Modal verbs are special verbs that give additional meaning to the main verb in a sentence. They are used to express abilities, possibilities, permissions, or requests.
Here are the most common modal verbs:
- Can – Ability or possibility in the present, or asking for permission.
- Example: I can swim. (Ability)
- Can’t – Inability in the present or refusal.
- Example: I can’t lift this box. (Inability)
- Could – Past ability or polite requests/possibility.
- Example: I could run fast when I was young. (Past ability)
- Couldn’t – Inability in the past.
- Example: He couldn’t finish his homework yesterday. (Past inability)
- May – Formal permission or possibility (more certain).
- Example: You may leave now. (Permission)
- Might – Possibility (less certain than "may").
- Example: It might rain later. (Possibility)
In addition to can, could, may, might, and can’t, there are other commonly used modal verbs that help express different ideas like ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice, and necessity.
Here are some additional modal verbs:
- Shall: Used to offer, suggest, or ask what someone wants to do (more formal).
- Example: Shall we go for a walk? (Suggestion)
- Should: Used to give advice or say what’s the right thing to do.
- Example: You should eat more vegetables. (Advice)
- Will: Used to express future actions or intentions.
- Example: I will help you tomorrow. (Future intention)
- Would: Polite requests, offers, or talking about hypothetical situations.
- Example: I would like a cup of coffee, please. (Polite request)
- Must: Expresses strong necessity or obligation.
- Example: You must wear a seatbelt. (Obligation)
- Mustn’t: Shows strong prohibition or something you’re not allowed to do.
- Example: You mustn’t smoke here. (Prohibition)
- Ought to: Similar to should, used to express advice or moral obligation.
- Example: You ought to apologize. (Advice)
- Shan’t: Short for "shall not," used to indicate refusal or determination (less common in modern English).
- Example: I shan’t go to the party. (Refusal)
- Need to: Expresses necessity or requirement.
- Example: You need to study hard for the exam. (Necessity)
- Don’t need to / Needn’t: Shows that something is not necessary.
- Example: You needn’t bring any food. (It’s not necessary)
These modal verbs add nuance to the way we express possibility, necessity, and other actions in English.
Degrees of certainty or possibility
High Certainty / Strong Obligation (80-100%)
- Must: 100% certainty or obligation.
- Example: You must wear a helmet. (It’s necessary or certain.)
- Possibility %: 100%
- Will: 90-100% certainty, used for definite future events.
- Example: He will arrive tomorrow. (It’s almost sure.)
- Possibility %: 90-100%
- Shall: Often expresses formal intention or future certainty.
- Example: We shall meet at noon. (Very certain, formal usage.)
- Possibility %: 90-100%
- Should / Ought to: Strong advice or high likelihood.
- Example: You should rest; you’re tired. (It’s the right thing to do, very likely.)
- Possibility %: 80-90%
Medium Certainty / Possibility (50-80%)
- Can: General possibility or ability.
- Example: It can rain later. (It’s possible.)
- Possibility %: 70-80%
- Could: A polite or past possibility.
- Example: She could come to the party. (Less certain than "can.")
- Possibility %: 50-70%
- Might: Expresses a weaker possibility.
- Example: It might snow tonight. (It’s possible but less certain.)
- Possibility %: 40-60%
- May: Similar to might, but can also be used for permission.
- Example: It may rain tomorrow. (It’s possible, but uncertain.)
- Possibility %: 50-60%
Low Certainty / Inability / Prohibition (0-40%)
- Can’t: Expresses impossibility in the present.
- Example: You can’t be serious! (It’s not possible.)
- Possibility %: 0%
- Mustn’t: Expresses prohibition.
- Example: You mustn’t touch that. (It’s forbidden.)
- Possibility %: 0%
- Would: Often used for hypothetical situations or polite offers.
- Example: I would go if I could. (Hypothetical, less certain.)
- Possibility %: 30-50%
- Needn’t: Expresses something that’s unnecessary.
- Example: You needn’t worry about it. (There’s no need.)
- Possibility %: 10-20%
Question: Fill in the blanks with (can/can’t/could/couldn’t/may or might)
- Can you speak up a bit? I ……………. Hear you very well.
- “Are you in a hurry?” “No. I’ve got plenty of time. I …………. Wait.”
- I was feeing sick yesterday. I …………… eat anything.
- Look at the sky. Dark clouds are coming down. It ………….. rain in the evening.
- Be careful. You ………….. meet with an accident.
- Don’t get wet. You …………… fall ill.
- He said that he …………….. get late.
- Oh, I am sorry. Actually I …………… make you at once.
- I am not a rich person. So, I …………. afford to a car.
Sentence Explanations:
a) Can you speak up a bit? I can’t hear you very well.
- Can’t means the person has trouble hearing at the moment.
b) “Are you in a hurry?” “No. I’ve got plenty of time. I can wait."
- Can means the person has the ability to wait because they are not in a hurry.
c) I was feeling sick yesterday. I couldn’t eat anything.
- Couldn’t shows that the person was unable to eat because they were sick in the past.
d) Look at the sky. Dark clouds are coming down. It might rain in the evening.
- Might suggests it is possible that rain will come, but it’s not certain.
e) Be careful. You might meet with an accident.
- Might means it’s possible to have an accident if you’re not careful.
f) Don’t get wet. You might fall ill.
- Might indicates that getting sick is a possibility if you get wet.
g) He said that he might get late.
- Might expresses uncertainty about being late. It’s possible but not definite.
h) Oh, I am sorry. Actually, I couldn’t make you at once.
- Couldn’t means the speaker was unable to meet the other person earlier.
i) I am not a rich person. So, I can’t afford a car.
- Can’t shows that the speaker does not have the ability to buy a car due to financial reasons.
Simple meaning for each sentence:
a) Can you speak up a bit? I can’t hear you very well.
- The person is asking someone to speak louder because they are having trouble hearing them clearly.
b) “Are you in a hurry?” “No. I’ve got plenty of time. I can wait."
- The person is saying they are not in a rush and have lots of time, so they don’t mind waiting.
c) I was feeling sick yesterday. I couldn’t eat anything.
- The person felt unwell the day before and was not able to eat at all.
d) Look at the sky. Dark clouds are coming down. It might rain in the evening.
- The person is looking at the sky and saying it’s possible that it will rain later because of the dark clouds.
e) Be careful. You might meet with an accident.
- The person is warning someone to be cautious, as there is a chance they could have an accident.
f) Don’t get wet. You might fall ill.
- The person is advising someone not to get wet because there is a chance they might get sick if they do.
g) He said that he might get late.
- The person is reporting that someone said they could possibly be late.
h) Oh, I am sorry. Actually, I couldn’t make you at once.
- The speaker is apologizing and explaining that they weren’t able to meet the person immediately.
i) I am not a rich person. So, I can’t afford a car.
- The person is explaining that they don’t have enough money to buy a car because they are not rich.