‭How to Use Modal Verbs‬

‭Choosing the correct modal verb depends on meaning, context, and time reference. Here‬
‭are practical tips to help you decide!‬

‭Modal verbs are always followed by a base verb (infinitive without “to”).‬
‭She can dance well. (Correct)‬
‭She can to dance well. (‬‭Incorrect‬‭)‬
‭They do not change in different subjects or tenses.‬
‭He must study. / They must study. (✔ Same for all subjects)‬
‭To form negatives, add "not" after the modal.‬
‭You should not go there.‬
‭To form questions, invert the subject and modal.‬
‭May I leave now?‬

‭1. Identify the Function of the Sentence‬

‭Ask yourself:‬‭What am I trying to express?‬
‭Function‬ ‭Common Modals‬ E‭ xample‬
‭Ability (Can someone‬ ‭can, could‬ ‭She can speak three‬
‭do something?)‬ ‭languages.‬
‭Possibility (Is‬ ‭may, might, could‬ ‭It might snow tomorrow.‬
‭something possible?)‬
‭Certainty (How sure are‬ ‭must (strong),‬ ‭She must be at home‬
‭you?)‬ ‭might/may (weak),‬ ‭now.‬
‭can’t (impossible)‬
‭Necessity/Obligation‬ ‭must, have to, need to‬ ‭You must wear a‬
‭(Is it required?)‬ ‭uniform.‬
‭Prohibition (Is it not‬ ‭mustn’t, can’t‬ ‭You mustn’t smoke‬
‭allowed?)‬ ‭here.‬
‭Lack of necessity (Is it‬ ‭don’t have to, needn’t‬ ‭You don’t have to pay‬
‭optional?)‬ ‭now.‬
‭Permission (Is it‬ ‭can, may, might‬ ‭May I use your phone?‬
‭allowed?)‬
 A‭ dvice/Recommendati‬ s‭ hould, ought to‬ Y‭ ou should eat more‬
‭on (What should be‬ ‭vegetables.‬
‭done?)‬
‭Hypothetical situations‬ ‭would, could‬ ‭If I had money, I would‬
‭travel.‬
‭Promises/Certainty‬ ‭will, shall (formal)‬ ‭I will call you later.‬
‭about the future‬

‭2. Consider the Time Reference‬

‭→‬‭Present/Future:‬‭can, may, might, must, will, should‬
‭Example: She can help you tomorrow.‬
‭→‬‭Past:‬‭could, might have, should have, must have‬
‭Example: She could have helped you, but she was busy.‬
‭3. Consider the Strength of the Modal‬
‭Weak‬ ‭Neutral‬ ‭Strong‬
m‭ ight‬ m‭ ay‬ m‭ ust‬
‭could‬ ‭can‬ ‭have to‬
‭ought to‬ ‭should‬ ‭must‬
‭needn’t‬ ‭don’t have to‬ ‭can’t/mustn’t‬
‭Some modals express stronger or weaker meaning in the same category.‬
‭4. Check for Clues in the Sentence‬
‭Certain words or phrases hint at the right modal:‬
‭Clue‬ ‭Suggested Modal‬ E‭ xample‬
‭Maybe / Perhaps‬ ‭might, may, could‬ ‭Maybe she could help.‬
‭I'm sure / Definitely‬ ‭must, will‬ ‭He must be the winner.‬
‭Not allowed /‬ ‭mustn’t, can’t‬ ‭You can’t park here.‬
‭Forbidden‬
‭Advice / It's a good‬ ‭should, ought to‬ ‭You should apologize.‬
‭idea‬
 ‭In the past / Regret‬ c‭ ould have, might have,‬ S‭ he could have called,‬
‭should have‬ ‭but she forgot.‬

