are used along with a main verb to indicate ability, necessity, possibility, and permission. In sentences containing modal verbs, the main verb typically takes the infinitive form. Modal verbs come before main verbs and never change form.

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Below is a table that illustrates some of the various uses of modal verbs. Note that modal verbs are very commonly used in a wide variety of senses—this table doesn’t cover every possible usage.

Modal verbs are classed as a type of auxiliary verb . Auxiliary verbs are used along with a main verb to express tense, mood, or voice. However, unlike modal verbs, regular auxiliary verbs follow subject-verb agreement and must be conjugated for tense and mood.

Gordon has burned the toast.

Modal verbs can be used along with auxiliary verbs to refer to possible past, continuous, or future action.

When a modal verb is followed by another auxiliary verb (e.g., “have,” “be”), the main verb takes either the past participle form (typically ending in “-ed,” “-n,” or “-t”) or the present participle form (ending in “-ing”).

The modal verb “will” is used in all aspects of the future tense (e.g., “I will talk,” “you will be traveling ”).

You may be wondering what I mean.

The grammatical mood of a verb indicates the intention of the sentence. Modal verbs and auxiliary verbs are used along with a main verb to express mood.

Modal verbs have various other functions in English. They can also be used:

  • In indirect speech
  • In negative statements
  • For emphasis

Indirect speech

Modal verbs are used in indirect speech to indicate what someone else said. While most modal verbs stay the same when used in indirect speech, the past form of some modal verbs is used instead (e.g., “can” becomes “could”).

Negative statements

In negative statements containing modal verbs, the adverb “not” comes immediately after the modal verb and before all other verbs. The negative form is often contracted (e.g., “would not” becomes “wouldn’t”).

In everyday conversation, people sometimes place emphasis on a modal verb to refute a previous statement or question. The emphasized word is often italicized when written down.

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Nouns & pronouns

  • Common nouns
  • Proper nouns
  • Collective nouns
  • Personal pronouns
  • Uncountable and countable nouns
  • Verb tenses
  • Phrasal verbs
  • Sentence structure
  • Active vs passive voice
  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Interjections
  • Determiners
  • Prepositions

Modal verbs (also called modal auxiliary verbs ) are used along with a main verb to express ability, possibility, necessity, and permission. They are a type of auxiliary verb .

For example, in the statement “I can drive,” “can” is a modal verb indicating that the subject (“I”) has the ability to perform the action of the verb (“drive”).

“Would” is a modal verb that’s often used along with the auxiliary verb “have” to indicate that something was possible in the past but no longer is (e.g., “She would have been a professional athlete if she hadn’t broken her leg”). It can be contracted to “would’ve.”

People sometimes mistakenly write “would of” because of its similar pronunciation. However, “would of” is never correct.

“May” is a modal verb used to indicate possibility (e.g., “I may miss the bus”), make a request (e.g., “May I have a drink?”), or indicate permission (e.g., “You may sit down”).

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Ryan, E. (2023, December 06). What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/modal-verb/
Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What this handout is about

Modal verbs (will, would, should, may, can, could, might, must) precede another verb. Modals do not have subject-verb agreement or take the infinitive “to” before the next verb.

This handout shows how modals in academic writing can change a sentence’s meaning into a prediction, suggestion, or a question. Modals can also serve a social function to show uncertainty or politeness. They are especially common in discussion sections of research papers.

How to use this handout

This handout is best used with a piece of writing that benefits from being subjective. Each function alters a sentence’s perspective differently.

Logical possibility: expresses a degree of probability

Before: This is the fastest way to drive to Westwood. After: This might be the fastest way to drive to Westwood.

Ability: shows capability

Before: Riding the bus avoids traffic. After: Riding the bus can avoid traffic.

Necessity: expresses directness in attitude

Before: Wash your hands before preparing food. After: You must wash your hands before preparing food.

Permission: shows politeness

Before: I am going to your office hours. After: Can I go to your office hours?

Strength and frequency of modal verbs

In academic writing , modal verbs are most frequently used to indicate logical possibility and least frequently used to indicate permission. Eight modal verbs are listed under each of the functions they can perform in academic writing, and are ordered from strongest to weakest for each function. Notice that the same modal can have different strengths when it’s used for different functions (e.g., may or can).

Functions of modal verbs

This second table organizes examples of each modal by its use, also including an explanation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Celce-Murcia, Marianne, and Diane Larsen-Freeman. 2015. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher’s Course , 3rd ed. Boston: Heinle & Heinle.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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English Modal Verbs: What Are Modal Verbs and When Are They Used?

Everybody can use a little help now and then!

That goes for English verbs , too.

Sometimes, one verb alone just won’t cut it.

A modal verb can help the main verb do its job.

Modal verbs add more meaning to your sentences and let you express more complex ideas.

But what are modal verbs? How do you use them?

In this post, I’ll introduce you to the most important English modal verbs. I’ll show you how they work and how to use them correctly.

What Are Modal Verbs?

When do we use english modal verbs, all of the english modal verbs, how to use modal verbs in business english, where to practice modal verbs, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Modal verbs are a type of “auxiliary verb,” also called a “helping verb” as we hinted above. That means they work alongside other verbs to give your sentence a new meaning .

For example, they can change the tense of your main verb, or indicate the possibility, permission or necessity for something to happen.

Common English modal verbs are:

Modal verbs are used very frequently in English, in a variety of contexts. Here are some of the main things modal verbs can be used to express:

  • Possibility
  • Suggestions
  • Probability

Once you understand how modal verbs work, it’ll help you speak English conversationally  as well as  in an academic setting .

One of the most common uses for this modal verb is to express ability . In this case, can is another way of saying “be able to.”

I can play piano.

This also works if you’re asking a question. To ask about someone’s ability to do something, typically you would say: Can you _____?

Can you speak English?

In a similar way,  can is also used sometimes as a way to offer help or to  ask for permission .

I can watch your dog while you’re on vacation.

Can you please pass the butter?

You’ll also often hear this modal verb used to express the  possibility of something happening.

Houses can flood in this region during rainstorms.

Could expresses the past tense of can . Use it to express ability, but when talking about the past.

I could understand German when I was a kid.

Could you hear the birds chirping yesterday morning?

Could is sometimes used to express possibility, similar to  can . However, unlike can , it’s used for less concrete possibilities and suggestions.

We could go to the park or we could go to the mall.

Will is most commonly used to put an English sentence in the future tense . It indicates that something’s going to happen in the future.

I will wash my plates after I finish eating.

They will visit their grandmom next month.

In question form,  will is used to  ask if something’s going to happen in the future.

Will there be a storm tomorrow?

Will we have a quiz in English class?

Would often talks about a habitual action in the past . That means an action repeated more than once, often by routine.

When I was a kid I would play with dolls every day.

Would can also show a willingness to do something in the future, often as part of the phrase “would like to…”

She would like to come to the party.

Would is used in a question to ask someone to do something. In this way, it’s similar to  can —however, using  would sounds more polite .

Would you please close the door?

Another very common usage of would is in conditionals —showing that something depends on something else. You may recognize the sentence structure  would … if , as in the examples below:

  She would go to the mall if you asked her.

He would become fluent in English if he practiced more often.

Finally, would often pairs up with the verb  wish to express a desire .

I wish you would stop tapping your pencil.

You’ll often hear  should used to as a way to  give or ask for advice or an opinion .

You should do your homework.

The governor should visit our neighborhood.

Should I meet you at your apartment?

In a similar way, it can be used to describe something necessary but perhaps not wanted .

She should comb her hair but she doesn’t want to.

Should is also used to show an expectation .

He should be back by 10 p.m.

The mall should be empty at this time of night.

May is another modal verb that’s similar to can , but more formal and polite. It’s used to express or ask for  permission , and is often considered the most polite way to do so .

May I sit beside you?

You may pour yourself a cup of tea.

May is also often used to describe a possibility .

We may go downtown tonight.

Like may , might can present a possibility . It’s not uncommon to hear  may and  might used interchangeably in this context, although  may is slightly more formal.

He might get the job at the factory.

Might can also be used to suggest something . Within the phrase “might as well,” it indicates that there isn’t a good alternative.

I might as well go home since there’s no one else here.

Must is a way of saying “have to” or “need to,” though it’s more formal than either of those.

You must finish your homework by Wednesday.

Must also expresses a strong suggestion .

You must see the Louvre while you’re in Paris!

Must can also be used as a guess , though only if you think that your guess is correct or if you have evidence to back up your guess.

He must be smart because he studied engineering.

Shall is a good modal verb to recognize, but it’s rarely used in everyday language because it feels so formal and polite to native English speakers. Its use is similar to will . You may see it most often in literature from past eras .

I shall call your mother if you misbehave.

We shall arrive at 5:00.

Now we’ll cover some useful modal verb phrases you can use in different business situations.

Arranging a Meeting

Of course, there are many business situations where you might need to arrange a meeting. Modal verbs will be invaluable in setting up these meetings politely and efficiently.

Could we meet at _____? 

I can meet at _____. / I can’t meet at _____. 

Should I reserve the conference room? 

Might we discuss it over lunch? 

The meeting should take about 30 minutes.

Conducting an Online Meeting

In today’s business world, online meetings, video calls or conference calls are very common. If you work for a foreign company, it’s likely that you’ll have to participate in an online meeting at some point.

Modal verbs will help you keep the meeting on track in a clear and formal way.

