Mastering Modal Verbs in English – A Simple Guide for Everyone
Understanding modal verbs in English is essential for learners who want to express ideas clearly and fluently. These little words are powerful tools in everyday communication. In this post, we’ll explain what modal verbs are, how to use them, and provide examples to make things simple—even if you’re a beginner.
What Are Modal Verbs in English?
Modal verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) are special verbs that work with the main verb to show mood, possibility, permission, ability, and more. They show what the speaker feels or thinks about an action.
The 13 Core Modal Verbs:
Shall, Can, Could, Will, May, Might, Should, Would, Must, Ought to, Need, Dare, Used to
Golden Rules of Modal Verbs when learning English
- A modal doesn’t change according to the number of persons of the subject. (e.g., I can try; we can try; they can try).
- A modal is never used alone except in response to a question. It is always used with a verb. (e.g., I can paint very well.)
- When the modals are joined with ‘not’ to form negative; they are generally used in the contracted form. (e.g., can’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t etc.)
Let’s Explore Each Modal Verb With Examples
Shall
• To express future time:
I shall leave for Sri Lanka tomorrow.
• To express command:
You shall do the work.
• To express promise:
He shall be rewarded if he gets first.
• To express determination:
He shall do it come what may.
• To express threat:
If you don’t complete it, you shall not be allowed outside.
Will
• To show determination:
We will not trust him.
• To express willingness:
I will join you.
• While asking questions / making requests:
Will you do me a favour?
• To express threat:
You will be dismissed from the class.
• To express promise or intention:
I will follow your advice.
Should
• To express duty or moral obligation:
We should stand united.
• To express advice or suggestion:
You should meet a doctor at once.
• To express supposition or possibility:
Should it rain, we shall not play.
Would
• To express willingness or wish:
I would like to have a cup of milk.
• To express polite request:
Would you mind closing the window?
• To express habitual action in the past:
Every morning he would go for a walk.
• To form conditional statements:
If he had been careful, he would have performed better.
Can
• To express ability:
We can climb this tree.
• To express permission:
Can I go?
• To express possibility:
You can find many training centres in your place.
• To express request:
Can you lend me some money?
Could
• To express ability in the past:
He could run when he was only one year old.
• To express possibility:
You could win the match if you were alert.
• To express polite request:
Could I borrow your pen for a while?
May
• To express permission:
May I go out?
• To express possibility:
It may rain heavily.
• To express purpose:
We work so that we may earn.
• To express wish or prayer:
May God bless you!
Might
• To express uncertainty or least possibility:
It might rain tonight.
Must
• To express compulsion or obligation:
You must not play today.
• To express duty or necessity:
You must pay your fees by Tuesday.
• To express strong possibility:
She must have crossed the bridge by now.
• To express inevitable truth:
We must die for our nation.
Ought to
• To express moral or social binding:
You ought to help your neighbour.
• To express advice or recommendation:
You ought to read this book. It is quite interesting.
• To express probable truth:
It ought to be possible to mend my ways.
Need (to denote necessity)
• In negative statement:
You need not speak loudly since I can hear well.
• In interrogative statement:
Need she come with me?
• To express necessity:
I need to improve my English.
Dare (to show courage)
• In negative statement:
I dare not disobey my teacher.
• In interrogative statement:
How dare you speak so rudely to me?
Used to (fact of the past)
• We used to stay in hotels during college days.
• I used to be fat when I was young.
Key Points
• ‘Must’ = compulsion from the speaker
• ‘Must not’ = compulsion not to do something
• ‘Have to’ = compulsion from an external source
• ‘Has to’ = used with third person singular
• ‘Don’t have to’ = no compulsion
• ‘Should’ = gentle advice or recommendation
• ‘Should not’ = advice not to do something
• ‘Should I…?’ = asking if something is necessary
Summary of Modals by Use
Wish – may
Intention – shall, will
Probability – could, may, ought to, might
Permission – may, can, have to, shall
Ability – can, could
Instruction – should
Willingness – will
Predictions – will
Suggestion – shall, could
Possibility – can, may
Future time – will, shall
Advice – should, ought to, shouldn’t
Requests / Offers – could, might, may, can, should
Assumption – must
Natural propensity – will
Promise / Threat – will, shall
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When to use 'can' and can't in English?
Contraction: can’t = cannot
• Can has different meanings:
I can swim. = I know how to swim.
I can come. = It’s possible for me / I’m available.
Can you help me? = Please help me.
Can, could, be able to
I can speak Spanish very well.
She could play the violin when she as three. She can’t come tonight. She ill.
They couldn’t wait because they were in a hurry.
Could you open that door, please?
Be able to + infinitive
I am able to accept your invitation.
They weren’t able to come.
I’ll be able to practise my English in London.
She has been able to speak French since she was a child.
I’d like to be able to ski.
I love being able to sleep late at weekends.
- You can use be able to in present, past, future, present perfect, and as a gerund or infinitive.
- Be able to in the present and past is more formal than can / could
When to use have to, don’t have to, must, mustn’t? Get it clarified.
- Use have to + infinitive to talk about rules and Or to say something is necessary.
- Use don’t have to + infinitive to say there is no obligation, or something is not
- Use do / does to make question and
Do I have to go? NOT Have I to go?
Must / mustn’t
- Use must + infinitive to talk about rules and
- You must turn off your mobile phones before coming into
- Must / mustn’t are the same for all It is not often used in questions (have to is more common).
- Use mustn’t + infinitive to say something is
- You mustn’t smoke
- You can use mustn’t or to talk about
- You mustn’t park You can’t park here.
