Modal Verbs
Learn Modal Verbs in English and practice can, must, should, and more with clear rules, usage, and examples.
Modal verbs are small verbs that change the meaning of the main verb. They can show ability, permission, necessity, advice, offers, and requests. After a modal verb, English uses the base form of the main verb.
Can shows ability in the present. Could shows ability in the past and can also show a general possible ability. These modal verbs come before the main verb.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| can | It shows that a person is able to do something now 💪. |
| could | It shows that a person was able to do something in the past 🕒. |
| be able to | It shows ability with another verb form when a modal form is not used 🔧. |
Can, could, and may can ask for or give permission. Could is more polite than can. May is often more formal than can.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| can | It asks for or gives permission in everyday English 🚪. |
| could | It asks for permission in a more polite way 🙏. |
| may | It asks for or gives permission in a more formal way 🏛️. |
Must and have to show necessity or obligation. Must often shows a strong rule or the speaker's idea of what is necessary. Have to often shows a rule, situation, or requirement from outside the speaker.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| must | It shows strong necessity or obligation from the speaker ⚠️. |
| have to | It shows necessity from a rule or situation 📋. |
| need to | It shows necessity in a softer way than must 🧩. |
Should and ought to show advice or suggestion. They say what is a good idea or the right thing to do. Ought to is less common than should but has a similar meaning.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| should | It shows advice or a good idea 💡. |
| ought to | It shows advice or duty in a meaning close to should ✅. |
| should not | It shows advice against an action ⛔. |
Modal verbs can make offers and requests sound polite. Can and could are common for requests. Shall can be used for offers or suggestions, especially with I and we.
| Word or Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| can | It can make a direct request or offer 🤝. |
| could | It can make a more polite request 🙏. |
| shall | It can make an offer or suggestion with I or we ✋. |
After a modal verb, the main verb stays in the base form. The main verb does not take to after most modal verbs. The main verb does not change for he, she, or it after a modal verb.
| Rule |
|---|
| After a modal verb, use the base form of the main verb 🧱. |
| Do not add s to the main verb after he, she, or it with a modal verb 🚫. |
| Do not use to after can, could, may, must, should, or shall 🔹. |
To make a negative modal statement, add not after the modal verb. Some negative forms have common short forms. Negative modals show no ability, no permission, no necessity, or advice against something.
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| can |  cannot |
| could | could not |
| must | must not |
| should | should not |
| may | may not |
| shall | shall not |
To form a question with a modal verb, put the modal verb before the subject. The main verb stays in the base form. Do does not come before the modal verb in these questions.
| Rule |
|---|
| Put the modal verb before the subject to make a question 🔄. |
| Keep the main verb in the base form after the subject 🧱. |
| Do not use do or does with a modal verb in the same question 🚫. |
You can now use modal verbs to talk about ability, permission, necessity, advice, offers, and requests. You can make statements, negative forms, and questions with modal verbs. You can also use the base form of the main verb correctly after a modal verb.