5/28/2018 Modal Verbs

1/2

Modal verbs, sometimes called modals, are auxiliary verbs (helping verbs). They express

such things as possibility, probability, permission and obligation.

Can, could, might, may, must, should, will, would and shall are modal verbs.

We use a modal verb before a second verb.

Modal verbs are notfollowed by to.

Modal verbs can have more than one meaning and usage.

Modal verbs to express ability

Can, could, was able tomodal verbs to express ability

Modal verbs to express permission

Can, cant, could, may: modal verbs for permission

Modal verbs to express probability and certainty (modal verbs ofdeduction)

Present tense modal verbs of deduction: must, cant, may, might, could

Past tense modal verbs of deduction: must have, cant have, couldnt have

Modal verbs to express obligation

Shouldto express weak obligation, advice

Should haveto express unfulfilled obligation in the past

Modal verbs past tense forms and negatives

Modal verbspast tense forms

Modal verbsnegative forms Had to vs. must have

http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-abilityhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-abilityhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-abilityhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-abilityhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-abilityhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-permissionhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-permissionhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/present-probability-must-cant-may-might-couldhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/present-probability-must-cant-may-might-couldhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/present-probability-must-cant-may-might-couldhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/past-probability-must-have-cant-have-couldnt-havehttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/past-probability-must-have-cant-have-couldnt-havehttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-to-express-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-to-express-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-to-express-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-to-express-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-have-to-express-unfulfilled-past-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-have-to-express-unfulfilled-past-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-have-to-express-unfulfilled-past-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-have-to-express-unfulfilled-past-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-in-the-pasthttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-in-the-pasthttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-in-the-pasthttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-in-the-pasthttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-and-negativeshttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-and-negativeshttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-and-negativeshttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-and-negativeshttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/must-have-tohttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/must-have-tohttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/must-have-tohttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-and-negativeshttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-in-the-pasthttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-have-to-express-unfulfilled-past-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/should-to-express-obligationhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/past-probability-must-have-cant-have-couldnt-havehttp://speakspeak.com/resources/grammar-rules/modal-verbs/present-probability-must-cant-may-might-couldhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-permissionhttp://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/modal-verbs/modal-verbs-to-express-ability

5/28/2018 Modal Verbs

2/2