Could  you please mute your microphone when you’re not speaking? 

Can everyone hear/see me?

Before we begin, we should each introduce ourselves.

Giving a Presentation

Giving presentations in any language can be nerve-wracking, but it can be especially overwhelming if you have to give a presentation in English. Fortunately, there are several modal verb phrases you can learn in business English to help you give your best presentation.

Might/may  I have your attention, please? 

Could you please save your questions until the end? 

Today, I would like to discuss…

In conclusion, we must find a way to decrease costs/to increase profits/to find our niche/etc.

Speaking to an Employee as a Manager

If you’re a manager, one of the most common relationships you’ll have to navigate in the business world is between you and your employees. Here are some modal phrases that can help you speak with your employees in a respectful, yet commanding manner.

When can you give me the numbers from this quarter?

When will you be finished with the project? 

Could you email me a detailed update? 

We should plan to move forward with the merger.

Speaking to a Manager as an Employee

When you’re an employee at a company, you’ll most likely need to report to a manager or some other type of superior . It’s important to speak with respect and confidence when communicating with your boss. Here are some types of modal verb phrases that might be useful.

Could you please give me your thoughts on…?

I will finish _____ by _____.

I can find time for theses tasks today.

I would welcome your feedback on…

Speaking to Your Colleagues

Another important relationship in the workplace is the relationship between you and your colleagues. When you’re speaking with employees of a company that are at your same level, it’s nice to be able to talk both about business and more casually. Here are some modal phrases that you might try.

I might attend the conference. What about you? 

I could use a day off. What about you? 

Can/could  I give you some advice? 

Can/could  I ask you a favor? 

Speaking with a Client or Customer

Speaking with a client or customer is an important part of many jobs. It’s important to speak clearly, confidently and politely with them. If you often work directly with clients and customers, you may want to add some of these general business modal verb phrases to your vocabulary.

We would like to set up a face-to-face meeting. 

May I offer you …? 

It would be my pleasure to…

I might be able to…

Would you like to renew your account/subscription? 

Could you give us a list of your requirements? 

Taking a Phone Call

No matter what department you work in, making and receiving phone calls is probably a daily occurrence. It’s important to be able to successfully engage in a phone conversation at work . Here are some standard modal verb phrases you can use the next time your desk phone rings.

Could I ask who’s calling, please? 

How may I help you? 

Can I take a message? 

Should I call back later? 

Could you repeat that?

Hiring an Employee

One of the most common business interactions is hiring new employees.

Sometimes it can be challenging to interview potential employees, especially if you’re speaking in a second language such as English. Here are some useful phrases you’ll need during the hiring process.

Can/could you tell me more about your work experience?

You must arrive on time for the interview.

You should  submit three references with your application.

As with many English grammar concepts, the trick to learning modal verbs is to practice them as much as you can!

  • Ginger Software has some helpful exercises where you’ll choose the correct modal verb to put in a sentence .
  • Mad Libs is a popular English word game that’ll expose you to modal verbs among many other types of English vocabulary.
  • Journaling is a great technique to practice your English while incorporating modal verbs. Write about your plans for the upcoming day or week, like what you  will do, what you  should do, etc.

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essay about modal verb

  • English Grammar

Modal verbs

Level: beginner

The modal verbs are: 

We use modals to show if we believe something is certain, possible or impossible :

My keys must be in the car. It might rain tomorrow. That can't be Peter's coat. It's too small.

We also use them to do things like talk about ability , ask permission , and make requests and offers :

I can't swim. May I ask a question? Could I have some tea, please? Would you like some help?

MultipleChoice_MTYzNDI=

Hello Team. Could you please help me? Does "had to" mean that the action happened or might not? For example, is the following sentence correct? Some teachers say that it is not correct while others say it is OK, what do you say? - I had to call my friend but I forgot. Thank you.

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Hello Ahmed Imam,

It is possible to say this. Had to does not necessarily imply that the obligation/requirement was met. For example, it's fine to say this:

I had to get there by 8.00 to go to the meeting, but unfortunately the train was delayed.

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello, "Had to" as the positive and "didn't have to" as the negative form are in the past. And therefore what I gather from your sentence is = you were supposed to call your friend but you didn't (Now, it's too late). Bye :)

I had to call my friend but i forgot this sentence is fine. But when ever you talk about the past, you always need two actions and a time scale. Two actions is what you have but no time scale. I had to call my friend(when?) yesterday or last week? I had to call my friend yesterday but I completely forgot. Giving the sentence a little more emphasis by using an adverb (completely).

I was reading about this online recently and someone said that their dictionary from 1982 shows the verb "can" as an auxiliary intransitive verb, which was fully congugated and the past and conditional tenses were "could" and the conditional past was "could have". Please could you tell me when the fully conjugated verb became obsolete and was replaced with the two modal verbs "can" and "could" and also why this happened? Thank you for your help!

Hi helenaw,

It's an interesting question, but one that is outside what we do on this site, which is focused on learning English as a foreign/second/additional language. For what it's worth, I'm not sure we can say "can" has ever been fully conjugated in modern English, as to my knowledge it's never had a past participle. But users of sites such as Stack Exchange may be able to shed more light on this. I hope you can find answers there to your interesting question!

LearnEnglish team

I have always wondered why WILL, SHALL and WOULD are considered modal verbs as they don't have meaning and they are closer to the auxiliaries DO; DOES; DID

Hi MRamos2022,

It's an interesting question. A modal verb, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary , is "a verb used with another verb to express an idea such as possibility that is not expressed by the main verb".  Will ,  shall  and  would  fit this description - they are all used with another verb and cannot be used alone, and they express some kind of meaning or attitude that modifies the main verb (broadly speaking,  will  and shall  are about willingness or beliefs about the future, and  would  is about unreal and hypothetical actions). For example,  I like coffee  is different in meaning from  I would like a coffee , and  I don't agree  is not the same as  I wouldn't agree  (using "would" makes it a hypothetical disagreement, thus less direct and possibly more polite).

Dear respected team, Even superman wouldn't be able to defeat him. What does "would" refer to? Does it refer to possibility or point of view of the speaker? Thank you

Hi Hosseinpour,

"Would" indicates an unreal situation. It is unreal either because Superman is a fictional character and doesn't exist in the real world, or (if this sentence comes from a story in which Superman does exist) because in the speaker's view, Superman and the other person have not yet had a fight and are not really going to fight.

Thank you sir for the help and time. Thank you

This is very helpful! Thanks

Hello, I have more questions about texts from the 19th century. The text is "Mrs Hutchinson" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. My first question is about the meaning of a question appears in the subjunctive mode in the text. The author writes, "Is the prize worth her [woman's] having if she win it [fame]?" I understand "if she win it" to mean "should she win it", which in turn means that the author has doubts about "her winning it". Therefore, is it correct to conclude that Hawthorne in using the subjunctive mode is expressing a disparaging view about a woman's potential. Isn't he saying "I don't think women can win it". The other question is from the same document, but comes from the opening statement. "The character of this female suggests a train of thoughts which will form as natural an introduction to her story as most of the prefaces to Gay's Fables or the tales of Prior, besides that the general soundness of the moral may excuse any want to present applicability". I am not sure what the author means by the second half of this sentence (after "besides"). Does he mean "in addition to that the validity of the moral point we gather from Hutchinson's character allows for an introduction here"? I interpreted "want for" to mean "preference for", not as "lack of". I am not sure how "lack of" can work in this case. I hope that my questions don't bore you. thanks

Hello Ahmed,

I should start off by saying that I'm not familiar with this text or the context in which the sentences you ask about occur. So please know that my answers might well be different if I were.

Re: your first question, I think that 'should she win it' is a good gloss of 'if she win it'. You could also say 'if she wins it'. I'd have to have a closer look at the text (or be more familiar with 19th-century American literature than I am) to say for sure, but I don't think the subjunctive here indicates any extra meaning. In other words, from this sentence alone, I don't think one can conclude that Hawthorne has doubts about this woman's (or women's?) ability to win fame. I think he's simply saying that she/they might win it, or she/they might not. And really what he seems to be doing isn't so much doubting whether this woman/women can win it, but whether winning fame is something worth winning.

Re: your second question, I'm afraid I'd need to know more about what's Hawthorne's talking about (the woman, her story, her train of thoughts, the moral, etc.) to make any useful sense of this sentence. Perhaps you have a teacher you could ask about this?

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hell, In reading 19th century prose, I have often come across a strange usage of "would". Take for instance the following sentence: "Even on a small scale, how often will it happen that the term best corresponding to a new world in the original will be one that in our language is already old and worn out, so that the translator, would he show the work's contribution to the development of the language, will be forced to introduce foreign content into the passage, deviating into the realm of imitation!" Am I right to think of "would he show" to mean "if he wants to show"? Also, under what subtopic in modals can I find more about this usage?

Hi Ahmed Nidal,

Yes, that's right. The meaning of "would" here is the desire to do something, and this meaning is rarely used today. The conditional meaning ("if") comes from the subject/modal inversion, rather than from "would".

It is meaning 2.8 on this Wiktionary page . I hope that helps.

Thank you Jonathan. Much appreciated. Ahmed

Hello Sir, "We may have to live with the coronavirus." 1. In this sentence 'have' is main verb or it is modal verb(have to) 2. Can we place two modal verbs (may & have to) together 3. Further, 'to' is attached to 'have'(have to) or it is attached to 'live'(to live)

Hello Mordhvaj,

The main verb in this sentence is 'live'.