‭5. Pay Attention to Formality‬

‭→‬‭Formal:‬‭may, shall, must, ought to‬
E‭ xample: You shall receive a response soon.‬
‭→‬‭Neutral:‬‭can, could, will, would‬
‭Example: I will help you with that.‬
‭→‬‭Informal:‬‭might, should‬
‭Example: You should try this restaurant!‬
‭6. If You're Unsure, Rephrase the Sentence‬
I‭ f you're confused about which modal to use, try rewording the sentence without a modal to‬
‭see what meaning fits best.‬
‭Example:‬
‭She ______ have gone to the party.‬
‭- Reword: Maybe she went to the party. → might have‬
‭- Reword: I’m sure she went to the party. → must have‬

‭7. Use Common Sentence Patterns‬

‭→‬‭Asking for permission:‬‭May I...? / Can I...?‬
‭Example: May I leave early today?‬
‭→‬‭Giving advice:‬‭You should... / You ought to...‬
‭Example: You should see a doctor.‬
‭→‬‭Expressing obligation:‬‭You must... / You have to...‬
‭Example: You must wear a seatbelt.‬
‭→‬‭Talking about the past:‬‭could have / should have / might have‬
‭Example: You should have studied more.‬
 ‭EXERCISES‬
‭1. Fill in the blanks with the correct modal verb:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭You ___ wear a seatbelt while driving. (strong obligation)‬
‭2.‬ ‭She ___ play the piano when she was five. (past ability)‬
‭3.‬ ‭___ I borrow your pen? (polite request)‬
‭4.‬ ‭He is not answering the phone. He ___ be busy. (strong possibility)‬
‭5.‬ ‭If I were you, I ___ apologize. (advice)‬
‭6.‬ ‭I ___ go to the party, but I haven’t decided yet. (possibility)‬
‭7.‬ ‭If we had left earlier, we ___ have caught the bus. (hypothetical past)‬
‭8.‬ ‭You ___ bring an umbrella. It’s going to rain. (recommendation)‬
‭9.‬ ‭Students ___ submit their assignments by Friday. (formal obligation)‬
‭10.‬‭Don’t worry! I ___ help you with your homework. (promise)‬
‭2. Choose the correct modal verb for each sentence:‬
1‭ .‬ ‭You (can / must / might) be quiet in the library.‬
‭2.‬ ‭(Could / Should / Would) you help me carry this box, please?‬
‭3.‬ ‭I (must / might / would) go to the gym later, but I’m not sure yet.‬
‭4.‬ ‭This road is dangerous. You (must / might / could) drive carefully.‬
‭5.‬ ‭If I had more time, I (will / would / shall) travel around the world.‬
‭3. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb:‬
‭1.‬ ‭It is necessary for you to finish the report today.‬
‭→ You ___ finish the report today.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Perhaps they missed the train.‬
‭→ They ___ have missed the train.‬
‭3.‬ ‭It wasn’t possible for me to call you yesterday.‬
‭→ I ___ call you yesterday.‬
‭4.‬ ‭It is not necessary to bring food to the party.‬
‭→ You ___ bring food to the party.‬
 ‭5.‬ ‭It is forbidden to use a phone in the exam room.‬
‭→ You ___ use a phone in the exam room.‬
‭4. Reading exercise:‬
‭→‬‭The Deadline‬

‭About the text‬

1‭ .‬ ‭What is Tom’s problem at the beginning of the dialogue?‬
‭2.‬ ‭What does Tom ask Maggie about the homework deadline?‬
‭3.‬ ‭What is the topic of the project that students have to complete?‬
‭4.‬ ‭How does Maggie suggest Tom make the poster more easily?‬
‭5.‬ ‭What rule does Maggie mention about the title of the poster?‬
‭6.‬ ‭How does Maggie help Tom get started on his project?‬

‭About the Modals‬

1‭ .‬ ‭Which modal verbs in the text indicate obligation? Give examples.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Which modal verb in the dialogue expresses prohibition?‬
‭3.‬ ‭Which modal verb does Maggie use to give a suggestion to Tom?‬
‭4.‬ ‭Which modal verb does Tom use to ask for permission?‬
‭5.‬ ‭Which modal verb is used to indicate certainty about the future?‬
‭6.‬ ‭In the sentence "You don’t have to make the poster from scratch," what does "don’t‬
‭have to" mean?‬