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Modal
Verbs
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary
verb which express the mood of another verb.
They are used to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation,
deduction and necessity. |
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Modal
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Concept |
Example |
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Can |
Ability:
Permission :
Offers : |
Julie can swim.
Can I come with you? ('May' is also used)
Can I help you? |
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Could |
Possibility:
Past ability :
Permission :
Requests :
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That story could be true - who
knows!
Julie could swim when she was
four years old.
Could I use your phone please?
Could you tell me the way to the station please? |
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May |
Possibility :
Permission :
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The President may come to
visit our offices tomorrow
if the meeting finishes before 5pm.
May I borrow your dictionary?
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Might |
Slight possibility :
Past form of 'may' in
reported speech.
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We might win a prize but I
doubt it!
The President said he might come.
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Should |
Advice :
Logical deduction
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You should take an
umbrella. It's starting to rain.
John has revised all day. He should be ready for his exam. |
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Ought to |
Advice :
Logical deduction :
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You ought to write to your
grandmother.
Here's 30€. That ought to be enough for a taxi.
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Shall |
Offers and suggestions
with 'I' and 'we' :
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Shall I order a taxi?
Shall we begin the meeting now?
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Will |
Future tense auxiliary :
Invitations/offers :
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Tomorrow I will be in New
York.
Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in?
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