6. Modals – Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Shall, Should, Will, Would

Modals (also called modal verbs) are helping verbs used before the base form of a main verb to express ability, possibility, permission, advice, necessity, obligation, etc.

🔹 A. List of Common Modals

ModalFunction
canability, permission
couldpast ability, polite request
maypermission, possibility
mightweak possibility
muststrong obligation, logical conclusion
shallfuture (formal), suggestion
shouldadvice, recommendation
willfuture, certainty, willingness
wouldpolite request, hypothetical situations

🔹 B. Modal Rules

✅ Modals are always followed by the base form of a verb.
❌ Never use “to” or “-s” with a modal verb.

Correct: She can go.
 Wrong: She can goes. / She can to go.

🔹 C. Usage and Examples

1. CAN

  • Ability: She can speak five languages.

  • Permission: Can I use your phone?

  • Possibility: Driving fast can be dangerous.

2. COULD

  • Past ability: I could swim when I was 5.

  • Polite request: Could you help me?

  • Possibility (less certain than can): It could rain later.

3. MAY

  • Permission: May I come in?

  • Possibility: She may be at home.

4. MIGHT

  • Weak possibility: He might come to the party.

  • Note: Less certain than “may”

5. MUST

  • Strong obligation: You must wear a seatbelt.

  • Logical conclusion: You must be tired after working all day.

6. SHALL (formal and less used in modern English)

  • Future (formal): I shall return tomorrow.

  • Suggestion: Shall we go for a walk?

7. SHOULD

  • Advice: You should drink more water.

  • Expectation: The train should arrive soon.

8. WILL

  • Future: I will call you later.

  • Willingness: I will help you.

  • Certainty: She will succeed.

9. WOULD

  • Polite request: Would you pass the salt?

  • Hypothetical: I would travel more if I had time.

  • Repeated past action: When we were kids, we would play outside all day.

🔹 D. Modal Practice Sentences

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate modal verb:

  1. You ___ eat more vegetables. (advice)

  2. ___ I borrow your pen? (permission)

  3. He ___ be sleeping now. (possibility)

  4. I ___ help you with that. (offer)

  5. We ___ be late if we don’t hurry. (possibility)

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