Modal verbs V English language, unlike other verbs, do not denote an action or state, but only show the speaker’s attitude to the action expressed by the infinitive, in combination with which they form a compound verbal modal predicate.
Compound verbal modal predicate = modal verb + infinitive.
English modal verbs are special verbs that are used to express possibility, ability, permission, etc. For example:
“It might snow” – opportunity
“I can sing” – ability
“You may stand up” – resolution
How many modal verbs are there in English?
There are 12 modal verbs in English. Below is a list of modal verbs in English; by clicking on one of them you can go to a separate article and study it. There is also the opportunity to take an online test to consolidate the material and check how well you understood what was written. By the way, in English they are called modal verbs.
Let's look at what modality means.
First, let's find out what Modal is - it expresses mood. Since in English the mood is ‘mood’
Mood (mood) is a way to express the speaker’s attitude towards what was said.
For example:
- I can paint - I can draw; means that the speaker has the ability to draw.
- I must paint - I must paint; must draw.
- You should paint - you must paint; advice.
After explaining the topic, you will be able to download a table of modal verbs and their equivalents in English.
What's special about modal verbs
Let's find out what modal verbs are and how they function.
They are special because they behave differently than other verbs in English. A few points that prove that modal verbs are special:
- 1. English modal verbs are used together with the base form of another verb.
Examples:
- I might come late - I may be late.
- You should study English - you must learn English.
- I can run fast - I can run fast.
That is, they remain in unchanged form.
- 2. We do not add “-ing”, “-ed”, “-s” to English modal verbs. The ending '-s' is added to have to And need.
Examples:
- I must go now - I must go. (I am must go now).
- They said we could park there - They said that we can park here. (They said we could park here) .
- Yes, she can have another chocolate - Yes, she can take more chocolate. (She can have another chocolate) .
- 3. To form an interrogative sentence, we put the modal verb in first place:
Examples:
- She can tell the secret - She can tell the secret.
— Can she tell the secret? – Can she tell a secret? (Does she can tell the secret?).
- We should stop watching TV - You should stop watching TV.
— Should we stop watching TV? – Should we stop watching TV? (Do we should stop watching TV?) .
- 4. To form negative sentence, we add a particle 'not', or we shorten can't.
- Vera can read well, even though she’s only three - Vera reads well, although she is only three years old.
— Vera can’t read well — Vera doesn’t know how to read. (She doesn’t can read) .
- She could fence when she was ten - She knew how to fence when she was ten.
- She could not fence when she was ten - She did not know how to fence when she was ten. (She did not could fence) .
Thanks to a modal verb, we can express our attitude towards something. Modal verbs in English they convey a certain emotionality. Each of them has its own meaning in English. If we want to give advice, we use Should, but if we are unsure of something, then we use May. Modal verbs in English are very easy to understand. The main thing is not to give up.
Modal verbs with perfect infinitive
Let's look after which verbs use the perfect infinitive:
- 1. Must + have + past participle
To express probability, inference:
- If you can’t find your keys you must have left them in the house - If you can’t find the keys, you must have left them at home.
- 2. Can’t/Couldn’t + have + past participle
When combined with the perfect infinitive, it expresses doubts and surprise:
- She can't/couldn't have got into an accident - It cannot be that she got into an accident.
- 3. May + have + past participle
Express the possibility that an action occurred in the past:
- The little boy may have lost the keys (It is possible that he lost the keys.) - Perhaps the boy lost the keys.
- 4. Might + have + past participle
Express a possibility in the past:
- My sister might have heard some noises when your bag was stolen - My sister could have heard something when your bag was stolen.
Might/may/could + past participle are used when we think that something was possible, but we are not sure about it.
For example:
- The thieves might have escaped by car but I can’t be sure - The thieves may have escaped by car, but I’m not sure.
— I can’t find my wallet. I could have left it in the supermarket but I just don’t know – I can’t find my wallet. Perhaps I left it at the supermarket, but I don't know.