'May' is a modal verb. 'Have to' is sometimes called a semi-modal verb in that it has some elements of modality but not others. The wikipedia page for modal verbs describes it thus:

...there are numerous other verbs that can be viewed as modal verbs insofar as they clearly express modality in the same way that the verbs in this list do, e.g. appear, have to, seem etc. In the strict sense, though, these other verbs do not qualify as modal verbs in English because they do not allow subject-auxiliary inversion, nor do they allow negation with not. Verbs such as be able to and be about to allow subject-auxiliary inversion and do not require do-support in negatives but these are rarely classified as modal verbs because they inflect and are a modal construction involving the verb to be which itself is not a modal verb. If, however, one defines modal verb entirely in terms of meaning contribution, then these other verbs would also be modals and so the list here would have to be greatly expanded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modal_verb

It is possible to use a modal verb before 'have to', but it is not possible to use 'have to' before a modal verb. Thus, 'we may have to...' is fine, but *'we have to may...'* is incorrect.

We describe the form as have to + verb rather than have + to verb . The 'to' is still included when the verb is omitted:

We need to leave for the party. Is it really important I go? Yes, you have to. No complaining!

Hello Sir, I feel honoured to have my question answered by you. Point by point you have cleared each and every doubt of mine. I have always been a big fan of your answers. It is almost a miracle to have one's answer 'succinct' and 'detailed' simultaneously; and you are a wizard who can do that miracle. Thanks🌹

Hello Mordhvaj,

It's nice of you to say so. We're a small team here but we try our best!

Hello, thanks for the grammar. I have a question in relation to adverbs of frequency, and modal verbs. These two sentences: They could never divide us. They never could divide us. Which one is grammatically correct? Also are there some situations you could use the second one, and it would be correct? Thanks.

Hi Howard Manzi,

Thanks for your question :) They are both grammatically correct. The typical position is as in sentence 1, between the modal verb and the main verb. Sentence 2 is grammatical too, but the position of "never" seems to make it more emphatic than in sentence 1. Somebody may say this if they really want to emphasise "never".

"Never" can also be emphasised by putting it as the first word in the sentence (this also needs an inversion of subject and modal verb):  Never could they divide us .

I hope that helps.

Thanks. I appreciate it.

"May" has PERMISSION meaning also "Might" has?

I found this following question on this web page.

->I know you're busy, but MIGHT I ask you a quick question? (and right answer of meaning is PERMISSION)

I understood that "MIGHT" doesn't have PERMISSION meaning. So I am confused..

Hello Jiwon LEE,

As is explained on our 'may' and 'might' page , 'might' can be used to ask for permission in a very polite way.

This use is quite rare in ordinary speaking and many grammars don't even mention it. 'may' and 'can' are far more commonly used.

All the best, Kirk The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Jonathan, I would like to ask for your help and hope you're available to answer me this time.

If someone gives me a present, I might say :

(A) How could you have known it was my birthday today ?

[1] Does the use of "could have known" in this sentence express surprise about how he could know that today is my birthday ? Or [2] Is it a conditional sentence with the implied if clause that is not mentioned ? For example :

(B) How could you have known....if my mother had not told you ? (No surprise is conveyed here)

[3] If we can use this pattern to express surprise, can we say this sentence ?

(C) I don't know how the thief could have known the key code, but he did (= I'm surprised how he got to know the key code).

[4] To express surprise in examples (A) and (C), can we change "could have" to "can have" ?

I would really appreciate your explanation. Thank you.

Best regards,

Hello melvinthio,

(A) is grammatically correct, but in the situation you describe in [1], a more natural statement would be 'How did you know it was my birthday today?'. Both (A) and my suggestion could certainly express surprise, though they don't necessarily do so. Even if you thought the gift giver was giving you the present for a different reason, I still don't think they'd use a sentence with 'could have known' here.

Your analysis of (B) in [2] sounds correct to me, though I don't think the grammar tells us anything about surprise. It could express simple curiosity, though it certainly can also be used to express surprise.

Similar to (A), a more natural way of saying (C) is 'I don't know how the thief knew ...' (assuming we can see evidence of the thief knowing this), but (C) is also possible here. I'd understand it to express some degree of surprise, but I don't think it has anything to do with the grammar, but rather the situation.

I think the difference between the two situations is that in (A), we see the action with our own eyes -- we've seen the person giving the gift or somehow know it came from them. In contrast, in (C), we see the result of the thief's actions -- an open safe -- but haven't seen the thief open it. It also more possible for another person to discover our birthday than it is for a thief to open a safe (at least to my mind).

As for [4], no, 'could have' better expresses the idea of an unlikely possibility. Perhaps 'can have' would be possible in some unusual situations, but in most cases and certainly in the way I've imagined them now, it wouldn't work.

Hope this helps.

Hii, I am Manish. One of my teachers told me modal are ( be and Have ) Be has 3 forms BE =1. Is/am/ are 2. Was/ were 3. Been You are a teacher. I am a student. You were a child 10 years ago. I was a child too.

Have = possession I have a car.= I have got a car.

Was he right?

Hello Manish,

Modal verbs are verbs like should, can, could, might, will etc.

'Be' and 'have' are not modal verbs. They are normal verbs but can also be used as auxiliary verbs to form questions and other forms.

Base form - be  ~  have

First form (present) - am/is/are  ~  have/has

Second form (past) - was/were  ~  had

Third form (past participle) - been  ~  had

For possession, have and have got are alternatives.

You can read more about the verb 'be' on this page:

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/the-verb-be  

Can I use articles with collective noun ? (a,an,the)

Yes, you can :) If you have any questions about it, you can post them on our Articles page.

Hi everyone, is the following sentence correct? I can English.

When can it be accepted? Thank you so much!

Hello mivu,

No, I'm afraid 'I can English' is not correct in any context I can think of.

It's possible to say 'I can' or 'I can do' in a short answer , but the direct object of the verb is omitted in short answers.

Hey there Well, every modal verb will be followed by another verb, which is missing in that statement. It might be the verb "to speak". I can SPEAK English.

Hello. I have a question. Why is WOULD considered a modal verb? As I understand, WOULD has no meaning as the other modals verbs. It has a function, which is to make the sentence conditional. And if it is considered, why the other auxiliaries are not? Thank you very much for your help.

Hello MRamos,

' would ' actually has a number of uses beyond its use in second conditional structures -- for example, it can be used to make polite requests, or to talk about frequent past events. In older styles of English, it was also used to express desires, though this is almost never heard these days.

In general, modal verbs add different kinds of meaning to a statement -- for example, certainty, possibility or obligation. I'd suggest having a look at our Modal verbs page, where you can see more on this, and you might also find the Cambridge Dictionary Grammar's page on Modal verbs and modality useful.

I couldn't have explained it better. Amazing!

Hello Mussorie,

There is no difference in meaning here. In this and similar constructions you can use either the object pronoun or the possessive adjective with the -ing form. Both are in common use and are acceptable but I think the form with the object pronoun ( me ) is more informal and less likely to be used in formal contexts.

You can read a brief discussion of the topic here:

https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/515247/my-ing-possessive-form-ing-vs-me-ing-object-form-ing

In both 1 and 2, you are reporting that the thing you imagined has been confirmed, but the verb form in 1 suggests that someone else was doubting your supposition.

In the other sentence, 'will have started' is used because the time reference point is the present time (6:00). We use 'would' to speak about the future from the perspective of the past, but the time reference point here is present. The beginning of the match in the past is suggested, but not stated.

All the best,

Hello Nevı,

No, I'm afraid that doesn't work. Normally the verb forms in reduced relative clauses replace non-modal verbs, usually in the present continuous, present simple or past simple.

Best wishes,

Hello Hemam,

'would' (and 'wouldn't') can be used to express unwillingness, in other words, the idea that someone or something doesn't want to do something. So in the first sentence, the idea is that the car didn't want to start. Most people don't actually believe that a car has desires, but sometimes when we feel we are unlucky, we speak this way to show the feeling of being unlucky. Other than this, these two sentences mean the same thing.

The sentence about Reddington could mean that we think he would never tell us this in any circumstance (here 'would' refers to hypothetical situations) or, if it's speaking about the past, it could mean that Redding refused to tell us. Which meaning it has depends on the context.

Hi Ahmed Imam,

Might  is the correct option.  Might  means there is some uncertainty about whether he will help you or not, and we know that the speaker is uncertain since he/she says 'I am not sure'. 

Will  doesn't fit here, because it means the speaker is certain.

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Part Three Editing / Grammar Skills

Unit 15 Modals

Learning Objectives

  • To understand what modals are and what principles they follow
  • To learn the challenges and strategies in using appropriate modals
  • To learn the meanings and uses of modals and modal-like expressions through multiple examples
  • To practice using modals through  a variety of writing situations

showcase of culture artifacts at entrance of ESL & Linguistics Department at Harper College

The following ten sentences are about some customs from different countries. The modal and main verb are bold-faced in each sentence. If the bold-faced part is correct, choose “correct”.  If not, choose the other answer. After you finish one sentence, you will get instant feedback on your answer before the next sentence. If you make mistakes, you can retry all the questions or see all the answers at the end of the pre-test.

