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Modal Verbs Summary With Explanations and Examples

This document discusses the different modal verbs in English including can, could, should, may, might, and must. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used, including to express ability, permission, advice, probability, predictions, obligations and prohibitions. The modal verbs can, may and might are used to express varying degrees of probability from more likely to less likely. Other modal verbs like should, must and have to express obligations, predictions based on evidence, or advice.

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Sharin Yissell Ortega Montes
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61 views

Modal Verbs Summary With Explanations and Examples

This document discusses the different modal verbs in English including can, could, should, may, might, and must. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used, including to express ability, permission, advice, probability, predictions, obligations and prohibitions. The modal verbs can, may and might are used to express varying degrees of probability from more likely to less likely. Other modal verbs like should, must and have to express obligations, predictions based on evidence, or advice.

Uploaded by

Sharin Yissell Ortega Montes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals (by Jorge Vega)

MODAL VERB USE


Ability or impossibility, informal offers and requests, permission (informal)
Examples:
She can’t ride a bicycle, because she never learned when she was a child. (Ability)
Snow in Barranquilla? That can’t happen here! (Impossibility)
Can I help you? (Informal offer)
Can you move your chair? I can’t see the board. (Informal request)
Can/Can't Can I go to the bathroom? (Permission – informal)
Past of can, ability, formal offers and requests, permission (formal)
Examples:
I could give you a ride to school if you need one.. (Ability)
She couldn’t read the letter because it was written in Chinese. (Impossibility)
We could give you another alternative, if you want to. (Formal offer)
Could/Couldn't Hey, could you, please, be quiet? I can’t hear what the professor is saying. (Formal request)
To give and ask for advice, to talk about something that is true or will be true in the future.
Examples:
You shouldn’t keep eating junk food. It’s not good for you. (Give advice)
What should I do? I don’t know what to say in this situation. Help me, please. (Ask for advice)
It’s six o’clock. Dad should be here any minute. He’s always home by this time. (Something that is
Should/Shouldn't true or will be true in the future)
Probability, polite requests, permission (more formal), predictions.
Examples:
She may go to the party tonight. (Probability)
May I ask you a favor? (Polite request)
May I play video games now? (Asking for permission)
Employees may not access their work station without having washed their hands first
May/May not It may rain in the late afternoon. (Predictions)
(60-70%)
Probability, very polite requests, predictions.
Examples:
She might go to the party tonight. (Probabilities are lower)
I wonder if I might leave early today? I have to see my doctor. (Very polite request)
Might/Might not Might I check those reports, Your Honor? (Asking for permission)
(40%-50%) She might have a chance to win the lottery with the ticket she bought. (Prediction)
Obligation, strong predictions based on strong evidence.
Examples:
You must turn off the lights when you leave the room. (Obligation) your duty= responsibility
Must/Musn't She mustn’t know I’m here. Otherwise, we’ll have a problem. (prohibition)

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