Modal
Verbs
Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary
verb which express the mood of another verb.
They are used to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation,
deduction and necessity. |
Modal
|
Concept |
Example |
|
Can |
Ability:
Permission :
Offers :
|
Julie can swim.
Can I come with you? ('May' is also used)
Can I help you? |
|
Could |
Possibility:
Past ability :
Permission :
Requests :
|
That story could be true - who
knows!
Julie could swim when she was
four years old.
Could I use your phone please?
Could you tell me the way to the station please? |
|
May |
Possibility :
Permission :
|
The President may come to
visit our offices tomorrow
if the meeting finishes before 5pm.
May I borrow your dictionary?
|
|
Might |
Slight possibility :
Past form of 'may' in
reported speech.
|
We might win a prize but I
doubt it!
The President said he might come.
|
|
Should |
Advice :
Logical deduction :
|
You should take an
umbrella. It's starting to rain.
John has revised all day. He should be ready for his exam.
|
|
Ought to |
Advice :
Logical deduction :
|
You ought to write to your
grandmother.
Here's 30€. That ought to be enough for a taxi.
|
|
Shall |
Offers and suggestions
with 'I' and 'we' :
|
Shall I order a taxi?
Shall we begin the meeting now?
|
|
Will |
Future tense auxiliary :
Invitations/offers :
|
Tomorrow I will be in New
York.
Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in?
|