- 5. Needn’t + Have + Past Participle
In combination with the perfect infinitive need expresses the absence of the need to perform an action in the past:
- You needn’t have bought the ring - You didn’t need to buy a ring.
- 6. Should + have + past participle
The obligation was not fulfilled in the past:
- He should have called me before leaving for London (But he didn’t call me) - He should have called me before leaving for London.
- 7. Would + have + past participle
Conditional sentences of the third type.
— I would have played tennis but I had a strong pain in my leg.
- 8. Ought to + have + past participle
In combination with the perfect infinitive, ought expresses a desired but impossible past action:
- You ought to have bought the tickets for the football match yesterday, but I waited for you in vain - You should have bought tickets for yesterday's football match, but I waited for you in vain.
Even more examples with modal verbs should, might, may, can, need, ought to, must:
- He might win the first place - Perhaps he will take first place.
- We could do it better and they knew it - We could do it better, and they knew it.
- Tell them they must do it - Tell them that they must do it.
- The dog should be fed twice a day - The dog needs to be fed twice a day.
- The book can be found in the library - The book can be found in the library.
— Need we come to the stadium on Sunday morning? – Do we need to come to the stadium on Saturday morning?
- You ought to help your friends in their training as you are one of the best athletes in the group - You must help your friends in their training, since you are the best athlete in the group.
- You cannot have missed that match - It cannot be that you missed the match.
- I must take part in the contest - I must take part in the competition.
— May he enter the room? – Can he enter the room?
Infinitive forms with modal verbs
Let's look at the table with the forms of the infinitive: Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous, as well as in what forms passive voice can be used with modal verbs.
| Active | Passive | ||
| Modal verbs with an infinitive in the form: | Compound verb modal predicate. |
||
| Indefinite (simple) | Action refers to the present or future. | to do example: |
to be done example: |
| Continuous | To denote action in the present. | To be doing example: She can't be sleeping now. |
______ |
| Perfect | To indicate an action in the past. Note: 1. Action was not performed: - with modal verbs: ought to, should, might, could. 2. The planned action was not completed: -with modal verb: to be to. |
To have done example: |
To have been done example: |
| Perfect Continuous | To denote an action that began in the past and continued for a certain period of time. | To have been doing example: |
______ |
You can download a detailed table of modal verbs in English right now and right here. In this table you will find all 12 modal verbs, their equivalents, translations and examples. In addition, fixed phrases are presented after each table.
Lesson summary
Modal verbs lack some features (except be to and have (got) to):
1. Most modal verbs have only one form, they have no aspect, voice, mood, with the exception of can, may, will;
2. –s in the third person singular is not added to them;
3. They are not used with participles and infinitives;
4. They are not used with the particle to (except ought);
They do not need auxiliary verbs to form interrogative or negative sentences.
Having learned what modal verbs are in English, you can study each modal verb separately on our website.
How to Learn and Use Modal Verbs in English
The most important thing to know is to pay attention to the context.
You know that many modal verbs can have different meanings. Therefore, you need to think carefully about what this or that verb in a sentence means.
Go into detail. Remember, what you have read in this lesson is a very small part of everything you need to know, if you want to use modals well in English, you need to study each verb separately and do the exercises after each lesson.
This is a very big topic and there are many interesting activities ahead of you on this topic!
Modal verbs in English are one of the groups of verbs. Their main feature is their modal meaning, that is, the expression of desires, intentions to do some action or necessity. Some modal verbs are also included in the group of auxiliary verbs.
Rules of application
The formation of such a group of verbs is ensured by the need to express a certain area of states: readiness for action, probability, possibility, obligation, ability to do something, confidence in something. In addition, modal verbs in English express obligation (that is, duty), desire for something, and permission to do something.
