We use it

To express ability, possibility, permission or obligation. They are only complementary verbs, they need another verb so that the sentence makes sense.

Content

Modal verbs do not function without another verb, which is generally written in the infinitive form after the modal. You will find the different types of Modals with Examples, Exams and Downloads.

Translation available

Listen to content to improve your pronunciation or translate if you need help with the comprehension.

  • Content Download

  • Resources to Learn Anytime

Download Content about this Chapter to Learn anytime. Exams, Questions and Audios to test your Learning Experience and Improve your English.

RESOURCES
EXAMS

Learn English and Download Free Resources Without Ads or External Pages.

It is used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission and to show possibility. The negative form of 'Can' is Can't.

  • Examples

    Ability:

    I can speak French.

    Impossibility:

    I can't help you.

    Request:

    Can you give me those bags?

    Possibility:

    We can go to the cinema this weekend.

    Permission:

    You can leave now.

The past form of 'Can' is 'Could'. We can use 'be able to' instead of 'Can' to talk about the past or the future.

  • Examples

    She could run fast when she was young.

    Cars will be able to fly in the future.

    She was able to run fast when she was young.

    They were able to win a game in the 90's.

It is used to talk about an ability in the past. We can also use 'was/were able to' instead of 'Could'. The negative form of 'Could' is 'Could not' and its contraction is Couldn't.

  • Examples

    Tom could jump higher 10 years ago.

    Tom was able to jump higher 10 years ago.

    She couldn't sleep well when the baby was born.

    I could run a marathon in my twenties.

It can be used to talk about a possibility or probability.It is also used to make suggestions and requests.

  • Examples

    Suggestion:

    Rose could help you if you want to.

    Possibility:

    I could go with you.

    Probability:

    It could rain tomorrow.

    Request:

    Could you close the door, please?

It is used to talk about possibility. It can also be used to talk about a possibility in the future, like the modal 'Could'. The negative form of 'May' is 'May not'.

  • Examples

    It may rain today.

    It may not be good.

    We may go to the cinema.

    It may snow tomorrow.

    Emma may want to have a drink now.

'May' can be used to give permission or instructions. In the interrogative form, the use of 'May' sounds more polite than 'Can' or 'Could'.

  • Examples

    May I have a coffee?

    You may use your cell phone now.

    She may arrive at 10 p.m.

    May I leave now?

'Might' is another Modal verb with the same meaning as 'May' but the last one indicates more certainty or probability.Take into account that we also use 'Might' instead of 'May' to talk about the Past.The negative form of 'Might' is 'Might not'.

  • Examples

    They might not visit you tonight.

    She might win the race.

    He might have gone out last Saturday.

    You might try tomorrow.

It is used to talk about the future, to make promises and offers, to express spontaneous decisions, plans and predictions.

The past form of 'Will' is 'Would'.

Its negative form is 'Will not' and the contraction is Won't (it is more used).

  • Examples

    Offer:

    I will help you with those bags.

    I won't tell anyone, I promise.

    Plan:

    We will go on vacations next summer.

    Spontaneous decision:

    I will go with you.

    I will use the stairs.

    Promise:

    Prediction:

    Cars will fly by 2050.

'Shall' has the same meaning as 'Will' but it is more formal, so we use 'Shall' to talk with a superior, an unknown person or an authority.

It is common to use 'Shall' when we want to ask for advice or an opinion.

The negative form of 'Shall' is 'Shall not'.

'Should' and 'Ought to' have a very similar meaning. We use them to talk about obligations and recommendations.

We write 'Should' and 'Ought to' followed by the infinitive form of the verb. Their negative forms are Shouldn't and Oughtn't.

  • Examples

    They should do it now.

    You ought to study every day.

    He oughtn't call her like that.

    He shouldn't call her like that.

    You look tired, you should go to bed.

    It should be cloudy tomorrow.

    You shouldn't eat sweets before dinner.

There are some subtle differences between 'Should' and 'Ought to'.

'Should' is often used to give advice while 'Ought to' has to do with moral duty.

Take into account that 'Should' is more commonly used, especially in the negative or interrogative form.

