Modal Verbs

Here's a list of the modal verbs in English:

can could may might will

would must shall should ought to

Modals are different from normal verbs:

1: They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
2: They make questions by inversion ('she can go' becomes 'can she go?').
3: They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').

Probability:
First, they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is
happening / will happen. We often call these 'modals of deduction' or 'speculation' or 'certainty' or
'probability'.

For example:

• It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.

• I don't know where John is. He could have missed the train.
(Have no se conjuga por el model verb Could)

• This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!

Ability
We use 'can' and 'could' to talk about a skill or ability.

For example:

• She can speak six languages.

• My grandfather could play golf very well.
• I can't drive.
Obligation and Advice
We can use verbs such as 'must' or 'should' to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or
to give advice.

For example:

• Children must do their homework.

• We have to wear a uniform at work.
• You should stop smoking.

Permission
We can use verbs such as 'can', 'could' and 'may' to ask for and give permission. We also use
modal verbs to say something is not allowed.

For example:

• Could I leave early today, please?

• You may not use the car tonight.
• Can we swim in the lake?

Habits
We can use 'will' and 'would' to talk about habits or things we usually do, or did in the past.

For example:

• When I lived in Italy, we would often eat in the restaurant next to my flat.
• John will always be late!

Past modals
The past modals 'could have + past participle', 'should have + past participle' and 'would have + past
participle' can be confusing. I explain about them here.
Modals of Ability
Put in 'can', 'can't', 'could' or 'couldn't'. If none of
these is possible use 'be able to' in the correct tense.
1) you swim when you were 10?.

2) We get to the meeting on time yesterday, because

the train was delayed by one hour..

3) He arrive at the party on time, even after missing

the train, so he was very pleased..

4) He's amazing, he speak five languages, including

Chinese..

5) I drive a car until I was 34. Then I moved to the

countryside, so I had to learn...

6) I looked everywhere for my glasses but I find them

anywhere..

7) I searched for your house for ages. luckily I find it

in the end..

8) She's seven years old, but she read yet. Her parents
are getting her extra lessons..

9) I read the book three times, but I understand it..

10) James speak Japanese when he lived in Japan, but

he's forgotten most of it now..

11) I understand the chapter we had to read for

homework. It was so difficult..

12) I lift this box - it's too heavy! Would you help
me?.

13) Lucy make it to our meeting after all. She's stuck

in traffic..

14) John play tennis really well. He's champion of his

club..
15) Unfortunately, I really sing at all. No-one in my
family is musical either...
16) When the car broke down I was really pleased because
I solve the problem..

17) Julian play excellent golf when he was only ten..

18) My grandmother use a computer until last month.

Since then she's been taking lessons at the library..

19) I open this window! I think it's stuck..

20) Gill play the piano. She has never studied it..
Modals of Obligation
Put in 'mustn't' or 'don't / doesn't have to':
1) We have a lot of work tomorrow. You be late..

2) You tell anyone what I just told you. It's a secret..

3) The museum is free. You pay to get in..

4) Children tell lies. It's very naughty..

5) John's a millionaire. He go to work..

6) I do my washing because my mother does it for

me..

7) We rush. We've got plenty of time..

8) You smoke inside the school..

9) You can borrow my new dress, but you get it

dirty..

10) We miss the train, because it's the last one

tonight..

11) She do this work today, because she can do it

tomorrow..

12) I clean the floor today because I cleaned it

yesterday..

13) We forget to lock all the doors before we leave..

14) We stay in a hotel in London; we can stay with

my brother..

15) I spend too much money today, as I've only got a

little left..

16) They get up early today, because it's Sunday..

17) I eat too much cake or I'll get fat!..

18) We be late for the exam..

19) You tidy up now. I'll do it later..

20) He cook tonight because he's going to a

restaurant..
Modals of Probability
Put in 'must + infinitive' or 'must + have + past
participle':
1) Keiko always does really well on exams. She
(study) a lot..

2) That woman drives a very expensive car. She

(have) a lot of money..

3) You (practise) a lot before you gave your speech.

It was really good..
4) When Lizzie got home yesterday there were flowers on the
table. Her husband (buy) them..

5) Where is my purse? I saw it earlier, so it (be) in

this room..

6) Sarah couldn't find her glasses. She thought she

(leave)them at her office..

7) It (be) cold outside. That man in the street is

wearing a coat..

