Modal verbs

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Modal verbs
Modal auxiliary verbs are helping verbs that are used to express feelings, attitudes, or opinions. Using modals, a speaker or writer can express that something is necessary or possible, strong or weak preferences, or they can use modals to give advice or permission. In addition, a speaker or writer can express varying degrees of certainty about an event or activity with modal verbs.
Let's look at some examples.
1. You must eat fruits and vegetables to stay healthy.
2. I could have an apple, or I could have a Big Mac.
3. You might think about buying a new computer soon. Yours is too slow.
4. My boss did not come to work today. He must be sick.
5. My teacher said I should study the grammar rules a little more.
6. My teacher said I could study the grammar rules a little more.
7. May I please borrow your pen? Sure! Here you go.
8. My boss had better give me the day off tomorrow. It's Thanksgiving Day!
9. My car can drive long distances on one tank of gas. It's very fuel efficient.
10. It couldn't possibly snow in Florida!
	1 Word Modal
	Phrasal Modal
	Example Sentences
	can
	be able to
	I can run really fast.
I am able to run really fast.
	must
	have to
	You must do well on your next test!
You have to do well on your next test!
	should
	ought to
	My doctor said I should eat healthier foods.
My doctor said I ought to eat healthier foods.
	Rule
	NO !!!!!!!!!
	YES :-)
	Don't add 3rd person final -s/-es to modals
	She cans see it.
	She can see it.
	Use the simple form of the main verb after a modal
	She can sees it.
	She can see it.
	Don't use the infinitive of the main verb with modals
	She can to see it.
	She can see it.
	There is no past tense of modals verbs (no -ed).
Another modal must be used to express past tense.
	She caned see it yesterday.
	She could see it yesterday.
	Meaning
	Modal
	Phrasal Modal
	Example Sentence
	Polite request or Permission
	can
may
could
will
would
	--
	Can I play tennis? (informal)
May I play tennis?
Could I borrow your pen?
Will you please help me?
Would you please pass the salt? (very polite)
	Necessity
	must
 
 
	 
have to
have got to
	I must go to work tomorrow!
I have to go to work tomorrow!
I have got to work hard tomorrow!
	Advice or Suggestion
	could (weaker)
should (stronger)
 
	 --
ought to
had better (strongest)
	She could have chicken or fish for dinner.
She should / ought to accept the invitation.
She had better get to work on time today.
	Obligation or Expectation
	--
	be supposed to
	Parents are supposed to take care of their children.
She is supposed to come over to help me tonight.
	Ability
	can (present)
 
could (past)
	be able to (present or past)
	John can run fast. (present)
John is / was able to run fast.
John could run fast when he was a child. (past)
	Repeated actions in the past
	would
	used to
	My mother would read stories to me when I was young.
My mother used to read stories to me when I was young.
	Degree of Certainty
  
Click here to watch a video about degrees of certainty with modals
	will (strongest)
must
should
might
may
could (weakest)
	be going to
--
ought to
--
--
--
	I will / am going to succeed if I try my best! (99-100%)
The grass is wet. It must be raining. (95%)
His plane should arrive at 9:00 pm. (90%)
His plane might arrive at 9:00 pm. (have to 
You must do well on your 
next test! 
You have to do well on your 
next test! 
should ought to 
My doctor said I should eat 
healthier foods. 
My doctor said I ought 
to eat healthier foods. 
 
Rule NO !!!!!!!!! YES :-) 
Don't add 3rd person final -s/-es to modals She cans see it. She can see it. 
Use the simple form of the main verb after a 
modal 
She can sees it. She can see it. 
Don't use the infinitive of the main verb with 
modals 
She can to see it. She can see it. 
There is no past tense of modals verbs (no -
ed). 
Another modal must be used to express past 
tense. 
She caned see it 
yesterday. 
She could see it 
yesterday.