II. Principles of Using Modals

As you have learned in Unit 9 Verb Basics in Academic Writing ( Open Unit 9 here ) , modals are an important part of the verb family. They are considered helping verbs, also called auxiliary verbs. Most modals follow the following principles:

1. They cannot exist by themselves. They are followed by the base form of main verbs to show different meanings and tones.

modal + base form of main verb = complete verb

  • In the United States, people should call ahead before visiting someone. ( no “calls, called, calling, to call” )
  • People must not show the “OK” gesture [1] with the thumb and index finger in Mexico. ( no “shows, showed, showing, to show” )

2. Contractions are common are in modals, such as “shouldn’t” and “mustn’t”. However, “may” and “might” do not have a contraction form. It is wrong to write “mayn’t” and “mightn’t”.

two words "yes" and "no" with "yes" crossed out

  • Small children mayn’t stay ( may not stay ) alone at home in the United States.
  • It mightn’t be ( might not be ) a good idea for children to stay in their friend’s home overnight.

3. Some expressions are called modal-like expressions. There is a “to” in them, and the base form of the verb follows the “to”. These expressions include:  be able to, be supposed to, have to, have got to, ought to, and some others.

  • People have to come on time for an appointment in the United States.
  • They are supposed to explain the reasons if they are late.

4. Some modals and modal-like expressions are often used in conversations only.

  • In Thailand, people had better not touch the head of a statue.
  • In the U.S. restaurants, customers have got to tip the waiters and waitresses.

Exercise 1. The following sentences are about dining customs in some countries. There are mistakes in the form of modals and main verbs. Identify each mistake by underlining the whole verb (modal + main verb) and then correct the mistake. If the main verb is missing, add it.

Example :   

People can to learn ( can learn ) about different customs and traditions when they travel abroad.

a plate of food with a fork and a knife

  • Dinning traditions may the most interesting to most people.
  • In Kenya, guests should to wash their hands both before and after the meal. They cannot sitting with their feet and toes pointing toward any of the other guests or the food. Kenyans do not use utensils [2] . They eat with their right hand. They must not to use their left hand during the whole meal.
  • Americans and Europeans have opposite dinning etiquettes [3] . Americans should holds the knife in their right hand and the fork in their left hand, but the Europeans are suppose to hold the knife in their left hand and the fork in their right hand.
  • People in Morocco practice communal [4] eating. This means that they eat from the communal bowl closest to them. A person must eats using his or her right hand. The left hand mayn’t be used to get food. If a bone is taken, the person supposed to suck the marrow [5] from it.

III. Challenges in Learning Modals and the Strategies in Using Them

1. The same modal may have different meanings in different contexts.

  • I can drive a car because I have a driver’s license. (permission)
  • I can drive a car because I know how to drive. (ability)

2. The same meaning can be expressed with different modals, but the tone or level of strength is different.

  • In order to drive in the U.S, a person must have a driver’s license. (stronger)
  • In order to drive in the U.S, a person has to have a driver’s license. (less strong)

3. Some modals have the appearance of past tense, but they have a present or future meaning.

  • Most cultural traditions stay for generations, but some might change quickly.
  • People had better learn the customs of another country when they travel there.

Strategies:

1. Understand a modal, its meaning, its time (past, present, future), and its form together as a “package”.

  • In many countries in the past, young people had to follow the custom of the arranged marriage.
  • In some countries nowadays and in the near future, some young people still must follow the custom of the arranged marriage.

In both sentences, “had to follow” and “must follow” have the same meaning: obligation, responsibility, necessity.

However, the first sentence shows the meaning in the past, and its form is “had to + follow”.

In the second sentence, the same meaning is expressed in present and future sense, and its form is “must + follow”.

Therefore, try not to study modals in isolation [6] . Instead, understand them in the context and study the “package”.

2. Use the same strategy as in learning other aspects of English: practice, practice, and practice.

IV. Uses of Modals and Modal-Like Expressions

Meaning : advice, suggestions

  • In the United States, customers should tip the waiters or waitresses for their service. (present)
  • Customers ought to tip the waiters or waitresses for their service. (less common) (present)
  • They can tip /could tip 10 – 20% of the food bill. (present, softer tone)
  • Customers should not leave the restaurant without tipping the waiters or waitresses. (present)

Exercise 2. Give at least two suggestions for each of the following situations.

One of your classmates is going to visit your country as a tourist in summer .

Suggestion #1 :  You should bring a few extra bottles of sunscreen because my country Colombia is near the equator and  the sun is very intense.

Suggestion #2:   You ought to try bandeja paisa. It is Colombia’s unofficial national dish.

  • One of your siblings has found an American boyfriend (or girlfriend)
  • One of your relatives is planning to study at Harper College for the first time.
  • One of your American friends is going to study at a university in your native country.
  • One of your professors is considering studying your native language.
  • One of your friends is nervous about meeting his parents-in-law for the first time.

Meaning: abilities 

A 19th-century illustrated Sanskrit manuscript from the Bhagavad Gita, composed c. 400 BCE – 200 BCE.

  • There are many languages in India. Many people there can speak more than 5 different ones. (present)
  • They are able to speak Hindi, English, and some regional dialects. (present)
  • The Indian government recognizes twenty-three official languages, but most people cannot speak all of them. (present)
  • People in ancient Indian could speak Sanskrit, one of the earliest languages. (past)
  • They were able to speak Sanskrit as early as 2000 BC. (past)

Meaning: permissions

  • In Canada, college students can address / may address their professors by the first name. (present)
  • In Canada, college students could not drink alcohol in class fifty years ago, and they still cannot . (past, present)
  • In Ukraine, college students cannot call / may not call their professors by the first name. It is considered very impolite. (present)

Exercise 3. Finish the following sentences to express ability and permission.

When I was a child, I could climb a tree . (ability)

  • When I was a child, I could ____________________. (ability)
  • When I was a child, I could not ____________________ (ability)
  • Now I am an adult. I can ____________________ (ability)
  • Now I am an adult. I cannot ____________________. (ability)
  • When I was a student in my home country, I could ____________________ (permission)
  • When I was a student in my home country, I could not ____________________ (permission)
  • Now I am a student in the U.S. I can ____________________ (permission)
  • Now I am a student in the U.S. I cannot ____________________ (permission)

Meaning: necessity, obligation, responsibility

  • In Iraqi formal greetings, people must use a person’s surname and title, for example, Dr. Kazem. (present)
  • Men have to stand to greet a woman when she enters the room. (present)
  • A long time ago in Iraq, everyone had to stand when an elderly person arrived. This custom has remained to this day. (past)
  • In Iraqi culture, people do not have to kiss each other as a way of greeting. Handshaking is common. (present)

three Mongolia gers

Meaning: prohibition [7]

  • People must not whistle inside a Mongolian ger, a round-shaped dwelling. (present)
  • In a ger, people must not point their feet to the north end. (present)

Exercise 4. Discuss the following questions. What are the answers in your home country? What are the answers in the United States?

  • Must people get married first if they want to live together?
  • Do people have to get their parents’ permission to get married?
  • Must men serve in the military?
  • Do school children have to wear uniforms?
  • What are the things you must not do on the street?
  • What are the things you must not do during a test?
  • What are the questions you must not ask a lady?

Meaning: possibilities

  • In Japan, parents do not kiss each other in front of their children. They must think / may think / might think / could think it improper [8] for the children to see their intimacy [9] . (present)
  • This custom may change / might change /could change in the near future. The young generation should welcome / may welcome / might welcome / could welcome this change. (future)
  • Some words are the same in writing in both Chinese and Japanese. However, the meanings of these words may not be / might not be the same. (present)

Meaning: expectations

  • On March 8, the International Women’s Day, men are supposed to buy flowers for women in Russia and many other Eastern European countries. (present)
  • On that day, women are not supposed to do much housework. They are supposed to take a day off. (present)
  • Last year, Natalia’s husband was supposed to buy flowers for her, but he forgot. (past)

Meaning: preferences

  • In some countries, people prefer arranged marriages. Parents would rather pick someone as their future son-in-law or daughter-in-law than let their child decide. (present)
  • Some young people would rather not get into a marriage than marry someone they do not love. (present)

Exercise 5. Write sentences according to the instructions.

  • Use modals of possibility to write three guesses why seafood is popular on Valentine’s Day in the U.S.
  • Use modals of expectation to write three things you are supposed to know when you go to an American family for dinner.
  • Use modals of preference to write three choices of food on New Year’s Eve in your home country.

V. Unit Review Practice

Exercise 6. Read the following sayings. Each contains a modal. Discuss what the saying means and whether you agree with it. Do you have similar sayings in your native language? How do you say them? If you can think of additional sayings with modals, please list them below.

a dog balancing a ball

  • You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.
  • You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
  • You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
  • Beggars can’t be choosers.
  • People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
  • Children should be seen, not heard.
  • Bitter pills may have blessed effects.
  • Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.

________________________________________

Exercise 7.  The following sentences are about school uniforms. The modals and main verbs are underlined.  Discuss their different meanings and time references (past, present, future) in the context. The first one is an example.

four girls in school uniform doing hand signs

  • School uniforms could be ( possibility, present) an important part of school traditions. Students in some schools must wear the school uniform. They may not attend school without their uniform. The uniform must be important.
  • A uniform reflects [10] the school and its reputation. Therefore, students are supposed to be in their best behavior.
  • Students with totally different uniforms cannot belong to the same school even though they may be siblings. They must not exchange their uniforms with students from other schools.
  • In some schools, uniforms are optional. Students may choose to wear one. They could also wear their own clothes. Some students would rather have the uniform. They would rather not spen d half an hour each morning choosing what to wear.
  • In most cases, uniforms are not free. Students have to purchase them. Most families are able to afford them, but some are not. This might increase the financial burden for some families.
  • Even though the students must wear their uniform while in school, they do not have to wear one after school.
  • Should schools require uniforms? There have been many debates [11] . If most students do not like them, they may disappear in the near future. Otherwise, they should stay for a long, long time.

