Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which are used to express:
Ability -
• can (positive)
- She can run 400 meters in 60 seconds.
- Birds can fly.
• can't (negative)
- I can't whistle.
- I can't come to the cinema because I have a lot of homework.
• could (past)
- She could play the piano when she was four years old.
- I could run a lot faster last year.
Possibility:
• may
- They may come on holiday with us.
- There may be enough tickets left but we'll need to check.
• might
- It might rain later.
- I might go to the museum tomorrow.
• could
- There could be some juice left in the fridge.
- We could just stay home and watch a movie tonight.
• can -
- These worksheets can help you improve your English.
- This printer can sometimes get jammed.
Permission -
• can (least formal)
- Can you help me do my homework?
- Can we go out for dinner tonight?
• could (more formal)
- Could I have a glass of water, please?
- Could you pass the salt?
• may (most formal)
- May I use the bathroom, please?
- May I bother you for a tissue?
Suggestion -
•should
- You should never eat with your elbows on the table.
- You should go to the doctor if you are sick.
•shall (only used for 'I' and 'we')
- Shall I move the table over there?
- Shall we proceed with the ceremony?
Obligation -
• must - obligation coming from the speaker
- You must have a special permit to camp here.
- I must have that bag!
• have to - expresses external obligations
- We have to return the library books tomorrow.
- I have to wear a uniform to school.
Negative obligation -
• mustn't
- You must not enter the lab without protective eyewear.
- Children mustn't enter the shop without a parent.
• don't have to
- You don't have to clean the dishes - I'll do it!
- You don't have to fill out the form if you don't have time.
Future -
• will - certain future
- we will see the exam results next week.
- I will come to your party.
• would -
- It would be nice to see you at the event tomorrow!
- I would be honoured to present the award.
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which are used to express:
Ability -
• can (positive)
- She can run 400 meters in 60 seconds.
- Birds can fly.
• can't (negative)
- I can't whistle.
- I can't come to the cinema because I have a lot of homework.
• could (past)
- She could play the piano when she was four years old.
- I could run a lot faster last year.
Possibility:
• may
- They may come on holiday with us.
- There may be enough tickets left but we'll need to check.
• might
- It might rain later.
- I might go to the museum tomorrow.
• could
- There could be some juice left in the fridge.
- We could just stay home and watch a movie tonight.
• can -
- These worksheets can help you improve your English.
- This printer can sometimes get jammed.
Permission -
• can (least formal)
- Can you help me do my homework?
- Can we go out for dinner tonight?
• could (more formal)
- Could I have a glass of water, please?
- Could you pass the salt?
• may (most formal)
- May I use the bathroom, please?
- May I bother you for a tissue?
Suggestion -
•should
- You should never eat with your elbows on the table.
- You should go to the doctor if you are sick.
•shall (only used for 'I' and 'we')
- Shall I move the table over there?
- Shall we proceed with the ceremony?
Obligation -
• must - obligation coming from the speaker
- You must have a special permit to camp here.
- I must have that bag!
• have to - expresses external obligations
- We have to return the library books tomorrow.
- I have to wear a uniform to school.
Negative obligation -
• mustn't
- You must not enter the lab without protective eyewear.
- Children mustn't enter the shop without a parent.
• don't have to
- You don't have to clean the dishes - I'll do it!
- You don't have to fill out the form if you don't have time.
Future -
• will - certain future
- we will see the exam results next week.
- I will come to your party.
• would -
- It would be nice to see you at the event tomorrow!
- I would be honoured to present the award.
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which are used to express:
Ability -
• can (positive)
- She can run 400 meters in 60 seconds.
- Birds can fly.
• can't (negative)
- I can't whistle.
- I can't come to the cinema because I have a lot of homework.
• could (past)
- She could play the piano when she was four years old.
- I could run a lot faster last year.
Possibility:
• may
- They may come on holiday with us.
- There may be enough tickets left but we'll need to check.
• might
- It might rain later.
- I might go to the museum tomorrow.
• could
- There could be some juice left in the fridge.
- We could just stay home and watch a movie tonight.
• can -
- These worksheets can help you improve your English.
- This printer can sometimes get jammed.
Permission -
• can (least formal)
- Can you help me do my homework?
- Can we go out for dinner tonight?
• could (more formal)
- Could I have a glass of water, please?
- Could you pass the salt?
• may (most formal)
- May I use the bathroom, please?
- May I bother you for a tissue?
Suggestion -
•should
- You should never eat with your elbows on the table.
- You should go to the doctor if you are sick.
•shall (only used for 'I' and 'we')
- Shall I move the table over there?
- Shall we proceed with the ceremony?
Obligation -
• must - obligation coming from the speaker
- You must have a special permit to camp here.
- I must have that bag!
• have to - expresses external obligations
- We have to return the library books tomorrow.
- I have to wear a uniform to school.
Negative obligation -
• mustn't
- You must not enter the lab without protective eyewear.
- Children mustn't enter the shop without a parent.
• don't have to
- You don't have to clean the dishes - I'll do it!
- You don't have to fill out the form if you don't have time.
Future -
• will - certain future
- we will see the exam results next week.
- I will come to your party.
• would -
- It would be nice to see you at the event tomorrow!
- I would be honoured to present the award.