8) All my plants (be) dead! I forgot to water them

before I went on holiday..

9) Susie is so late! She (miss) the train!..

10) There's rubbish all over my garden! A fox (be) in

the bin..

11) Anna has a huge library in her house. She

(love) books..

12) Oh no, I don't have my keys! I (leave) them in

the taxi..
13) When Lucy got home, she found the ice cream had melted.
It (be) too hot in the car..

14) If you haven't eaten all day, you (be) hungry..

15) Jimmy and Louisa (be) very tired. They have a

new baby..
16) It (rain) a lot in the night. There are puddles
everywhere..

17) David (be) happy. His girlfriend just agreed to

marry him..

18) What an amazing kitchen you've got! You

(like) cooking..

19) John (eat) all the biscuits! There are none left..
20) When I got up this morning, the kitchen was spotless.
Lily (tidy) it before she went to bed last night..
Modals of Probability 2
Choose 'must' or 'can't'

1) Why is that man looking around like that? He be

lost..

2) That woman be a doctor! She looks far too young..

3) John always fails the tests, even though he's clever.
He study enough..

4) The food is really good at that restaurant. They

have a great chef..

5) Who's that at the door? It be Susie - she'll still be

at work now..

6) This be John's house. This house has a red door

and it's number 24, just like he said..

7) Julie have much money or she would buy a new

car. Her old one is falling apart..

8) He be at work now, can he? It's nearly midnight..

9) What a lot of lovely flowers you have! You really

like gardening..

10) David drink a lot of coffee. He's finished two

packets already this week..

11) This be Jamie's coat. He's tall and this is tiny..

12) Her life be easy. She has four children and very
little money..

13) Where's Lucy? She be at the library, as she often

goes there at this time..

14) This bill be right! £50 for two cups of coffee!..

15) Emma's amazingly good at the piano. She

practise a lot..
16) The car in front is driving so slowly that I think
they be looking for something..
17) You've already eaten enough for three people!
You still be hungry!..

18) This book belong to the library. It's certainly not

mine..
19) It only takes three hours to fly from London to Sydney?
That be correct!..

20) There be something wrong with the fridge! It's

making a very unusual noise..

Could have should have would have

Make the correct past modal form (use could have /
would have / should have + past participle).
1) I (buy) bread but I didn’t know we needed it. (past
possibility)..

2) We (invite) so many people to our party! I’m

worried that we won’t have enough room for everyone. (past
negative advice / regret)..

3) I (start) saving money years ago! (past advice /

regret)..

4) We (join) you at the restaurant, but we couldn’t

get a babysitter. (past willingness)..

5) The weather (be) any worse! (past negative

possibility)..

6) I (arrive) on time, even if I’d left earlier. There

were dreadful traffic jams all the way. (past negative possibility)..

7) They (win) the football match, but John hurt his

ankle. (past possibility)..

8) Amanda (finish) the work, but she felt ill and had
to go home. (past willingness)..

9) Lucy (leave) earlier. She missed her flight. (past

advice / regret)..

10) We (finish) the game, even if we’d wanted to. It

was raining very hard and we had to stop. (past negative
possibility)..

11) I (eat) so much chocolate! I feel sick! (past

negative advice / regret)..

12) Luke (pass) the exam if he’d studied a bit more.

(past possibility)..

13) John (call) Amy, but he didn’t have her number.

(past willingness)..

14) You (be) rude to him. He’s going to be really

angry now. (past negative advice / regret)..

15) She (come) to the restaurant if she’d left work

earlier. (past possibility)..
16) You (take) this job. I can see you’re not enjoying
it. (past negative advice / regret)..

17) The race was really difficult. She (win) because

she’s not fit enough. (past negative possibility)..

18) Our neighbours (cut) down the tree in their

garden. It was a really beautiful tree. (past negative advice /
regret)..

19) The children (do) their homework last night.

Then they wouldn’t be panicking on the way to school. (past
advice / regret)..

20) I’m really cold! I (bring) my coat. (past advice /

regret)..

21) I (come) to see you! I didn’t know you were ill.

(past willingness)..

22) Andrew (go) to Cambridge University, but he

decided to travel instead. (past possibility)..

23) They (be) kinder to me. They were absolutely

lovely. (past negative possibility)..

24) You (buy) some milk at the shops. We don’t

have any milk. (past advice / regret)..

25) They (come) to have breakfast with us, but they

went to bed too late the night before. (past willingness)..