Modal verb Usage Example
I can do several things
Ability
at the same time.
when something is possible Miracles can happen.
Can
Permission You can go now.
Can you come here for a
informal requests
minute?
She said she could pay
past form of "can"
for us as well.
Could you move
Could polite requests
your bag, please?
It could be that he
Possibility
missed the train.
Possibility It may rain tomorrow.
May ask for or give
May I speak?
permission (formal)
He said he might
past form of "may"
Might change his mind.
possibility This might fail.
you have to do it You must obey the law.
Must it's very logical or They left so early, they
very likely to happen must be home by now.
you are not
must not/mustn't You mustn't smoke in here.
allowed to do it
future for "I" and "we" I shall see him tomorrow.
Shall questions and suggestions for "I"
Let's continue, shall we?
and "we"
the right thing to do She should call the police.
- What should I do?
advice - You should stop
Should
thinking about it.
what is likely or We should be
expected to happen back by midnight.
future action or states Prices will go up
Will (not plans) next summer.
promises and intentions It's alright, I'll pick it up.
past form of "will" He told me he would come.
What would you do
imagined situations
if you were him?
- Would you please sit
down?
Would - Would you like some tea?
for polite requests, offers and
- We are meeting with
invitations
Sarah
next Saturday, would you
like to come along?
to say what you
I would like a piece of cake.
want to do or have
ought to the right thing to do You ought to apologize.
Helping Verbs – Situations Table
Situation Modal Verb Example
requests
may May I sit down?
(formal)
requests
can Can I sit down?
(informal)
requests
could Could I sit down?
(polite)
requests Would you mind if I sit
would
(polite) down?
permission
may You may sit down.
(formal)
permission
can You can sit down.
(informal)
obligation You must tell the
must
(full) police the truth.
obligation You should tell
should
(partial) your friends the truth.
obligation (partial) You ought to tell
ought to
(less common) your friends the truth.
logical conclusions
He left an hour ago, so he
(stronger than must
must be there already.
"should")
He left half an hour ago,
logical conclusions
should I believe he should
(weaker than "must")
be there already.
possibility
can It can rain sometimes.
(general)
possibility It could rain, but it is
(weaker than could not very common in this
"may" and "might") part of the country.
possibility It's not very cloudy yet,
might
(weaker than "may") but it might rain.
possibility
It's starting to get cloudy –
(stronger than may
it may rain soon.
"might")
