MODAL VERBS
1. CAN
Use Examples
ability to do sth. in the present (substitute
I can speak English.
form: to be able to)
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute
Can I go to the cinema?
form: to be allowed to)
request Can you wait a moment, please?
offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.
suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?
possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.
2. COULD
Use Examples
ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to
I could speak English.
be able to)
permission to do sth. in the past (substitute
I could go to the cinema.
form: to be allowed to)
polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?
polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?
polite offer * I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
polite suggestion * Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?
possibility *
It could get very hot in Montana.
* no past forms - future forms
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3. BE ABLE TO
Use Examples
when can cannot be used (e.g., future) She will be able to pass the exam.
They have been able to complete the
when can cannot be used (e.g. perfect tenses)
crossword.
specific example (not general ability)
Despite his handicap, he is able to drive a car.
involving certain difficulty
4. MAY
Use Examples
possibility It may rain today.
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute
May I go to the cinema?
form: to be allowed to)
polite suggestion May I help you?
5. MIGHT
Use Examples
possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.
hesitant offer * Might I help you?
6. MUST
Use Examples
I must go to the supermarket today, the fridge
force, necessity
is empty.
She got a 9 in Maths. She must be very happy.
deductions
(She can’t be sad)
obligation (speaker’s point of view) You must go to the dentist.
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- Guests may not use the pool after 11pm.
may / be allowed to when must sounds “too
- Women aren’t allowed to drive in some
strong”.
Arab countries.
7. MUSTN’T
Use Examples
prohibition You mustn't work on dad's computer.
8. HAVE TO (semi-modal)
Use Examples
Obligation (when it comes “from the outside”) Everybody has to wear the safety belt.
You don’t have to help tomorrow. My mother
Don’t / doesn’t have to = it is not obligatory
is coming to help me.
9. NEEDN’T
Use Examples
modal verb: I needn't go to the supermarket,
we're going to the restaurant tonight.
not necessary
ordinary verb (used with auxiliary verbs):
I don’t need to go to the supermarket, we’re
going to the restaurant tonight.
10. SHOULD
Use Examples
Advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.
You shouldn’t visit María now. She has just
Opinions
come from hospital.
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11. OUGHT TO
● Not used in Negative and Interrogative sentences
Use Examples
Advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
12. WILL
Use Examples
wish, request, demand, order (less polite
Will you please shut the door?
than would)
prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.
Promise I will stop smoking.
spontaneous decision Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.
She's strange, she'll sit for hours without
Habits
talking.
13. SHALL
Use Examples
Suggestion (instead of will in 1st person) Shall I carry your bag?
14. WOULD
Use Examples
wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?
habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.
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PERFECT MODALS: (Modal + Present Perfect)
● COULD HAVE + part. : saying that something could have happened but didn’t
happen.
“Peter was lucky. He could have hurt himself when he fell but he is ok now”. (“....se
podía haber hecho daño…..”
● COULDN’T/CAN’T HAVE + part. : being certain that something was not
possible in the past.
“We had a really good holiday. It couldn’t have been better”.(“....No podía haber sido
mejor”)
● MUST HAVE + part. : being certain that something has happened.
“I have lost one of my gloves. I must have dropped it somewhere”. (“.....Debo haberlos
perdido…..”)
● MAY/MIGHT HAVE + part. : possibility in the past
“You may/might have left the bag in the shop”. (“....Puedes/podrías haberla dejado en
la tienda”)
● NEEDN’T HAVE + part. : You did something that was not necessary.
“You needn’t have brought anything to my party”. (“No necesitabas haber traído
nada”)
● OUGHT TO/SHOULD HAVE + part. : when you should have done
something.
“You missed a great party last night. You ought to/should have come”
. (“...Deberías
haber venido”)
● WOULD HAVE + part. : imaginary situations in the past.
ould have phoned Marta, but I didn’t have her number”. (“Habría llamado a
“I w
Marta,...)
