Modal Verbs What are modal verbs?

Modal Verbs

What are modal verbs?

• They are:
• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Must
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would

They are Auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the main verb of the sentence

How do we use modals?

Example: Mary could play the piano

S
Subject
V
Verb
M

Form

• He can ski He cans ski or He can skis
• Would you like to come with me?

Do you would like to come with me?

• They can’t be serious

They don’t can be serious

There is no “s” in singular
There is no “do / does” in the question
There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative

Form

to can / caning to must /musting

She must study

We should have gone the other way

He could play football in his youth (general ability)

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to

Form

• Occurs before the main verb
• the form is the same for all persons
• Add NOT to the negative
• Start the question with the modal
• No infinitive

What do they express?

Modal	Concept	Examples
Will	Future	Joe will travel to NY next week
Might	Small probability	I might move to Canada some day
Should	Advice	You should go to the doctor
Must	Strong obligation Strong suggestion	Everyone must pay taxes

What do they express?

Modal	Concept	Examples
Shall	Educated expression Offer	Shall I clean it?
Would (1)	Past (used to)	When I was young, I would play soccer
Would (2)	Present unreal	I would buy the car but I can’t afford it

What do they express?

Modal	Concept	Examples
Could (1)	Unreal Ability	I could go if I had time
Could (2)	Past Ability	She could play the piano, not anymore
Can (1)	Present Ability	We can speak English
Can (2)	Permission	Can I have a sweet?

What do they express?

• Ability:

can, could

• Permission:

can, could

• obligation\ advice:

must, shall, should

• Offers:

shall, would
Possibility:
Might, Could, Must