Modal Verbs Usage
Table of Contents
Add a header block to begin generating the table of contents. This block will automatically update. Alternatively manually add items using the + button below. Once you have added at least one item this message will disappear.
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that express various levels of certainty, possibility, ability, permission, or obligation. Some common modal verbs in English include:
- Can: Expresses ability or possibility. For example, “I can swim” or “He can speak Spanish.”
- Could: Expresses past ability or possibility, or polite request. For example, “I could swim when I was younger” or “Could you pass the salt?”
- May: Expresses possibility or permission. For example, “It may rain tomorrow” or “You may leave now.”
- Might: Expresses possibility or possibility in the past. For example, “He might be at the meeting” or “I might have seen him earlier.”
- Must: Expresses necessity or strong obligation. For example, “I must finish this report by tomorrow” or “You must be at least 21 to enter.”
- Shall: Expresses future plans or suggestions. For example, “We shall leave at 6 PM” or “Shall we go for a walk?”
- Should: Expresses advice or expectation. For example, “You should see a doctor if you’re feeling sick” or “We should be home by now.”
- Will: Expresses future plans or intentions. For example, “I will see you tomorrow” or “They will be arriving at 3 PM.”
- Would: Expresses past plans or habits, or polite request. For example, “I would always swim in the morning” or “Would you mind closing the window?”
Here are some examples of using modal verbs in sentences:
- Can: “I can play the piano.” (ability)
- Could: “Could you please help me with this task?” (polite request)
- May: “We may go to the beach this weekend, depending on the weather.” (possibility)
- Might: “I might be late for the meeting.” (possibility)
- Must: “I must finish this report by tomorrow.” (necessity)
- Shall: “Shall we have dinner together tonight?” (suggestion)
- Should: “You should take an umbrella, it might rain later.” (advice)
- Will: “I will be back in an hour.” (future plans)
- Would: “I would like to order a coffee, please.” (polite request)
Note that, These modal verbs have multiple usages, so their meanings in context can change depending on the sentence.