Modality
Modal verbs are not called that for nothing. The concept of modality implies the attitude of the speaker to the subject. In fact, with the help of modal verbs, the speaker can express his own assessment of an action: he can consider it possible or impossible, necessary or completely unnecessary, prohibited or permitted, unlikely or quite probable, acceptable or unacceptable. He can also consider the action to be an order or a request. As a rule, the study of such verbs is actually included in the third or fourth lesson of the English language. Modal verbs are used very often in everyday speech, so you should pay special attention to them.
Examples of existing verbs
The modal verbs group includes 11 verbs.
Present or future tense | Past tense |
||
To be able to perform an action | |||
May or might | Is it possible, maybe | May or might | may or might |
Should, should | |||
Should, should | |||
To be capable of | Am/is/are able to | Was/were able to |
|
Necessary, necessary | |||
- (obsolete word) | |||
| will |
Important note: English grammar prohibits using modal verbs on their own. They can only be used with the infinitive of the semantic verb.
Forming verbs
Modal verbs are a special group (translated from English as “defective”). Not all verbs can be inflected in a variety of tense forms. For example, the verb can can be used to form the past and present tenses, but it cannot be used to express actions in the future. It’s the same with the verb may - it cannot be put in the future tense. However, this does not mean that modal verbs in English cannot be used in future tense forms. To express skills and capabilities in the future tense, the verb will (or its obsolete form shall) is used.
The use of this group of verbs also has its own the good side. Almost none of the verbs (except have to) change in persons and numbers. That is, in the present tense in the third person, no endings can be added to verbs.
Almost all modal verbs in English do not require the particle to to be placed before the infinitive, but there are exceptions: have to and ought to. Only after these two verbs is it necessary to always put the particle to.
Using verbs in different types of sentences
In an affirmative sentence type, you should use a modal verb after the noun and before the semantic verb. To form a negative type, it is necessary to insert the particle not/n’t after the modal verb (except for the verb have to). In order to form a question, it is necessary to change the order of the noun and modal verb. In this case, there is no need to use any auxiliary verb, since the modal verb takes its place.
Modal Verbs in English: Examples of Common Use
He can wright - He can write.
She will study there - She will study there.
I must do it - I must do this.
He ought to go to the school. - He should go to school.
You don’t have to use mobile phone during the lessons - You should not use the phone during the lessons.
I would like to go to the cinema - I would like to go to the cinema.
Would you like a coffee? - Would you like some coffee?
You should stay home. - You should stay at home.
She ought not to play the computer so much. - She shouldn't play on the computer so much.
She can swim - She can swim.
She can't swim. - She can't swim.
I can run very quickly - I can run very fast.
She can´t run very quickly - She cannot run very fast.
Can she run very quickly? - She can run very fast.
Abbreviations
Quite often in colloquial speech, native speakers prefer to shorten a number of verbs. English is no exception. The modal verbs (table in the article) given below can be used both in full form and in abbreviated form.
Full form | Reduction |
Features of the verbcan
This verb is used to express the ability (inability) or opportunity (impossibility) to do something. This verb is translated into Russian as “I can” or “I can.” In addition, this verb is used to express states of doubt or surprise regarding the performance of any action. For example:
My girlfriend canspeak Spanish - My girlfriend can (can) speak Spanish (expressions of ability).
That child can’t swim - That child does not know how (cannot) swim (expression of ability).
He cannot remember you because he doesn’t see you - It cannot be that he remembers you, because he did not see you (expression of doubt).
The modal verb could has an absolutely identical meaning to the verb can, but it is used to express the past tense. For example:
Jon could dance very well - Jon could dance very well.
I couldn’t receive driving license 2 years ago - I couldn’t get a driver’s license 2 years ago.
Some features of modal verbs are considered by the rules of the English language. Modal verbs, for example, can have alternative forms. For the verb can, the alternative verb is to be able to. This form can be used as a synonym for the verb can, and can also be used to express the ability (skill) to perform some action in the future, in contrast to can (which is not used in the future).
