iSLCollective.
com
Modal Verbs
The modal verbs are:
can could may
might must shall
should will would
[Link]
Modal Verbs
What are modal verbs?
Modal verbs are used to express certain hypothetical conditions, such as advice, capability, or
requests.
Consider the difference between these two examples:
• I swim every Tuesday.
• I can swim every Tuesday.
The first example is a simple factual statement. The speaker participates in a swimming activity
every week on Tuesdays.
The second example uses the modal verb can. Notice how the meaning changes slightly. The
speaker does not swim every Tuesday; they’re saying they are capable of swimming every
Tuesday if they need to. It’s hypothetical.
[Link]
Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Likelihood
Some things seem likely, but we don’t know for sure. In these cases,
you can use the modal verbs should and must to show probability
without certainty.
• Her parents must be so proud.
• My baby brother should be asleep by now.
[Link]
parents must proud Her so be.
[Link]
baby should be by
brother asleep now My.
[Link]
Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Possibility
In situations when something is possible but not certain, use the
modal verbs could, may, or might.
• Judging by the clouds, it might rain today.
• He may become the youngest professional soccer player ever.
[Link]
Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Suggestion/advice
What if you want to recommend something, but not command it?
If you’re giving suggestions or advice without ordering someone
around, you can use the modal verb should.
• You should try the lasagna.
• That guy should wear less cologne.
[Link]
should lasagna try You the.
[Link]
wear That less guy cologne should.
[Link]
Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Obligation or necessity
Modal verbs can express a necessary action, such as an
obligation, duty, or requirement. Likewise, the negative form
expresses that an action is not necessary. Use the same modal
verbs as with commands: must, have to, or need to.
• We have to wait for our boss to arrive before we open.
• You don’t need to come if you don’t want to.
[Link]
Modal Verbs
When are modal verbs used?
Habit
To show an ongoing or habitual action—something the subject
does regularly—you can use the modal verb would for the past
tense and will for the present and future. The phrase used to is also
acceptable if you’re talking about a habit that no longer exists.
• When I lived alone, I would fall asleep with music.
• I will arrive early and leave late to every meeting.
[Link]
As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.
Will
Would
[Link]
As a child, she _____ always write in her journal
before going to sleep.
Will
Would
[Link]
Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in
the park.
Will
Would
[Link]
Usually, in the morning, he _____ go for a run in
the park.
Will
Would
[Link]
Last summer, he would always take his dog for
a walk in the evening.
Will
Would
[Link]
Last summer, he would always take his dog for
a walk in the evening.
Will
Would
[Link]
Ability
We use can and can't to talk about someone's skill or general
abilities:
• She can speak several languages.
• He can swim like a fish.
• They can't dance very well.
We use can and can't to talk about the ability to do something
at a specific time in the present or future:
• I can see you.
• Help! I can't breathe.
[Link]
Ability
We use could and couldn't to talk about the past:
• She could speak several languages.
• I couldn't see you.
[Link]
John _____ Speak German really well. He
sounds like a native.
Could
Can
[Link]
John _____ Speak German really well. He
sounds like a native.
Could
Can
[Link]
When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.
Could
Can
[Link]
When I was a boy, I _____ run 30 kilometers.
Could
Can
[Link]
The police searched the whole area but they
_____ find her.
[Link]
The police searched the whole area but they
_____ not find her.
[Link]
I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the
morning.
[Link]
I _____ hear the birds chirping early in the
morning.
[Link]
_____ you play the guitar?
[Link]
_____ you play the guitar?
[Link]
I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how
hard I try.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
I _____ juggle three balls at once, no mater how
hard I try.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
He _____ jump over the fence when he was
younger.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
He _____ jump over the fence when he was
younger.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies,
right now.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
I _____ bake delicious chocolate chip cookies,
right now.
Couldn’t
Can’t
[Link]
Requests
We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or
asking someone to do something:
• Could you take a message, please?
• Would you carry this for me, please?
can and will are less polite:
• Can you take a message, please?
• Will you carry this for me, please?
[Link]
Offers and invitations
We use can I … to make offers:
• Can I help you?
• Can I do that for you?
We can also use shall I …:
• Shall I help you with that?
• Shall I call you on your mobile?
In formal English, Shall will be used to explain and describe the
events that will happen in the future.
[Link]
I help you Can?
[Link]
I call you Shall on mobile your?
[Link]
Offers and invitations
We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... or I'll (I will) ... to make an
offer:
• I can do that for you if you like.
• I could give you a lift to the station.
• I'll do that for you if you like.
• I'll give you a lift to the station.
[Link]
Offers and invitations
We use would you like (to) ... for invitations:
• Would you like to come round tomorrow?
• Would you like another drink?
We can use you must … or we must … for a very polite invitation:
• You must come round and see us.
• We must meet again soon.
[Link]
_____ I carry your bag for you?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
_____ I carry your bag for you?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
_____ you like to go out tonight?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
_____ you like to go out tonight?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
_____ we start the lesson?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
_____ we start the lesson?
Shall
Would
Can
[Link]
Asking for permission
We use can to ask for permission to do something:
• Can I ask a question, please?