  • Examples

    You should tell him the truth.

    Emma shouldn't go out so late at night.

    You ought to visit your grandpa more often.

    Should I call the doctor?

    Children ought to respect old people.

'Must' and 'Have to' are quite similar, they are used to talk about obligations and they are followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

There are some differences in meaning, we use 'Must' to express personal opinions about what should be done, instead,'Have to' is used to express an external obligation imposed by someone else.

We use 'Must' to talk about a probability or to assume something.

  • Examples

    We must leave now.

    They have to study a lot for tomorrow.

    Personal obligation:

    I must brush my teeth every day.

    Assumption:

    John must be at home.

    Imposed by the law:

    You have to use the seatbelt when driving.

    Personal opinion:

    Expressing that it was imposed by an authority:

    It is said by the teacher:

    You must study for tomorrow.

The negative form of 'Must' is Mustn't. The negative form of 'have to' depends on the subject, Don't/Doesn't have to.There are differences in meaning.

We use Mustn't to talk about prohibitions but we use Don't/Doesn't have to when there is lack of obligation.

You can also use 'Must' to ask rhetorical questions.

  • Examples

    There is no necessity:

    I don't have to cook dinner.

    Prohibition:

    You mustn’t smoke in public areas.

    Lack of obligation:

    You don't have to come if you don't want to.

    Rhetorical question:

    Must she talk to you in that way?

'Would' is used to talk about the past or about the future in the past, it is the past form of 'Will'. We also use 'Would' in the Conditional sentences.

It is also used to express desire, opinions or making polite requests.

We generally write 'Would' followed by the main verb in the infinitive form.

  • Examples

    Opinion:

    I would call Tom if I were you.

    Future in the past:

    Last Saturday I would have gone with you.

    Polite request:

    Would you help me with the shopping bags, please?

    Polite request:

    Would you like to go to the theatre?

    Desire:

    If I had money I would buy a plane.

The short form of 'Would' is 'd'. Its negative form is Wouldn't.

  • Examples

    I wouldn't go there.

    She'd work harder if she had time.

    If I had my wallet, I'd pay for the pizza.

    We wouldn't eat that.

    He'd like to go to New Zealand some day.

Tap to show/hide results.

Answer

Correct Answer

Modals are complementary verbs.

True

Well done!

False

Try again

The sentence ‘I think it could rain tomorrow’ is an example of…

Suggestion

Keep trying

Probability

Good!

Request

Try again

‘Should’ and ‘Ought to’ have very different meanings.

True

Wrong answer

False

You did it!

The negative form of Would is…

Wouldn’t

Great!

Not would

Try again

Willn’t

Wrong answer

Which of the following sentences sounds more polite?

Could you take those bags?

Keep trying

May you take those bags?

Cool!

Can you take those bags?

Try again

The Past form of Can is…

Would

Wrong answer

Should

Keep trying

Could

You did it!

We also use Would in the Conditional sentences.

True

That´s it!

False

Try again

Which of the following Modal verbs is used to express ability?

Can

Correct answer!

Should

Try again

Must

Wrong answer

Which of these Modals is more formal?

Will

Keep trying

Shall

Well done!

Would

Try again

We use Mustn’t to talk about prohibitions.

True

Good!

False

Wrong answer

Which of the following Modal verbs is used to talk about an ability in the past?

Can

Try again

Could

Great!

Should

Wrong answer

Which of the following sentences expresses a prohibition?

You don’t have to run here.

Keep trying

You mustn’t smoke in public areas.

Cool!

You should leave now.

Try again

The verb after the Modal verb is generally written in the…

Infinitive form.

You did it!

Past form.

Wrong answer

Present form.

Keep trying

Which of the following sentences is a request?

Will you come tomorrow?

Try again

Can you help me with the groceries?

That´s it!

Should I go with you?

Wrong answer

Will is used to make promises.

True

Correct answer!

False

Keep trying

  • Need More Exercises?

  • Visit our Resources to Learn

Download more Exercises to Learn anytime. Test your Learning Experience and Improve your English.

RESOURCES
EXAMS