For example, in order to translate “I can win competitions next year” into English, you cannot say “I will can win competitions in the next year”, as this would be a blunder. But you can say “I will be able to win competitions in the next year.”
Sometimes it can be quite difficult to translate modal verbs into English. Practicing and learning the rules is the only way to learn how to correctly use a variety of verbs in appropriate situations.
Features of verbs may andmight
These forms can only be used in the present tense. They are not used in the past or future. They are used to demonstrate permission and assumption. Translated into Russian they sound like “I can”, “it is possible”, “may”. For example:
You may smoke in this room - You can smoke in this room.
Elizabeth may know something about that night - Elizabeth may know something about that night.
It may windy today - Today it may be windy.
My parents might come to my home today - My parents might come to my home today.
Jennifer might go to the concert tonight - Jennifer might come to the concert tonight.
In addition, the verb might is used in conditional sentences (type number 2). In such a situation, the verb in Russian will sound “could”, “maybe”. For example:
If Jack had a dog, he might go out twice a day - If Jack had a dog, he could go out for a walk twice a day.
Just like the verb can, the verb may has an alternative form that can be used in past tense sentences. In order to express permission, the combination to be allowed is used (translated into Russian to be allowed, permitted). It can also be used in present and future tense forms. Example:
Gabriel was allowed to come back to home earlier - Gabriel was allowed to return home earlier.
Nina will be allowed to take her child home tomorrow - Nina will be allowed to take her child home tomorrow.
Features of the verb should
The only time this verb can be used today is to express moral advice or duty. The peculiarity of this verb is its origin. It comes from the verb shall, forming the past form.
You should drink aspirin if you feel head pain - You should drink aspirin if you have a headache.
Auxiliary and modal verbs
Some modal forms are also auxiliary verbs. They are necessary in order to form a variety of temporal forms. However, they do not have their own translation. They simply form a variety of grammatical meanings and are markers of tense, number or person. When you encounter one of these verbs, you need to understand what they mean in that context. After all, they can either be used to express desires, intentions, the need to do something, or simply help to form one form or another. These include the verbs to have (have), to do, will (would), shall (should). For example:
Have you ever been in Spain? - Have you ever been to Spain (the verb has absolutely no modal meaning, it is used to form the perfect present tense).
She arrived when film had already started - She arrived when the film had already started (the verb has absolutely no modal meaning, it is used to form the perfect past tense).
I have two old brothers and three old sisters - I have two older brothers and three older sisters (in in this case the verb is neither modal nor auxiliary, it simply conveys its direct meaning).
Lessons will start at 8 a.m. - The lesson will start tomorrow at 8 o'clock in the morning (the verb has no modal meaning, it is used as an auxiliary verb forming the future tense form).
If she finishes her homework, they will go to the cafe - If she finishes her homework, they will go to the cafe (the verb is an auxiliary and forms the first form of a conditional sentence).
Modal verbs in English: examples with translation
You must come to the university at 8 o’clock - You must be at the university at 8 o’clock.
My sister must not smoke right now because she catch ill - My sister must not smoke right now because she has a cold.
Nicki shouldn’t do like this - Nicki shouldn’t have done this.
I can play the piano but I can’t swim - I can play the piano, but I can’t swim.
My sister can’t go to the Italy on her own because she is 13 years old - My sister can’t go to Italy on her own because she is only 13 years old.
I will to the USA with my boyfriend in the next year - I will go with my boyfriend to the USA next year.
My girlfriend would like to get a gold ring for her next birthday - My girlfriend would like to get a gold ring for her next birthday.
Here you can take a lesson on the topic: Modal verbs in English. Modal verbs.
In this tutorial we will look at special category English verbs that are used to express possibilities, necessity, ability, certainty, obligation and some other goals of the speaker. These verbs are noticeably different from ordinary verbs in English and are called modal.
