ENGLISH GRAMMAR
MODAL VERBS in English:
can, could, may, might, must, mustn't, should, ought to, shall, will
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.
2) They do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular.
3) They do not have a past form: He/she canted. He/she musted.
4) The negative is formed by the addition of not / n’t: He cannot/ He can’t. NOT He don’t can.
5) Questions are formed by inversion with the subject: Can you? NOT Do you can?
They are used to express ideas such as: possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity.
Modal verbs have the following characteristics:
1) They do not have participle or infinitive forms2) They do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular.
3) They do not have a past form: He/she canted. He/she musted.
4) The negative is formed by the addition of not / n’t: He cannot/ He can’t. NOT He don’t can.
5) Questions are formed by inversion with the subject: Can you? NOT Do you can?
| MODAL | CONCEPT | EXAMPLE |
| Can | Ability: Permission: Offers: |
Julie can swim. Can I come with you? ('May' is also used.) Can I help you? |
| Could | Possibility: Past ability: Permission: Requests: |
That story could be true - who knows! Charlie could swim when he was four years old. Could I use your phone please? Could you tell me the way to the station please? |
| May | Possibility: Permission: |
The President may come to our offices if the meeting finishes before 5 pm. May I borrow your dictionary? |
| Might | Slight possibility : Past form of 'may' in reported speech: |
We might win a prize but I doubt it. The President said he might come. |
| Must | Obligation: Logical deduction: |
Dogs must be kept on a lead. You must be tired after your long journey. |
| Mustn't | Prohibition: | You mustn't tell Alex. It's a surprise! |
| Should | Advice: Logical deduction: |
You should take an umbrella in case it rains. I've revised so I should be ready for the test. |
| Ought to | Advice: Logical deduction: |
You ought to write to your grandmother. 30 € ought to be enough for the taxi. |
| Shall | Future tense auxiliary: Offers/suggestions with ''I' and 'we': |
I shall be in London on Monday (or I'll be ...). Shall I order a taxi? Shall we begin the meeting now? |
| Will | Future tense auxiliary: Invitations/offers: |
The ticket will cost about 50€. Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in? |
*semi-modals
Semi-modal verbs are composed of two or more separate words ending with ‘to’.
Have to / have got to -
be able to -
ought to are examples of semi-modal verbs.