Exercise 8. The follow is an essay on how high school students in different countries spend time in the summer.  Underlined the modals and their main verbs.  Then discuss what they means in the context and whether they express present, past, or future time. The first one is an example.

After you finish reading and understanding the first three paragraphs, write a new supporting paragraph about a person you know who spent last summer vacationing and relaxing. Then write a conclusion for the essay.  Include at least five modals and modal-like expressions. You may write in the box below or in your own notebook.   (Warning: Once you leave this page, you will lose what you have written in the box.)

sunglasses on sand

How to Spend the Summer?

          High school students in different countries may spend (possibility, present) their summer very differently. Some might value life experiences by working on a job, some could use the time catching up with their academic work, and others might consider it an opportunity to relax and have fun. How they spend their summer might reflect some of the customs and values of their cultures.

          It is common for many high school students in the United States to work during the summer months. They could work in any type of job: food, travel, secretarial, health care, summer camp, and many others. Last summer, Joan worked as a summer camp activity leader. She was happy that the job provided her with valuable work experience as well as a small income. Both the experience and the money should be helpful in her future college study.

          In Korea, however, it is not usual for high school students to hold a job in summer. They are supposed to take extra classes to prepare for university. Last summer, Ji-hoon kept himself busy by taking a few science and English classes in a cram school. Though he was very busy, he had to do so. He was determined to be better prepared for his university entrance exam.

Exercise 9. Choose two of the following topics and write a paragraph for each. Use proper modals.

  • Describe one of the holiday dinning traditions in your native country.
  • Describe some customs about naming a baby in your native country.
  • Explain one of the taboos [12] for a wedding ceremony in your native country.
  • Some people say that elderly parents should live with their adult children. Do you agree or disagree? Why do you think so?
  • In America, it is common to “go Dutch” (split the food bill in the restaurant) when people dine out. Is this practice common in your native culture? If not, why not? who usually pays for the meals?
  • Write about the joys and challenges of living in two cultures (your native culture and the American culture). What was your biggest cultural shock during your first two weeks in the U.S.?

  NSNT Practice

a pen writing in a notebook

Go to The NSNT Free Writing Approach and Additional Weekly Prompts for Writing in Appendix A. ( Open Appendix A here. ) Choose two topics that involve modals. You may start with the NSNT approach. Then revise and edit your paragraphs. Pay attention to the use of modals. You are encouraged to share your writing with your partner and help each other improve.

Vocabulary Review

a page in a dictionary

The words here have appeared in this unit.  The best way to learn them is to guess the meaning of each word from the context.  Then hover your computer mouse over the number beside each word to check its meaning and part of speech. These words are also listed in the footnote area at the end of each unit.

Here, you can use the flashcards below to review these words.

  • Modals are helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs). They must be used with a main verb to serve as the complete verb in a sentence: Modal + Main Verb = Complete Verb
  • A modal is followed by the base form of the main verb.
  • The same modals may mean differently in different contexts, and some others may share similar meanings but have differences in tone and level of emphasis.
  • Some modals have their unique forms of past tense. Some of them look like the past tense but mean present or future.
  • Do not use “mayn’t” and “mightn’t”.
  • A good strategy is to understand modals is by learning each modal, its meaning, its time reference, and its form together as a “package”.

Media Attributions

  • showcase of culture artifacts at entrance of ESL Department at Harper College © Lin Cui is licensed under a CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license
  • two words “yes” and “no” with “yes” crossed out © Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
  • a plate of food with a fork and a knife © medium:after_download_modal.copy_text.photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boiled-potatoes-with-salad-and-meat-rissole-4210862/
  • A 19th-century illustrated Sanskrit manuscript from the Bhagavad Gita, composed c. 400 BCE – 200 BCE. © Unknown artist is licensed under a Public Domain license
  • three Mongolia gers © Photo by Audrius Sutkus on Unsplash
  • a dog balancing a ball © Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
  • four girls in school uniform doing hand signs © Photo by 周 康 from Pexels
  • sunglasses on sand © Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels
  • a pen writing in a notebook © Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
  • a page in a dictionary © Pixabay
  • gesture: noun, a movement of hands, arms, or another part of the body to express an idea or emotion ↵
  • utensil: noun, a dining tool such as a spoon or a fork ↵
  • etiquette: noun, a rule or tradition for proper social behavior ↵
  • communal: adjective, used or shared by everyone in the group ↵
  • marrow: noun, the soft, fatty part inside a bone ↵
  • in isolation: prepositional phrase, separately, apart from each other ↵
  • prohibition: noun, things that are not allowed ↵
  • improper: adjective, not appropriate, not right ↵
  • intimacy: noun, a very close, loving relationship ↵
  • reflect: verb, show, represent ↵
  • debate: noun, an argument ↵
  • taboo: noun, an unacceptable word or behavior especially in a group setting ↵

Building Academic Writing Skills Copyright © 2022 by Cui, Lin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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34 Grammar: Modal Verbs

Cranes and building construction

What do you already know?

Read these sentences:

  • She swims every day.
  • She can swim every day
  • She might swim every day

What is a modal verb?

What is a verb.

An verb expresses the action or state of the subject.

What does modal mean?

Modal refers to modality, or a way of doing, being, or experiencing something.

Therefore, a modal verb is a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality. That means it gives extra information depending upon the situation. It helps us to express our attitudes, obligations, and intentions. We can talk about likelihood and ability. We can give ask for permission and give advice.

Take another look

  • Jorgen may use my car this weekend.
  • Jorgen must use my car this weekend.
  • Jorgen will use my car this weekend

How do you make a modal verb?

Modal verbs almost always accompany the base (infinitive) form of another verb using this simple formula: modal + (not) + verb. For example:

  • She could sing very loudly.
  • She could not sing very loudly.

What different meanings can you express with modal verbs?

Here are some common modal verbs with their meanings and examples:

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose one of these modal verbs to complete each sentence:  must, could, is supposed to, may, can, should, have to :

  • You ______ use my car tonight. (permission)
  • _____ you open the door? (request)
  • It’s snowing, so it _____ be very cold outside. (probability)
  • She ____ speak six languages. (ability)
  • I need a new prescription; I _____ see a doctor right away. (necessity)
  • Students _____ do their homework every day. (advice)
  • The weather forecast says it ____ rain tonight. (prediction)

What makes modal verbs special?

First, modal verbs add meaning to another verb. You don’t usually use a modal verb by itself unless the main verb is implied or understood.

  • Will Leo come to the party?
  • Yes, he will . (the “come” is implied or understood)

Second, modal verbs do not change form for first, second, or third person.

  • Leo says that he might come to the party.
  • Leo and Lucas say that they might come to the party.

In the first sentence, Leo says …. he might … “Leo” requires a verb in the third person singular; in the present tense this means you add -s to the end. However, you don’t do this with modal verbs. Instead, you say “he might” (not he mights ).

Third, when you make a question, you start with the modal, just as we do with do/does, am/is/are, has/have.

  • Can Leo and Lucas bring ice with them?

Finally, modal verbs are followed by the infinitive, or base form, of the other verb without the “to”.

  • Leo and Lucas may to arrive late, but they said that they would to be happy to bring the ice.

What are some common ways you use modal verbs?

To be polite.

Compare these examples:

  • Open the door.
  • Can you open the door?
  • Could you open the door?
  • Could you open the door, please?
  • Teacher, the quiz doesn’t work! It’s broken! Fix it!
  • Teacher, the quiz might not be working correctly. It may be broken. Could you take a look at it, please? I would appreciate it very much. Thank you!

According to Macmillan American Dictionary , hedging is “the use of words and phrases that make what you are saying less certain or definite.” Why would you want to do this? Sometimes you will want to present information but leave room for it to change if you learn more details later. You want to say something, but you want to allow room for error. Hedging softens your claims. Keith Folse, a famous grammar teacher, explains it like this:

What are some common errors writers make when using modal verbs?

Here’s one ….

  • The newspaper should to correct its errors in the story about the elephant.
You don’t use “to” as part of the infinitive/base form. You use this formula: conditional + (not) + infinitive/base form without the “to”.

Here’s another …

  • COVID was might have been responsible for more deaths than heart disease last year.
You should hedge (use modals) when you want to be clear that we are not 100% sure, or if you wish to leave room for doubt or correction.

Here’s one more …

Modal verbs are a great way to write in the third person. By removing the I, we , and you points of view (first person and second person), it gives your writing a more formal, academic, and objective tone. Here’s an example:

  • I think Portland has more immigrants than Cleveland, but I don’t know for sure.
  • Portland may have more immigrants than Cleveland.
You can state information as a concise fact, but you can use a modal verb to show that you don’t know for sure.

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose a modal verb to complete each sentence. Note: Most sentences will have more than one right answer.

  • __________I use your cell phone, please? I need to call my employer to say I will be late.
  • You __________write an essay of at least 5 paragraphs in order to explain your idea fully.
  • You __________write more than 300 words for that scholarship application. The computer won’t let you type that many words.
  • John __________speak so quickly. It’s difficult to understand him.
  • She __________play the piano well because she has had many years of lessons.
  • Please excuse me, but I __________go now. I am tired.

