Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb which express the mood of another verb. They are used
to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity.
to express ideas such as possibility, prediction, speculation, deduction and necessity.
| Modal | Concept | Example |
Can
| Ability: Permission: Offers : | Julie can swim. Can I come with you? ('May' is also used.) Can I help you? |
Could
| Possibility: Past ability : Permission : Requests : | That story could be true - who knows! Charlie could swim when he was four years old. Could I use your phone please? Could you tell me the way to the station please? |
May
| Possibility : Permission : | The President may come to our offices if the meeting finishes before 5 pm. May I borrow your dictionary? |
| Might | Slight possibility : Past form of 'may' in reported speech. | We might win a prize but I doubt it. The President said he might come. |
| Should | Advice : Logical deduction : | You should take an umbrella in case it rains. I've revised so I should be ready for the test. |
| Ought to | Advice : Logical deduction : | You ought to write to your grandmother. 30 € ought to be enough for the taxi. |
| Shall | Future tense auxiliary : Offers/suggestions with ''I' and 'we' | I shall be in London on Monday (or I'll be ...). Shall I order a taxi? Shall we begin the meeting now? |
| Will | Future tense auxiliary: Invitations/offers : | The ticket will cost about 50€. Will you join us for coffee? Won't you come in? |
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