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Modal verbs and their meaning
What are modal verbs?
Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special
verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like "work,
play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main verb that
follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.
Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:
They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare infinitive.)
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They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability
List of modal verbs
Here is a list of modal verbs:
can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must
The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal auxiliaries to a large extent and my be
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Use of modal verbs:
Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:
1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. possibility
8. probability
Examples of modal verbs
Here is a list of modals with examples:
Modal Verb Expressing Example
Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
must
logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all day long.
must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.
ability I can swim.
can permission Can I use your phone please?
possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.
could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?
possibility It could rain tomorrow!
permission May I use your phone please?
may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!
polite permission Might I suggest an idea?
might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.
need not lack of necessity/absence of obligation I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of tomatoes in the fridge.
50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a terrible headache.
should/ought to advice You should / ought to revise your lessons
logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been working all day long.
had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons
Remember
Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.
Examples:
You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
You should see to the doctor.
There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.
Related pages
Modals
Present and past of modals
Exercise on modals
Exercise on modals in the past
Exercise on modals: mustn't or needn't
Exercise on the meaning of modals
Must and have to
Shall and
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