MODAL VERBS

1. MUST
a) Deduction:
q It must be three o´clock
q It can´t be true
b) Obligation:
q You must do it = you (will) have to do it = you are to do it
q Negation: You needn´t do it = You don´t have to do it = You don´t need to do
it.
*** You musnt´n tell anyone = it is necessary that you don´t tell anyone (There is
an obligation not to do something)
2. CAN
a) Permission:
q Can I come in? = May I come in? = Am I allowed to come in? No, you can´t.
b) Possibility:
q I can come tomorrow. I’m free. = it’s possible for me to come
q Where can they be?
c) Ability:
q I can swim = I know how to swim = I’m able to swim.
c) Polite request:
q Can you open the window, please?

3. COULD
a) Possibility:
q I could have come. I was free. = It was possible for me to come
b) Ability:
q I could swim = I knew how to swim = I was able to swim.
(Could is used to talk about ability, not about particular events which actually
happened in the past. Verbs like manage to or be able to are used instead. "She
finally managed to pass the exam")

c) Polite request:
q Could you open the window, please?
4. MAY
a) Permission:
q May I come in? No, you can’t.
b) Probability:
q I may come tomorrow = It’s possible I come = I’m likely to come tomorrow
5. MIGHT
a) Probability:
q I might come tomorrow = It could be possible I could come
b) Formal request:
q Might I have a word with you?
6. SHALL
a) Future:
q I shall do that
b) Offer:
 q Shall I help you
c) Asking opinion or suggestions:
q What shall we do now?. Shall we go to the cinema?
d) Promises, oaths, legal texts, etc.:
q You shall have a sweet
q You shall not kill
e) Command:
q Members shall enter their names of their guests in the book provided
7. WILL
a) Future:
q They will go to Paris
b) Request:
q Will you help me?
c) Invitation:
q Will you have some more wine?
d) Certainty:
q They’ll be back by now = I’m sure they are back
e) Command:
q You will stay here until you are relieved
8. WOULD
a) Conditional (Unreality):
q You wouldn’t do it, if you were in my place.
b) Polite Request or invitation:
q Would you do that for me?
q Would you like some tea?
c) Habitual actions in the past:
q I would swim in the lake when I was about ten.
9. SHOULD
a) Conditional for first persons:
q We should have told you, if we had known that before.
b) Advice:
q You should go = you ought to go
c) Unreality, hypothesis:
q Should he protest (= if he protested), what would you say?
d) Probability:
q Their meeting should be over now = I expect it is
10. OUGHT TO
q You ought to give up smoking
11. NEED
q You needn’t come (there’s no obligation)
q I didn’t need to go = I didn’t have to go, so I didn’t go. (It was unnecessary, so I
didn´t do it)
But I needn’t have gone. (I wasn’t necessary, but I didn’t know that at the time, so
I did the action)
12. DARE
q Don’t dare do that again
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the appropriate modal verb: must, can, could, may,
might, shall, will, would, should, ought to, need, or dare.
1. It’s very cloudy today. It _____ rain later.
2. You _____ finish your homework before playing video games.
3. When I was younger, I _____ swim for hours without getting tired.
4. _____ you open the window, please?
5. You _____ talk during the exam; it’s strictly prohibited.
6. If I were you, I _____ apologize for the mistake.
7. She _____ not have left already; her car is still outside.
8. _____ we go to the park, or would you prefer the beach?
9. He _____ to quit smoking to improve his health.
10. You _____ have studied harder; now it’s too late.

Exercise 2: Match the sentences to the correct function of the modal verb.
1. "You must wear a helmet while riding a bike."
a) Obligation
b) Deduction
c) Polite request
2. "Could you please pass me the salt?"
a) Ability
b) Possibility
c) Polite request
3. "She might be at the library now."
a) Permission
b) Probability
c) Advice
4. "You needn’t come to the meeting tomorrow."
a) Necessity
b) Absence of obligation
c) Probability
5. "Shall we watch a movie tonight?"
a) Offering help
 b) Asking for suggestions
c) Giving a command

Exercise 3: Rewrite the following sentences using the modal verbs in

parentheses.
1. It is possible for John to arrive late. (might)
2. I advise you to call her immediately. (should)
3. Are we allowed to leave early today? (may)
4. It is not necessary for you to bring food. (need)
5. Let me help you with the dishes. (shall)

Exercise 4: Each sentence below contains an incorrect use of a modal verb.

Identify and correct the mistake.
1. You might to finish this project by tomorrow.
2. I didn’t must go to the meeting, so I stayed home.
3. Could you telling me the way to the station?
4. She will to be here at 5 PM.
5. He can drives a car, but he doesn’t have a license.

Exercise 5: Write a short paragraph about what you would do if you won the
lottery. Use at least five different modal verbs from the list in your document.