17373 modal verbs

Modal verbs
1. can / can’t

Uses
- Ability

Examples
- I can speak 3 different languages.

- Possibility

- I can come by bus.

- Inability / Impossibility

- I can’t drive.

- Asking for permission

- Can I go to the toilets please ?

- Request
2. could / couldn’t - Asking for permission

- Can you help me?
- Could I open the window?

- Request

- Could you repeat please ?

- Suggestion

- We could bring her some flowers.

- Ability in the past

- He could run 10 km by the age of
15.

3. be allowed to
4. will

- Future possibility

- A civil War could break out in Libya.

- Conditional

- I could come with you if I had more

- Permission
- Instant decisions

time.
- You aren’t allowed to smoke here.
- It’s hot and sunny so I’ll go to work
on foot.

5. would

- Offer

- I’ll cook the dinner for you.

- Promise

- I’ll ring you tonight.

- Certain prediction
- Asking for permission

- I’m sure it’ll rain tomorrow.
- Would it be OK if I left work a bit
earlier today?

- Request

- Would you fetch me that bottle
please?

- Making arrangements

- Would six o’clock suit you ?

- Invitations

- Would you like to go for a walk
tomorrow ?

6. must

- Conditional

- If I were you, I would tell him the

- Necessity / Obligation

truth.
- She must leave now.

- Prohibition

- You mustn’t enter this room.

- Certainty

- This must be the right solution!


7. have to

- Strong

- You must stay at home if you’re sick.

recommendation
- Certainty

- This has to be the correct solution.

- Necessity

- She has to do more exercise to lose
weight.

8. ought to

9. shall

- Obligation

- Children have to learn their

- Recommendation

vocabulary for the next class.
- You ought to stop smoking.

- Probability

- She ought to have received my e-

- Advice

mail by now.

- Offer

- Anna ought to sleep more.
- Shall I help you with your

homework?

10. should

- Suggestion

- Shall we go out for dinner?

- Promise
- Recommendation

- I shall never forget you.
- You should phone your
grandparents more often.

- Advice

- You should stop smocking.

- Expectation

- By now, she should already have
taken the exam.

- Mild obligation

- I should be at home by 08.00 PM.