• Can we go home now?
could is more formal and polite than can:
• Could I ask a question, please?
• Could we go home now?
[Link]
Asking for permission
may is another more formal and polite way of
asking for permission:
• May I ask a question, please?
• May we go home now?
[Link]
come I Can in?
[Link]
I May a ask, please question?
[Link]
Giving permission
We use can to give permission:
• You can go home now.
• You can borrow my pen if you like.
may is a more formal and polite way of giving
permission:
• You may go home now.
[Link]
Giving permission
We use can to say that someone has permission to do
something:
• We can go out whenever we want.
• Students can travel for free.
may is a more formal and polite way of saying that
someone has permission:
• Students may travel for free.
[Link]
Refusing permission
We use can't and may not to refuse permission or
say that someone does not have permission:
• You can't go home yet.
• Students may not travel for free.
[Link]
Finished can you've your go You
homework when out.
[Link]
may Students for travel not free.
[Link]
'Will' and ‘Would'
We use will:
• to express beliefs about the present or future
• to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do
• to make promises, offers and requests.
Would is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is
used:
• to talk about the past
• to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)
• for politeness.
[Link]
'Will' and ‘Would'
Beliefs
We use will to express beliefs about the present or future:
• John will be in his office. (present)
• We'll be late. (future)
• We will have to take the train. (future)
We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the
future:
• I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the train.
[Link]
will John be office in his
[Link]
will We have train take to the.
[Link]
'Will' and ‘Would'
Willingness
We use will:
• to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do:
• We'll see you tomorrow.
• Perhaps Dad will lend me the car.
to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often do (because
we are willing to do them):
• We always spend our holidays at our favourite hotel at the
seaside. We'll get up early every morning and have a quick
breakfast then we'll go across the road to the beach.
[Link]
Dad will Perhaps lend the me car.
[Link]
'Will' and ‘Would'
We use would as the past tense of will:
to talk about what people wanted to do or were willing to do in the past:
• We had a terrible night. The baby wouldn't go to sleep.
• Dad wouldn't lend me the car, so we had to take the train.
to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often did (because we were
willing to do them) in the past:
• When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their
grandmother's at the seaside. They'd get up early every morning and have
a quick breakfast. Then they'd run across the road to the beach.
[Link]
'Will' and ‘Would'
Promises, offers and requests
We use I will or We will to make promises and offers:
• I'll give you a lift home after the party.
• We'll come and see you next week.
We use Will you … ? or Would you … ? to make requests:
• Will you carry this for me, please?
• Would you please be quiet?
[Link]
They ___ come tomorrow.
Will
Would
[Link]
They ___ come tomorrow.
Will
Would
[Link]
If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.
Will
Would
[Link]
If you knew Sara, you ___ probably like her.
Will
Would
[Link]
My husband ___ arrive soon.
Will
Would
[Link]
My husband ___ arrive soon.
Will
Would
[Link]
I ___ be on time for class.
Will
Would
[Link]
I ___ be on time for class.
Will
Would
[Link]
He said he ___ read that book.
Will
Would
[Link]
He said he ___ read that book.
Will
Would
[Link]
What ___ like to eat, sir?
Will
Would
[Link]
What ___ like to eat, sir?
Will
Would
[Link]
Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.
Will
Would
[Link]
Today ___ probably be a nice day for me.
Will
Would
[Link]
Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
Must: Used to express a strong deduction or conclusion based
on evidence or logical reasoning. In other words, guessing if
something is likely to be true.
We use must when we feel sure that something is true or it's the
only realistic possibility.
Example:
• He must be tired after working all day.
• This must be her house. I can see her car in the garage.
• He must live near here because he always walks to work.
[Link]
must He be working tired day after all.
[Link]
garage must her This house. I can be see
car in her the.
[Link]
must to because live he always
near walks here work He.
[Link]
Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
Might/May/Could: Used to express a possibility or a weaker
deduction.
We use might, may or could to say that we think something is
possible but we're not sure.
Example:
• She might be running late due to traffic.
• He's not answering. He could be in a meeting.
• Unfortunately, the ferry may be delayed due to the bad
weather.
[Link]
might She be late due traffic
running to.
[Link]
He answering. He's meeting
could be not in a.
[Link]
weather, the may the ferry be
delayed to bad due
Unfortunately.
[Link]
Modal Verbs for Deduction/Conclusions:
Can't/Couldn't: Used to express a strong negative deduction or
conclusion.
We use them when we’re sure something isn’t possible.
Example:
• He can't have left already; his car is still in the parking lot.
• It can't be far now. We've been driving for three hours.
• It can't be easy for her, raising those three kids on her own.
[Link]
lot He still have already; his can't
car is in left the parking.
[Link]
can't It be driving now. far We've
three been for hours.
[Link]
It be kids own easy for, those
raising can't three on her her.
[Link]
