Modal Verbs – Updated
with this list, you will be able to understand the different functions Modal Verbs have. Examples, substituting verbs and expressions are also given.
1- Can – Could
• Ability – John can speak English, but he can’t speak Spanish.
• Ability (in the past) – My mother could swim when she was younger.
• Possibility – I can learn English.
• Permission – Can I go out, please?
• Offer – Can I help you, madam?
• Request – Could you bring me a cup of tea, please?
Substituting verb
• To be able to
• To be capable of
• To be (im)possible to
• To be allowed to
2- May – Might
• Permission (politeness) – May I open the window, please?
• Possibility – The chauffeur may be in the car.
Susan may not come tomorrow.
You might participate in the contest.
• Probability – It might rain.
Substituting verb
• To be allowed to
• To be likely to
• To be probable to
• Perhaps… will
3- Will – Would
• Requests (more polite) – Would you mind closing the door?
• Determination/intention – I will pass the exam.
Substituting verb
• To want
• To desire
• To be determined to
4 – Shall – Should
• Offer – Shall I open the door for you?
• Suggestion – Shall we go to the cinema?
• Advice – You should eat more vegetables.
Substituting verb
• Do you want…?
• Let’s
• To have to (morally)
• To be the (moral) duty
• … Would better…
5 – Must/Have to – Had to
• Obligation/duty – You must do your homework, whether you want to or not.
• Deduction – He has a great car. He must earn a lot of money.
• Necessity – You must go to the doctor if you can’t see well.
Substituting verb
• To have to
• To be obliged to
• To have the obligation
• To be certain
6 – Mustn’t
• Prohibition – You mustn’t cross the road when the red light is on.
Substituting verb
• To be forbidden
• To be prohibited to
7 – Ought to
• Recommendation/moral obligation – You ought to study more.
Substituting verb
• To have to
8 – Need/Needn’t
• (Absence of) obligation/necessity – You needn’t run. It’s still early.
Substituting verb
• To be necessary
• Don’t need to
• Don’t have to
9 – Dare
• Audacity or lack of it – How dare you?/He daren’t look at me.
Substituting verb
• To have the courage to
NB: Sometimes Modal Verbs can express PAST FUNCTIONS. The structure, therefore, is MODAL VERB + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
- Tom is late. He may/could/might have missed the bus (Possibility/Probability in the past)
- Tom is late. He must have missed the bus again(certainty in the past)
- He can’t have committed the crime because he was with me at that time (an impossibility in the past)
Exercises on Modal Verbs
CHOOSE THE RIGHT ANSWER
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thanks for this lessons
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