INSTRUCTIONS: Use the information above to choose the best answer for each question below.

1. Rewrite the following sentence as a question. Remember to use correct capitalization and punctuation.

  • Jori’s mother can cook well.

2. Put the modals in order according to strength. 1=weakest; 5=strongest

3. Plagiarism is not allowed in U.S. colleges. You ____ not do it.

A. would B. must C. might D. could

4. Which modal verb expresses advice?

A. should B. may C. would D. must

5. Which of the following sentences uses a modal verb form incorrectly?

A We returned home late last night after driving for many hours. B. There are so many clouds in the sky that I think it might rain soon. C. You must to stop your dog barking. It is too loud. D. Your coffee must be cold by now; let me give you a fresh cup.

6. Rewrite the question below as a statement. Remember to use correct capitalization and punctuation.

  • Will the bus arrive at 5:35?

7. Modals are often used in academic writing to “hedge” their claims. What does “hedge” mean?

A. to protect oneself from risks, especially financial ones B. to provide a border or boundary, like a hedge in a garden C. to buy and sell shares in such a way that the risk of losing money is low D. to soften a claim, to show tentativeness, to allow room to be proved wrong

8. Which of the words below is NOT a modal verb?

A. should B. might C. can D. was

9. What is the formula for using modal verbs?

A. modal + (not) + infinitive/base form (no “to”) B. modal + (not) + to + infinitive/base form C. verb + (not) + modal + participle D. to + infinitive/base form + (not) + modal

10. A modal verb can convey more information about the main verb.

A. True B. False

Use these resources to study more about modal verbs:

Coalescence Copyright © 2023 by Timothy Krause is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Why is it important to study modal verbs?

essay about modal verb

This is the second of four chapters about Modal Verbs . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Discuss the importance of modal verbs in English

– Provide examples of the twelve modal-verb functions

– Explore the challenges that students face when attempting to master modal verbs

Chapter 1: What are the nine English modal verbs?

Chapter 2: Why is it important to study modal verbs?

Chapter 3: What are the grammar rules of modal verbs?

Chapter 4: What are the twelve functions of modal verbs?

Now that you should recognise the fifteen verbs and verb phrases   that function as pure and semi-modals in the English language, this second chapter on modal verbs   discusses both the usefulness and challenges of this word type   in practice. Because it’s not possible to communicate effectively in the English language without frequently using such modal verbs, a student that wishes to become an effective academic should study this word type carefully.

H ow are modal verbs useful?

Because most of a proposition’s meaning is contained within a verb and its associated nouns , verbs are one of the most important word classes  for speakers of English. The two sentences below, for example, demonstrate that a statement may be understood when all words   other than verbs and nouns have been deleted:

Modal Verbs 2.1 Complete Sentence

As a type of auxiliary verb, and one that reportedly accounts for fifteen percent of all verb usage, modal verbs are clearly an important aspect of language learning. From an academic’s perspective, while it’s true that modal verbs are used much more commonly in speech than in academic writing, modal verbs still allow the speaker or writer to express twelve useful functions. These functions, which may be divided into attitudinal and communicative types, are provided for you below:

Modal Verbs 2.3 Attitudinal Functions

Why are modal verbs challenging for students?

Although there are a number of reasons that students of English make frequent mistakes when forming expressions that require the representation of modality , we’ve grouped these concerns into four distinct types.

1. Avoidance

While it may be possible to avoid using modal verbs   altogether and instead rely upon modal adjectives such as ‘possible’, modal adverbs   such as ‘perhaps’ or modal nouns   such as ‘probability’ – all of which function as hedging language , an overreliance of these word classes and an avoidance of modal verbs will likely make a writer’s or speaker’s language appear odd or unnatural, particularly to a native speaker of English.

As will be explored in much more detail in Chapter 3, the grammar   of both pure and semi-modals can also sometimes confuse students with mistakes leading to a break down in communication. Because modal verbs   lack the inflection of more ordinary lexical verbs , because they sometimes use present and past tense   forms such as ‘can’ and ‘could’ for functions other than demonstrating a timeframe, and because (unlike other auxiliary verbs such as ‘want’) they rarely precede full infinitives using ‘to’, it’s understandable that some students make many errors with this word type .

3. Pronunciation

Modal verbs can be pronounced with strong or weak forms when used in connected speech, and because such verbs are most commonly spoken in their quicker weak forms when combined with another verb, non-native speakers of English may sometimes fail to identify them. While failing to hear or understand a modal verb may generally have little effect on overall comprehension, some structures may create the potential for confusion. If, for example, ‘can’ were missed from the offer below, the listener may instead interpret that statement as a promise: 

Modal Verbs 2.5 Offer

4. Selection

Finally, as the same modal verb may be used to indicate a variety of functions, and because there may be multiple modal verbs that can indicate the same function, a non-native speaker of English may either (a) select an incorrect modal verb for their utterance, or (b) overuse the same modal verb where an alternative verb may have improved the appropriacy of their expression.

For further information about overcoming these issues, continue studying with Chapters 3 and 4 and explore the grammar and functions of modals in more detail.

Downloadbles

Once you’ve completed all four chapters about modal verbs , you might also wish to download our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets to test your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Our modal verbs  academic reader (including all four chapters about this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

Gain unlimited access to our modal verbs  beginner worksheet, with activities and answer keys designed to check a basic understanding of this reader’s chapters.

To check a confident understanding of this reader’s chapters, click on the button below to download our  modal verbs   intermediate worksheet with activities and answer keys.

Our modal verbs  advanced worksheet with activities and answer keys has been created to check a sophisticated understanding of this reader’s chapters. 

To save yourself 5 Marks , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our modal verbs  guidance and worksheets. The All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter on this topic, as well as our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets in one handy PDF.

Click on the button below to gain unlimited access to our modal verbs  teacher’s PowerPoint, which should include everything you’d need to successfully introduce this topic.

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Modal verbs

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  • English Grammar
  • Parts of Speech
  • Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs – Meaning, Usage & Examples

Learn all about modal verbs and their usage in sentences. Check out the examples and the practice exercise to have a better idea.

Table of Contents

What are modal verbs, examples of modal verbs.

  • How to Use Modal Verbs in Sentences?

Test Your Knowledge of Modal Verbs

Frequently asked questions on modal verbs in english grammar.

essay about modal verb

Modal verbs are helping verbs that are used along with main verbs to represent the ability, possibility and probability of a subject to do an action and emphasise the necessity of an action.

Let us look at some examples of modal verbs used as auxiliary verbs and their functions.

How to Use Modal Verbs in Sentences

Given below are a few examples of how modal verbs can be used to indicate the possibility or probability of an action taking place.

  • It might rain in the evening.
  • I think they will reach Coimbatore by 8 pm.
  • Can you pick up my brother from school on your way home tomorrow?
  • I could make some time to help you with your assignments.
  • Your friends may come to visit you next week.
  • It would not be possible for you to complete all of it by tomorrow evening.

Here are some examples of modal verbs being used to show the necessity and obligation of the subject to perform a particular set of actions.

  • All students of this institution ought to abide by the rules and instructions provided.
  • All employees should follow the dress code strictly.
  • You must get yourself checked before the situation becomes worse.
  • Your sister will have to apply for a leave request if she wants to take a month’s leave.

Modal verbs can be used to make offers, suggestions and requests. Check out the examples given below for know-how.

  • It would be better if you did it the other way.
  • I could help you if you want.
  • Shall I bring you some water to drink?
  • Could you please pass me the science record?
  • Will you please take care of my son for an hour? I have some grocery shopping to be done.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate modal verb in the following sentences:

1. ________ you be able to bring your camera when you come?

2. Priya __________ apologise for the confusion that was caused yesterday because of her carelessness.

3. You _______ finish this first and then start with the other one.

4. ________ I make some tea for you?

5. I ______ make sure to keep everything ready by the time they reach the railway station.

6. You _______ see to it that the students are standing according to their roll numbers.

7. ______ I come in?

8. She _______ find it interesting as she likes reading adventure stories.

9. Do you have any idea how much all of this _______ cost?

10. ______ you please help me find my keys?

Ready to find out if you used the right modal verbs? Let us check.

1. Would you be able to bring your camera when you come?

2. Priya should/ought to apologise for the confusion that was caused yesterday because of her carelessness.

3. You could finish this first and then start with the other one.

4. Shall I make some tea for you?

5. I will make sure to keep everything ready by the time they reach the railway station.

6. You must see to it that the students are standing according to their roll numbers.

7. Can/Shall/May I come in?

8. She might find it interesting as she likes reading adventure stories.

9. Do you have any idea how much all of this would cost?

10. Can/Would/Could/Will you please help me find my keys?

What are modal verbs?

What are the examples of modal verbs.

Will, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must, ought to are the modal verbs in the English language.

How do you use modal verbs in sentences?

Here are some examples of how you can use modal verbs in sentences.

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5.6 Modal Auxiliaries

Learning objectives.

  • Define and identify modal auxiliaries.
  • Learn how and when to use modal auxiliaries.

We all need to express our moods and emotions, both in writing and in our everyday life. We do this by using modal auxiliaries .

Modal Auxiliaries

Modal auxiliaries are a type of helping verb that are used only with a main verb to help express its mood.