We use should / shouldn’t (for advice)
I think you should change your job.
The government should do more for old people.
Use should / shouldn’t + infinitive to give somebody advice or say thing is the right thing to do. You should cut your hair. = I think it would be a good idea.
- Should / shouldn’t + infinitive is the same for all
- You can also use ought to / ought not to instead of should / shouldn’t. You ought to change your job.
You can use - Must, have to, should (obligation)
Obligation / necessity: have to / must (+infinitive)
You have to wear a seatbelt in car.
Do you have to work on Saturdays?
I had to wear a uniform at my primary school.
I’ll have to get up early tomorrow. My interview is at 9.00.
I must remember to phone Emily tonight – it’s her birthday. You must be on time for class tomorrow – there’s a test.
Must and have to have a very similar meaning.
Have to is more common for general, external obligations, for example rules and laws.
Must is more common for specific (i.e., on one occasion) or personal obligations.
Let's Compare: 'have to' vs 'must'
I have to wear a shirt and tie at work (it’s the rule in this company).
I must buy a new shirt – this one is too old now (it’s my own decision).
- Have to is a normal verb and it exists in all
- Must is a modal verb. The only forms are must and mustn’t. You can also use have to or must for strong recommendations,
e.g., you have to / must see that film – it’s fantastic.
No obligation / necessity: don’t have to
You don’t have to pay for the tickets. They’re free.
You don’t have to go to the party if you don’t want to.
Prohibition: mustn’t (+infinitive)
You mustn’t eat that cake – it’s for the party.
You mustn’t touch that. It’s dangerous.
Don’t have to and mustn’t are completely different.
Compare: mustn't and 'don't have to'
You mustn’t drive along this street. = it’s prohibited, against the law.
You don’t have to drive – we can get train. = you can drive if you want to but it’s not necessary / obligatory.
- You can often use can’t or not allowed to instead of mustn’t.
You mustn’t park here. You can’t park here. You’re allowed to park here.
Must, may, might, can’t (deduction)
When you are sure something is true: must
They must be. Out there aren’t any lights on.
She must have a lot of money. She drives a Porsche.
When you think something is possibly true: may / might
His phone’s switched off. He might be on the plane now.
She might not like that skirt. It’s not her style.
She’s not at home. She may be working.
He hasn’t written. He may not have my address.
When you are sure something is impossible / not true; can’t
He can’t be ill. I saw him at the gym.
They can’t ne Italian. They’re speaking to each other in Spanish.
- We often use must, may / might, and can’t to say how sure or certain we are about something (based on the information we have).
- In this context, the opposite of must is can’t NOT mustn’t.
May / might + infinitive (possibility)
We might have a picnic tomorrow, but it depends on the weather. I might not go to the party. I haven’t decided yet.
I may go to the party, but I’m not sure.
I may not have time to do everything today.
Might not and may not aren’t usually contracted.
- Use might / may and might now / may not + infinitive to talk about a future
It might / may rain. = it’s possible that it will rain.
- Might /May (not) is the same for all persons, I might / may, he might / may, we might / may, etc.
Let's learn how to use Modal Verbs in Passive Voice
CAN
Active Voice:
She can play a violin.
She cannot play a violin.
Can she play a violin?
Passive Voice:
A violin can be played by her.
A violin cannot be played by her.
Can a violin be played by her?
MAY
Active Voice:
I may buy the computer.
I may not buy the computer.
May I buy the computer?
Passive Voice:
The computer may be bought by me.
The computer may not be bought by me.
May the computer be bought by me?
MIGHT
Active Voice:
Guests might play chess.
Guests might not play chess.
Passive Voice:
Chess might be played by guests.
Chess might not be played by guests.
SHOULD
Active Voice:
Students should study all lessons.
Students should not study all lessons.
Should students study all lessons?
Passive Voice:
All lessons should be studied by students.
All lessons should not be studied by students.
Should all lessons be studied by students?
MUST
Active Voice:
You must learn the test-taking strategies.
You must not learn the test-taking strategies.
Passive Voice:
Test-taking strategies must be learnt by you.
Test-taking strategies must not be learnt by you.
OUGHT TO
Active Voice:
They ought to take the examination.
Passive Voice:
The examination ought to be taken by them.
For Past form of Modals
Modals: May have, Might have, Should have, Must have, Ought to have
Important Rules:
The subject and object positions are interchanged in passive voice.
The past participle (3rd form of the verb) is always used in passive voice.
For past modals, we add the auxiliary verb “been” after the modal.
MAY HAVE
Active: You may have availed the opportunity.
Active: You may not have availed the opportunity.
Passive: The opportunity may have been availed by you.
Passive: The opportunity may not have been availed by you.
MIGHT HAVE
Active: He might have eaten the meal.
Active: He might not have eaten the meal.
Passive: The meal might have been eaten by him.
Passive: The meal might not have been eaten by him.
SHOULD HAVE
Active: You should have studied the book.
Active: You should not have studied the book.
Passive: The book should have been studied by you.
Passive: The book should not have been studied by you.
MUST HAVE
Active: He must have started the job.
Active: He must not have started the job.
Passive: The job must have been started by him.
Passive: The job must not have been started by him.
OUGHT TO HAVE
Active: You ought to have helped him.
Passive: He ought to have been helped by you.
Final Thoughts
Learning modal verbs doesn’t have to be difficult. With practice, you’ll find they make your sentences more precise, polite, and powerful. Whether you’re asking for permission or giving advice, modal verbs help you do it clearly.
So next time you say “can I” or “should I,” know that you’re already using modals like a pro!
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