Modal Verbs

The modal verbs are:

• can • could
• may • Might
• must
• shall • should
• will • would
We use modals to show if we believe something is
certain, possible or impossible:

• My keys must be in the car.

• It might rain tomorrow.
• That can't be Peter's coat. It's too small.
 We also use them to do things like talk about ability, ask
permission, and make requests and offers:

• I can't swim.
• May I ask a question?
• Could I have some tea, please?
• Would you like some help?
 Probability/ Possibility

• We use may, might and could to say that something is possible, but not certain:
• They may come by car. (= Maybe they will come by car.)
• They might be at home. (= Maybe they are at home.)
• If we don't hurry, we could be late. (= Maybe we will be late.)

• We use can to make general statements about what is possible:

• It can be very cold here in winter. (= It is sometimes very cold here in winter.)
• You can easily get lost in this town. (= People often get lost in this town.)
 Be careful!

• We do not use can to talk about specific events:

• A: Where's John?
• B: I'm not sure. He may/might/could be (NOT can) in his office.

• Notice the difference in meaning between can and may/might/could:

• That dog can be dangerous.

• (= Sometimes that dog is dangerous. I know.)

• That dog may/might/could be dangerous.

• (= Perhaps that dog is dangerous. I don't know.)
 We use may have, might have or could have to make guesses
about the past:

• I haven't received your letter. It may have got lost in the post.
• It's ten o'clock. They might have arrived by now.
• Where are they? They could have got lost.

• We use could to make general statements about the past:

• It could be very cold there in winter. (= It was sometimes very cold there in
winter.)
• You could easily get lost in that town. (= People often got lost in that town.)
 Impossibility

• We use can't or cannot to say that something is impossible:

• That can't be true.

• You cannot be serious.

• We use can't have or couldn't have to say that a past event was impossible:

• They know the way here. They can't have got lost!
• If Jones was at work until six, he couldn't have done the murder.
 Certainty

• We use must to show we are sure something is true and we have reasons for our
belief:

• It's getting dark. It must be quite late.

• You haven’t eaten all day. You must be hungry.

• We use should to suggest something is true and we have reasons for our
suggestion:

• Ask Miranda. She should know.

• It's nearly six o'clock. They should arrive soon.
We use must have and should have for the past

• They hadn't eaten all day. They must have been hungry.
• You look happy. You must have heard the good news.
• It's nearly eleven o'clock. They should have arrived by now.
 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.
• We use could and couldn't to talk about the past:
• She could speak several languages.
• I couldn't see you.
 We use could have to say that someone had the ability
or opportunity to do something, but did not do it

• She could have learned Swahili, but she didn't want to.
• I could have danced all night. [but I didn’t].
 Permission: 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?
• May is another more formal and polite way of asking for permission:
• May I ask a question, please?
• May we go home now?
 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.
• 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.
 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.
 Requests, offers and invitations

• 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?
 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?
 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.
 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.
 Suggestions and obligations

• Suggestions
• We use should and shouldn't to make suggestions and give advice:

• You should send an email.

• You shouldn’t go by train.

• We also use could to make positive suggestions:

• We could meet at the weekend.

• You could eat out tonight.
 We can use conditionals to give advice

• Dan will help you if you ask him.

• Past tenses are more polite:

• Dan would help you if you asked him.

 Obligations

• We use must or need to to say that it is necessary to do something:

• You must stop at a red light.

• Everyone needs to bring something to eat.
• You can wear what you like, but you must look neat and tidy.
 Must not/ Mustn’t
• We use mustn't for prohibitions – to say that it is necessary to not do
something:

• You mustn't make any noise in the library.

• You mustn't say anything to her. It's a surprise.
 Had/ Couldn’t
• We use had to (positive) and couldn't (negative) if we are talking
about the past:

• Everyone had to bring something to eat.

• You couldn't make any noise in the library.
 MCQ

• Choose the right answer!

 Which of the following sentences expresses
impossibility?

