Modal Verbs in English

In this reference, we’ll discuss what modal verbs are, their types, examples, and how they’re used in English grammar. Modals are very common and understanding them will help greatly improve your language skills!

What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs that help express a speaker’s attitude or opinion. They can also be used to express obligation, permission, ability, possibility, and probability. Modal verbs are also called “helping verbs” because they help to express a mood or attitude.

The most common modal verbs in English are “can,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “shall,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “must,” and “ought.” These verbs are used to express the speaker’s attitude or opinion about something, as well as to express obligation, permission, ability, possibility, and probability.

For example, the modal verb “can” is used to express ability. You can say, “I can speak English,” which means that you are able to speak English. On the other hand, the modal verb “must” is used to express obligation. You can say, “I must study English,” which means that you have an obligation to study English.

Types of Modal Verbs

Modal verbs can be divided into six different types:

• Auxiliary Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s attitude or opinion. The most common auxiliary modal verbs are “can,” “could,” “will,” “would,” “shall,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “must,” and “ought.”
• Perfect Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s past attitudes or opinions. The most common perfect modal verbs are “could have,” “would have,” “should have,” and “might have.”
• Probability Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s opinion about the probability of something happening. The most common probability modal verbs are “may,” “might,” and “must.”
• Permission Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s opinion about whether or not something is allowed. The most common permission modal verbs are “can” and “may.”
• Obligation Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s opinion about whether or not something is obligatory. The most common obligation modal verbs are “must” and “should.”
• Possibility Modal Verbs: These verbs are used to express the speaker’s opinion about the possibility of something happening. The most common possibility modal verbs are “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” and “would.”

List of Modal Verbs

Here is a useful list of modal verbs in English:

• Can
• Could
• Will
• Would
• Shall
• Should
• May
• Might
• Must
• Ought
• Could have
• Would have
• Should have
• Might have

Examples of Modal Verbs in Sentences

To better understand how modals look like in English, let’s take a look at some examples:

• I can speak English.
• She must finish her homework.
• He should be here by now.
• We may go to the beach this weekend.
• They might be at the park.
• You ought to study more.
• She could have finished the project earlier.
• He would have arrived on time if he had left earlier.

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Modal Verbs in English Grammar

Modal verbs help express:

• Obligation
• Permission
• Ability
• Possibility
• Probability
• Attitude
• Opinion

Let's take a look at these applications in different tenses:

Present Tense:

• I can speak English.
• She must finish her homework.
• He should be here by now.

Past Tense:

• I could speak English.
• She had to finish her homework.
• He should have been here by now.

Future Tense:

• I will be able to speak English.
• She must finish her homework by tomorrow.
• He should be here by then.

You can also create more complex sentences with modals:

• He might have arrived late if he had missed his flight.
• She could have finished the project earlier if she had worked harder.
• They should have taken the bus instead of walking.

Modal Verbs in Questions

Modal verbs can also be used to ask questions. Here are some examples:

• Can you speak English?
• Should she finish her homework?
• Must he be here by now?
• May we go to the beach this weekend?
• Might they be at the park?
• Ought you to study more?

Modal Verbs in Negations

Modal verbs can also be used in negations. Here are some examples:

• I cannot speak English.
• She must not finish her homework.
• He should not be here by now.
• We may not go to the beach this weekend.
• They might not be at the park.
• You ought not to study more.

Modal Verbs in Reported Speech

Modal verbs can also be used in reported speech. Here are some examples:

• He said he could speak English.
• She said she must finish her homework.
• He said he should be here by now.
• We said we may go to the beach this weekend.
• They said they might be at the park.
• You said you ought to study more.

Summary

Modal verbs help express your attitude or opinion. They can also be used to express obligation, permission, ability, possibility, and probability.

They can be used in different tenses, to ask questions, in negations, and in reported speech. With this reference post, you should now have a better understanding of what modal verbs are, their types, examples, and how they’re used in English grammar.

Now that you know what modal verbs are and how to use them, why not practice by writing some sentences of your own?