The following is the basic formula for using a modal auxiliary:

There are ten main modal auxiliaries in English.

Table 5.11 Modal Auxiliaries

Use the following format to form a yes-no question with a modal auxiliary:

Be aware of these four common errors when using modal auxiliaries:

Using an infinitive instead of a base verb after a modal

Incorrect: I can to move this heavy table.

Correct: I can move this heavy table.

Using a gerund instead of an infinitive or a base verb after a modal

Incorrect: I could moving to the United States.

Correct: I could move to the United States.

Using two modals in a row

Incorrect: I should must renew my passport.

Correct: I must renew my passport.

Correct : I should renew my passport.

Leaving out a modal

Incorrect: I renew my passport.

Edit the following paragraph by correcting the common modal auxiliary errors.

Modals and Present Perfect Verbs

In the previous section, we defined present perfect verb tense as describing a continuing situation or something that has just happened.

Subject (I and He), has or have (have and has), past participle (helped and helped)

Remember, when a sentence contains a modal auxiliary before the verb, the helping verb is always have .

Subject (I, He, He, He, and He), modal auxiliary (could, could, might, may, and should), have (have, have, have, have, and have), and past participle (helped, helped, helped, helped, and helped).

Be aware of the following common errors when using modal auxiliaries in the present perfect tense:

Using had instead of have

Incorrect: Jamie would had attended the party, but he was sick.

Correct: Jamie would have attended the party, but he was sick.

Leaving out have

Incorrect: Jamie would attended the party, but he was sick.

On a separate sheet of paper, complete the following sentences by changing the given verb form to a modal auxiliary in present perfect tense.

  • The man ________ (laugh).
  • The frogs ________ (croak).
  • My writing teacher ________ (smile).
  • The audience ________ (cheer) all night.
  • My best friend ________ (giggled).

Key Takeaways

The basic formula for using a modal auxiliary is

  • There are ten main modal auxiliaries in English: can , could , may , might , shall , should , will , would , must , and ought to .
  • The four common types of errors when using modals include the following: using an infinitive instead of a base verb after a modal, using a gerund instead of an infinitive or a base verb after a modal, using two modals in a row, and leaving out a modal.
  • In the present perfect tense, when a sentence has a modal auxiliary before the verb, the helping verb is always have .
  • The two common errors when using modals in the present perfect tense include using had instead of have and leaving out have .

Writing Application

On a separate sheet of paper, write ten original sentences using modal auxiliaries.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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  • Knowledge Base
  • What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples

What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples

Published on 14 February 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on 6 December 2023.

A modal verb (also called a modal auxiliary verb ) is used along with a main verb to express possibility, ability, permission, or necessity. For example, in the statement ‘you must leave’, ‘must’ is a modal verb indicating that it’s necessary for the subject (‘you’) to perform the action of the verb (‘leave’).

The modal verb ‘will’ is used to form the future tense, indicating an action that has not yet occurred (e.g., ‘I will clean the garage’).

Can you drive me to the airport?

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Table of contents

How are modal verbs used in sentences, modal verbs list, modal verbs and auxiliary verbs, modal verbs and mood, other uses of modal verbs, other interesting language articles, frequently asked questions.

Modal verbs are used along with a main verb to indicate ability, necessity, possibility, and permission. In sentences containing modal verbs, the main verb typically takes the infinitive form. Modal verbs come before main verbs and never change form.

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Below is a table that illustrates some of the various uses of modal verbs. Note that modal verbs are very commonly used in a wide variety of senses – this table doesn’t cover every possible usage.

Modal verbs are classed as a type of auxiliary verb . Auxiliary verbs are used along with a main verb to express tense, mood, or voice. However, unlike modal verbs, regular auxiliary verbs follow subject-verb agreement and must be conjugated for tense and mood.

Gordon has burned the toast.

Modal verbs can be used along with auxiliary verbs to refer to possible past, continuous, or future action.

When a modal verb is followed by another auxiliary verb (e.g., ‘have’, ‘be’), the main verb takes either the past participle form (typically ending in ‘-ed’, ‘-n’, or ‘-t’) or the present participle form (ending in ‘-ing’).

The modal verb ‘will’ is used in all aspects of the future tense (e.g., ‘I will talk’, ‘you will be travelling ‘).

You may be wondering what I mean.

The grammatical mood of a verb indicates the intention of the sentence. Modal verbs and auxiliary verbs are used along with a main verb to express mood.

Modal verbs have various other functions in English. They can also be used:

  • In indirect speech
  • In negative statements
  • For emphasis

Indirect speech

Modal verbs are used in indirect speech to indicate what someone else said. While most modal verbs stay the same when used in indirect speech, the past form of some modal verbs is used instead (e.g., ‘can’ becomes ‘could’).

Negative statements

In negative statements containing modal verbs, the adverb ‘not’ comes immediately after the modal verb and before all other verbs. The negative form is often contracted (e.g., ‘would not’ becomes ‘wouldn’t’).

In everyday conversation, people sometimes place emphasis on a modal verb to refute a previous statement or question. The emphasised word is often italicised when written down.

If you want to know more about commonly confused words, definitions, common mistakes, and differences between US and UK spellings, make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

Nouns & pronouns

  • Common nouns
  • Proper nouns
  • Collective nouns
  • Personal pronouns
  • Uncountable and countable nouns
  • Verb tenses
  • Phrasal verbs
  • Sentence structure
  • Active vs passive voice
  • Subject-verb agreement
  • Interjections
  • Determiners
  • Prepositions

Modal verbs (also called modal auxiliary verbs ) are used along with a main verb to express ability, possibility, necessity, and permission. They are a type of auxiliary verb .

For example, in the statement “I can drive,” “can” is a modal verb indicating that the subject (“I”) has the ability to perform the action of the verb (“drive”).

“Would” is a modal verb that’s often used along with the auxiliary verb “have” to indicate that something was possible in the past but no longer is (e.g., “She would have been a professional athlete if she hadn’t broken her leg”). It can be contracted to “would’ve.”

People sometimes mistakenly write “would of” because of its similar pronunciation. However, “would of” is never correct.

“May” is a modal verb used to indicate possibility (e.g., “I may miss the bus”), make a request (e.g., “May I have a drink?”), or indicate permission (e.g., “You may sit down”).

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Ryan, E. (2023, December 06). What Is a Modal Verb? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 15 February 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/verb/modal-verbs/
Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.
Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Garner, B. A. (2016). Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Modal verbs

A modal verb is a verb which is used with another verb to express such ideas as possibility, ability, and necessity, e.g. computers can perform a wide range of tasks. Modal verbs in English can present some difficulties for learners. They occur quite frequently in the academic context and the range and variety of their use can make understanding and using them correctly quite a challenge.

The nine main modal verbs express a range of meanings, which may differ very subtly.

Modal verbs are used to indicate the writer’s or speaker’s attitude to what he or she is writing or saying. There are three main categories of meaning.

  • possibility/ability/permission
  • obligation/necessity
  • intention/prediction

Expressing possibility, ability and permission

The most common meaning for modal verbs in the category of possibility, ability and permission is logical possibility: indicating what is or is not possible from what we know about a situation. All four modals in this category (can, could, may, might) are used in this way.

Can is frequently used to indicate ability.

The use of can and may to ask or give someone permission is common in speech but rare in formal writing, because it involves personal interaction.

Expressing obligation and necessity, intention and prediction

In the category of modal verbs expressing obligation and necessity there are two main meanings found in formal writing. The first meaning is that of personal obligation; the writer states what he/she and perhaps the reader is obliged to do/believe etc. using a modal verb such as must or should.

The second meaning is that of logical necessity; the writer states what he/she wants the reader to conclude from the information presented using a modal verb such as must or should.

Using modal verbs to express intention and prediction clearly relates to future time. This is a large and complex area of English grammar, and here the focus is on the modals will, would and shall; how they are used and how they can be distinguished.

will and would are commonly used in formal writing to predict future events or states that are not caused by anyone. Very often the period or point in time is not mentioned.

shall is used to indicate the writer’s personal intention. This is a formal and conventional use of this modal.

Helpful sites for practice

Online English Grammar http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/index.cfm Online grammar explanations with examples.

Gerunds and Infinitives http://www.reocities.com/gwyni_99/gerinfless.html Grammar explanation plus links to practice exercises and a useful verb list.

Gerunds, Participle and Infinitives http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_verbals.html Detailed information with practice in this area of grammar.

Language and Learning Online http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/index.xml A comprehensive set of resources for grammar. Provided by Monash University, Australia.

Dependent Prepositions http://www.wordskills.com/general/prepositions.pdf A pdf reference list of common dependent prepositions.

British Council Learnenglish Grammar Games http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-games Grammar games to practise most aspects of grammar.

Grammar Terms Quiz http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_grammarterms.htm Test your knowledge of grammar terminology by matching examples to grammar terms.

Using English.com – Glossary of grammatical terms http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary.html A comprehensive online glossary of grammatical terms.

Englishpage.com http://www.englishpage.com/index.html Grammar practice website.

Englishclub.com http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/index.htm Grammar practice website.

SOURCE: The Open University, 2011

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A modal verb is a verb, for example ‘can’, ‘might’, or ‘must’ that is used before another verb to show that something is possible, necessary, etc. Here are some of the uses and meanings of modal verbs. For a more detailed description, use a good grammar book. Here are the main modal verbs of English: can could may might must ought shall will would Expressing degrees of certainty In the speaker’s opinion, John has the car: The car’s not here – John must have taken it.