• - A) You CAN'T wear jeans at work. Men have to wear a suit and a tie.
• - B) That man CAN'T be a doctor. He looks too young.
• - C) I'm busy tomorrow but I MAY be able to see you on Thursday. Let
me phone you.
 - Answer: B

• That man CAN'T be a doctor. He looks too young.

 2. Choose the sentence that best shows
prohibition.
• - A) Did you know that Mozart COULD play the piano by the time he
was five?
• - B) You CAN'T wear jeans at work. Men have to wear a suit and a
tie.
• - C) When you've finished the test, you MAY quietly leave the room.
 - Answer: B

• You CAN'T wear jeans at work. Men have to wear a suit and a tie.
3. Which sentence implies ability in the past?

• - A) I'm not sure where the café is. I think it COULD be in the next
street.
• - B) Did you know that Mozart COULD play the piano by the time he
was five?
• - C) When you've finished the test, you MAY quietly leave the room.
 - Answer: B

• Did you know that Mozart COULD play the piano by the time he was
five?
 4. Which sentence conveys permission?

• - A) I'm busy tomorrow but I MAY be able to see you

on Thursday. Let me phone you.
• - B) You know what? I think this rain MIGHT be
stopping.
• - C) WILL you come with me, please?
 Answer: A

• - I'm busy tomorrow but I MAY be able to see you on

Thursday. Let me phone you.
 5. Identify the sentence that expresses certainty
or obligation.
• -A) I'm just writing to say congratulations on your
engagement. You MUST be really happy!
• - B) These chocolates are lovely – but I'LL be sick if I
eat any more!
• - C) WILL you come with me, please?
 Answer: A

• I'm just writing to say congratulations on your engagement.

You MUST be really happy!
 6. Select the sentence showing willingness or
future certainty.
• - A) You MUST make sure that you save all documents
in the correct folder.
• - B) These chocolates are lovely – but I'LL be sick if I
eat any more!
• - C) WILL you come with me, please?
 - Answer: C

• WILL you come with me, please?

•Possibility and Impossibility
 1. Which sentence uses could to show possibility?

• - A) They could come by car.

• - B) They could have arrived by now.
• - C) You cannot be serious.
 - Answer: A

•They could come by car.

 2. Which sentence shows impossibility?

• - A) It could be very cold there in winter.

• - B) That can't be true.
• - C) They could have got lost.
 - Answer: B

•That can't be true.

•Ability
 3. Which sentence uses can to talk about a general ability?

• - A) She could speak several languages.

• - B) He can swim like a fish.
• - C) They couldn't dance very well.
•
 - Answer: B

•He can swim like a fish.

 4. Which sentence talks about a past ability?

• - A) I can't breathe.
• - B) She could speak several languages.
• - C) You can easily get lost in this town.
 - Answer: B

• She could speak several languages.

•Permission
5. Which sentence uses can to ask for permission?

• - A) Can I ask a question, please?

• - B) Could I have my bill, please?
• - C) You may go now.
 - Answer: A

•Can I ask a question, please?

 6. Which sentence uses may to give permission formally?

• - A) You can borrow my pen if you like.

• - B) Students may travel for free.
• - C) Could we go home now?
 - Answer: B

•Students may travel for free.

•Requests
7. Which sentence is a polite request using could?

• - A) Can you take a message, please?

• - B) Could you take a message, please?
• - C) May you take a message, please?
 - Answer: B

• Could you take a message, please?

•Offers
 8. Which sentence is an offer?

• - A) Can I help you?

• - B) Could you help me, please?
• - C) You can go home now.
 - Answer: A

•Can I help you?

•Suggestions
 9. Which sentence uses could to make a suggestion?

• - A) We could meet at the weekend.

• - B) They could be at home.
• - C) Can I ask a question?
 - Answer: A

• We could meet at the weekend.

• Beliefs
 10. Which sentence uses will to express a belief about the future?

• - A) I thought we would be late.

• - B) We will have to take the train.
• - C) They would have been happy.
 - Answer: B

•We will have to take the train.