Modal verbs include can, could, must, ought to, may, might, will, would, shall, should. They are used with other verbs to express ability, obligation, possibility, .... Here you have a list showing the most useful modals and their most common meanings.

The modal verb can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission and to show possibility or impossibility.

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1) My little sister can ride on horseback.

2) You can stay at my place in London if you want to.

3) She cannot stay out after midnight.

4) Can you pass me the salt, please?

5) That old woman in the photograph can be aunt Agnes, but I'm not sure.

The modal verb could is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. Could is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of can.

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The modal verb may is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to give or request permission, although this usage is becoming less common.

The modal verb might is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used in conditional sentences. English speakers can use might to make suggestions or requests, too, although this is less common in American English.

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1) If I were a millionaire, I might travel around the world all the time.

2) Might I use your telephone?

3) We might be wrong when we say that about her.

4) You might come with us to Madrid if you want to.

The modal must is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more flexible form have to.

Must not can be used to prohibit actions, but it may sound very strong; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as should not or ought not to dissuade rather than prohibit.

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1) That bold man over there must be Paco's father.

2) Spanish students must pass a University Entrance Exam to study at university.

3) You must drink more orange juice to prevent a cold.

4) Children mustn't play on their own in the street.

Ought to is used to advise or make recommendations. Ought to also expresses assumption or expectation apart from strong probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. Ought not (without "to") is used to advise against doing something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms should not or had better not.

1) You ought to stop drinking so much alcoholic drinks.

2) John is the best student in the class. He ought to get the prize.

3) His father ought not to smoke so much.

4) My grandparents' stamps collection ought to increase its value.

The modal verb shall is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?"

Shall is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of shall to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. Shall is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English.

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1) Shall I give you a hand with the meal?

2) Travelling around the world Paco shall become a good English speaker.

3) I think that Peter the yesman shall be the new president of the company.

4) I shall never forget what you made for me last year.

The modal should is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.

1) You should be at work before 8:00 AM.

2) I think my parents should already be in New York.

3) If you go to the Loire Valley in France, you should visit Chennonceaux Palace.

4) You should give up smoking at once. You're coughing all the time.

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The modal verb will is used with promises or voluntary actions that take place in the future. Will can also be used to make predictions about the future.

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1) I'll pass the exam. You'll see.

2) It's cloudy today. No doubt it will rain tomorrow.

3) My father will make us our favourite meal.

The modal would is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb will. Additionally, would can indicate repetition in the past.

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Fill in the gaps with the most suitable modal verb.

1) Paco's flight from Madrid took more than 11 hours. He _____ be exhausted after such a long flight.

a) had better b) can c) must

2) I didn't feel very well yesterday. I _____ eat anything.

a) cannot b) couldn't c) mustn't

3) You _____ look at me when I am talking to you.

a) could b) should c) would

4) I was using my pencil a minute ago. It _____ be here somewhere!

a) can b) could c) must

5) You really _____ be late again.

a) must not b) don't have to c) ought not

6) Already as a child Mozart _____ play the piano beautifully.

a) could b) should c) would

7) _____ I go to the bathroom, please?

a) may b) must c) would

8) It’s very important to _____ speak more than one language.

a) can b) be able to c) may

9) _____ you speak English? - Only a few words, but my Italian is pretty good.

a) can b) could c) might

10) I _____ speak very well when I was only two years old.

a) could b) should c) would

1) bed, friend, get, head, pencil, said, French

2) about, mother, tomorrow, computer, paper

3) church, nurse, world, birthday, journey, perfect, murder

 

By Ishwar. GNU license.