The speaker thinks this is Clare’s sister but is not sure: She might/could be Clare’s sister She looks very like her . . The speaker thinks this is not possible: She can’t be his mother – she’s younger than me. The speaker is sure she will do it: If she’s promised to do it she’ll do it. The speaker is not sure if it will rain: It might/could rain. It’s getting cloudy. We also use need and have to as modal verbs. Same word, different use Each modal verb has more than one use. For example, look at these two sentences with can.

Look at the modal verb ‘can’. How many meanings can you ? nd? Expressing instructions, advice, permission, and necessity to give instructions or to say that something is necessary You must wear a helmet when riding a bike. You mustn’t smoke in here. I have to be at the dentist at 3 o’clock. You needn’t shut the door . to give advice or to express a strong opinion You should/ought to go to bed if you’re tired. She shouldn’t worry about me. to give and ask for permission She can borrow my dress. Can/May/Could I open the window? Forming modal verbs

The Essay on Auxiliary Verb Verbs Modal Forms

People all over the world are very fond of sports and games. That is one of the things in which people of every nationality and class are united. The most popular outdoor winter sports are shooting, hunting, hockey and, in the countries where the weather is frosty and there is much snow - skating, skiing and tobogganing. Summer affords excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, yachting, ...

Modal verbs are very different from other verbs of English: The forms of the verbs do not change, for example there is no -s in the third person of the present tense. I can speak Spanish and she can speak Portuguese. They are always followed by a main verb and cannot be used as a main verb by themselves. I must make a phone call. / We won’t wait for you. They do not use do and did to form questions, negatives, and short answers. ‘He wouldn’t steal anything, would he? ’ ‘Oh yes he would. ’

Match the sentences on the left with the use on the right: 1 2 3 4 5 You can borrow my camera if you like. If you feel very ill you should go to the doctor. You must lock the door. You don’t need to bring food – just something to drink. I need to make a phone call before I go out. a b c d e instructions permission necessary advice not necessary can could may might must ought to shall will would ’ll ’d cannot could not may not might not must not ought not to shall not will not would not can’t couldn’t mightn’t mustn’t oughtn’t to shan’t won’t wouldn’t

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  5. Modal Verbs in English, How to Use Modals

    essay about modal verb

  6. 10 examples of modals, Definition and Example Sentences Here are Englis

    essay about modal verb

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  1. Define #Modal Verb What is Modal Verb most important for all exam and most important example

  2. Modal verbs

  3. #RJS ENGLISH ESSAY # MODAL USED TO #WOULD #how can you write English essay

  4. The Super Easy Way to Learn Modal Verb in English

  5. Practical use of modal verbs || modal verb sentences

  6. Using Modal Verb (Should/Might/May/Will/Can/Would) #shorts #english #study #learning

COMMENTS

  1. What Is a Modal Verb?

    A modal verb (also called a modal auxiliary verb) is used along with a main verb to express possibility, ability, permission, or necessity. For example, in the statement "you must leave," "must" is a modal verb indicating that it's necessary for the subject ("you") to perform the action of the verb ("leave").

  2. Modal Verbs: Definition & Usage Examples

    What Are Modal Verbs? Grammarly Updated on April 27, 2023 Grammar Modal verbs can be tricky, but the good news is that they're simple once you learn how they work. Below, we explain everything you need to know to use modal verbs with ease. Here's a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines?

  3. Modals

    Modals What this handout is about Modal verbs (will, would, should, may, can, could, might, must) precede another verb. Modals do not have subject-verb agreement or take the infinitive "to" before the next verb. This handout shows how modals in academic writing can change a sentence's meaning into a prediction, suggestion, or a question.

  4. The Writing Center

    1 Can has two forms when used to express ability in the past: 1) could - for the action happening over a period of time: I could swim fast when I was a child. 2) was able to - if it was a single past action: I was able to submit the English paper on time. (=managed to do something)

  5. English Modal Verbs: What Are Modal Verbs and When Are They Used?

    (Download) What Are Modal Verbs? Modal verbs are a type of "auxiliary verb," also called a "helping verb" as we hinted above. That means they work alongside other verbs to give your sentence a new meaning. For example, they can change the tense of your main verb, or indicate the possibility, permission or necessity for something to happen.

  6. Modal verbs

    The modal verbs are: can may must shall will could might should would We use modals to show if we believe something is certain, possible or impossible: My keys must be in the car. It might rain tomorrow. That can't be Peter's coat. It's too small. We also use them to do things like talk about ability, ask permission, and make requests and offers:

  7. Unit 15 Modals

    modal + base form of main verb = complete verb In the United States, people should call ahead before visiting someone. ( no "calls, called, calling, to call") People must not show the "OK" gesture [1] with the thumb and index finger in Mexico. ( no "shows, showed, showing, to show") 2.

  8. Grammar: Modal Verbs

    Therefore, a modal verb is a type of verb that contextually indicates a modality. That means it gives extra information depending upon the situation. It helps us to express our attitudes, obligations, and intentions. ... You _____write an essay of at least 5 paragraphs in order to explain your idea fully.

  9. Modal Verbs: A Complete Grammar Guide about Modal Verb • 7ESL

    Modal verbs are a type of helping verbs that express possibility, necessity, permission, or ability in English. In this comprehensive grammar guide, you will learn the definition, rules, examples, and usage of modal verbs in different contexts and tenses. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this webpage will help you master modal verbs with ease and confidence.

  10. Why is it important to study modal verbs?

    4. Selection. Finally, as the same modal verb may be used to indicate a variety of functions, and because there may be multiple modal verbs that can indicate the same function, a non-native speaker of English may either (a) select an incorrect modal verb for their utterance, or (b) overuse the same modal verb where an alternative verb may have improved the appropriacy of their expression.

  11. Modal verbs (video)

    We also use modal verbs like this to talk about conditions, or stuff that isn't going to happen or maybe could happen. And so, for example, in this sentence, we would say "I would make the bed, but I'm tired." Because the possibility exists, however remote, that the bed would be made by me, but I don't feel like it.

  12. Modal Verbs: Definition & Usage Examples

    How are modal verbs used? Moderate verbs are utilised to utter certain hypothetical conditions, such such advisability, capability, or requests (there's a full select in the next section). They're used alongside a hauptinsel verb to inflect it meaning. Considering the difference between these double case: I swim every Tuesday.

  13. Modal Verbs

    Let us look at some examples of modal verbs used as auxiliary verbs and their functions. Modal Verb. Function. Can. Used to denote the ability of the subject to perform an action or to request permission to perform an action. Could. Used to denote the ability of the subject to perform an action or an offer made by the subject to perform an ...

  14. 5.6 Modal Auxiliaries

    modal auxiliary. +. main verb. There are ten main modal auxiliaries in English: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, and ought to. The four common types of errors when using modals include the following: using an infinitive instead of a base verb after a modal, using a gerund instead of an infinitive or a base verb after a ...

  15. What Is a Modal Verb?

    Modal verbs (also called modal auxiliary verbs) are used along with a main verb to express ability, possibility, necessity, and permission. They are a type of auxiliary verb. For example, in the statement "I can drive," "can" is a modal verb indicating that the subject ("I") has the ability to perform the action of the verb ...

  16. The effects of essay topics on modal verb uses in L1 and ...

    This study analyzes modal verb use in a small corpus of L1 and L2 writing (718 essays/201,601 words) on five topics written by speakers of English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. The results ...

  17. The effects of essay topics on modal verb uses in L1 and L2 academic

    The results demonstrate that median frequency rates of modal verbs in L2 essays are significantly affected by the writing topic, depending on the writers' L1s and the contextual meanings and functions of obligation and necessity modals.

  18. English Quarter 2 Module 4 Argumentative Texts Modal Verbs and Modal

    The thesis statement is part of the introduction. It is a concise, one sentence summary of your main point or claim. Modal verbs and modal adverbs are used in writing argumentative essays or text to prove and to have a strong stand in a position you believed in. MODALS and TONES: Use modals to soften your verbs.

  19. PDF AN ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH MODALS IN EDUCATIONAL ESSAYS OF ...

    Firstly, Hinkel (2011) in the research entitled "The effects of essay topics on modal verb uses in L1 and L2 academic writing." The researcher adapted from this journal because it related to

  20. Modal verbs

    A modal verb is a verb which is used with another verb to express such ideas as possibility, ability, and necessity, e.g. computers can perform a wide range of tasks. Modal verbs in English can present some difficulties for learners.

  21. Modal Verbs Essay Example For FREE

    A modal verb is a verb, for example 'can', 'might', or 'must' that is used before another verb to show that something is possible, necessary, etc. Here are some of the uses and meanings of modal verbs. For a more detailed description, use a good grammar book.

  22. Modal Verbs, Sample of Essays

    A modal verb is a verb, for example 'can', 'might', or 'must' that is used before another verb to show that something is possible, necessary, etc. Here are some of the uses and meanings of modal verbs. For a more detailed description, use a good grammar book.

  23. [PDF] The effects of essay topics on modal verb uses in L1 and L2

    A discourse analysis approach is used to identify the quantitative differences in the syntax and lexicon in a total of 768 responses to four writing assessment tasks, demonstrating that, at least quantitatively, different topic tasks administered to writers with different language and cultural backgrounds elicit responses that are linguistically measurable and measurably different.