English Modal Verbs: A Comprehensive Summary

Posted on Dec 3, 2024 in English

English Modal Verbs

Introduction

Modal verbs are a class of auxiliary verbs, also known as modal auxiliaries. There are ten English modal verbs: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, and ought to. They express the ability, possibility, need, or another condition of the main verb.

Structure

In statements: Subject + Modal + Main Verb
In questions: Modal + Subject + Main Verb

1. Can

Can indicates possibility or capability.

  • Example: Tom can help you.
  • Example: Wild animals can be dangerous.

In questions, can requests permission or asks about possibility.

  • Example: Can I help you?
  • Example: Can Mike have dinner with us?

2. Could

Could indicates past possibility or capability.

  • Example: I could have told you that.
  • Example: When I was young, I could run very fast.

Could (and might) can speculate about future possibilities.

  • Example: It could/might rain tonight.

In yes/no questions, could speculates about present or future possibilities.

  • Example: Could she be the murderer?

Could can also indicate an option.

  • Example: We could go see a movie.

In yes/no questions, could (and can) can make a polite request.

  • Example: Could/Can you open your window?

Could is used in conditional sentences expressing hypothetical situations.

  • Example: If I had time, I could play tennis with you.

Could can also speculate on unrealized possibilities due to unfulfilled conditions.

  • Example: If we had left sooner, we could have taken the train.

3. Shall and Will

Will/Shall + Main Verb forms the future tense.

  • Example: I will/shall close the door for you.

In information questions, will/shall seek options or data.

  • Example: Who will/shall drive the car?

In yes/no questions, will requests a favor.

  • Example: Will you turn off the TV?

Will inquires about a thing or person.

  • Example: Will Tom ever pay you back?

Shall (and should) asks about preferences or recommendations (primarily in British English).

  • Example: Should/Shall I close the door?

4. May and Might

May and might (synonyms) suggest a future action.

  • Example: It may/might rain tonight.

May (and can) can give permission.

  • Example: You may/can now board the airplane.

In yes/no questions, may (or can/might, though might is rare in American English) is used politely.

  • Example: May/Can/Might I see your driver’s license?

5. Must

Must indicates obligation.

  • Example: You must see this movie.

Must can indicate probability or assumptions.

  • Example: You must be angry.

In information questions, must (or should, which is more common in American English) indicates a requirement.

  • Example: When should/must we be there?

6. Should and Ought (to)

Should and ought to (synonyms) indicate a requirement that isn’t necessarily fulfilled.

  • Example: You should/ought to call your mother.

In questions, should determines whether an obligation exists.

  • Example: Should he call her?

7. Would

Would like politely indicates a preference.

  • Example: I would like white wine with my fish.

In questions, would like politely requests a decision.

  • Example: Would you like soup or salad with your meal?

Would explains an action resulting from a condition.

  • Example: I would go with you if I did not have to work.

Would can introduce a habitual past action.

  • Example: When I was a student, I would go swimming every day.