Here are the main modal verbs to remember:
can - be able to, be able to
could - could, could
must - must, necessarily
have to - must, optional, should
may - it is possible
might - possible (a little outdated)
should - should
ought to - should (a little outdated)
need to - necessary, necessary
Due to their special semantics and form of agreement, modal verbs are considered as a separate grammatical category. In affirmative sentences they are used as part of the predicate, and in negative and interrogative ones they perform the role of the auxiliary verb. For example:
(+) He can sing. - He can (can) sing.
(-) He can’t (can’t) sing. - He doesn’t know how (can) sing.
(?) Can he sing?- Can (Can) he sing?
There are several rules that will help you correctly construct phrases and sentences with modal verbs:
1. Modal verbs are not used by themselves, but only in combination with other verbs. For example:
James can drink a bottle of whiskey. - James can drink a bottle of whiskey.
2. Most modal verbs never does not change according to gender, numbers and persons. For example:
I must find that book. - I have to find that book. (1st person singular)
He must find that book. - He must find that book. (3rd person singular)
We must find that book. - We have to find that book. (1st person plural)
The exceptions are the modal verbs have to (must) and need to (necessary). For example:
You have to clean the room. - You must (you should) clean the room. (2nd person plural)
He has to clean the room. - He must (he should) clean the room. (3rd person singular)
I need to learn how to drive. - I need to learn to drive a car. (1st person singular)
She needs to learn how to drive. - She needs to learn to drive a car. (3rd person singular)
3. Modal verbs do not change shape those. do not form an infinitive, gerund or participle like basic English verbs. Let's look at the changes in form using the example of the verb help:
(to) help (infinitive) - helping (gerund) - helped (participle)
4. Always used after modal verbs infinitive verb without the particle to. For example:
We can change the rules of the game. - We can change the rules of this game.
He must pay for the tickets. - He must pay for the tickets.
5. Most modal verbs are considered auxiliary, so they can independently form their own questions and denials. For example:
(-) You can"t (cannot) just leave. - You can’t just leave.
(-) Chris shouldn't (should not) lie to his parents. - Chris shouldn't lie to his parents.
(?) Could you repeat the sentence, please? - Could you repeat (this) sentence, please?
(?) What can I do for you? - What can I do for you?
Exceptions are modal verbs have to and need to, which are not auxiliary. In this regard, to form their questions and denials, they need the help of the auxiliary verbs do and does (3rd person singular). For example:
(-) You don"t have to go there. - You don’t need (not necessarily) to go there.
(-) My dad doesn't need to work. - My dad doesn't need (no need) to work.
(?) Does it have to be this way? - Should it be like this?
(?) Do I need to apologise? - Do I need to apologize?
6. Some modal verbs have no future or past tense forms. Let's look at the temporary table:
All modal verbs refer to certain semantic groups:
Verbs of possibility
- verbs of probability
- verbs of permissions and prohibitions
- verbs of (absence of) obligation
- verbs of requests and offers
- verbs of advice
- verbs of (lack of) necessity
Let's look at each group in more detail.
I. So, for example, possibility in English can be expressed by the modal verbs can and could. With these verbs we can talk about physical abilities and capabilities. For example:
Julia can climb the trees easily. - Julia can easily climb trees.
I could fall and break my leg. - I could have fallen and broken my leg.
As you can see from the examples, there is a slight difference between the modal verbs can and could: can is a present tense verb, and could is a past tense verb. However, there are cases when could is used in the present tense, to make the conversation more official tone. For example:
Can I take your book? -Can I borrow your book? (friendly tone)
Could I borrow your book? - Can I borrow your book from you? (more formal tone)
II.Basic verbs of probability- these are may and might. But probability can also be expressed using the verbs can and could. Depending on the context, modal verbs of probability can be interchangeable. Let's look at examples:
Don"t touch it! It may/ might fall apart. - Don't touch it! It may fall apart.
She may/ might pass the exam. - Perhaps she will pass the exam.
It can/ may/ might rain. - It might rain.
You could/ may/ might/ can lose your job. - You could lose your job.
III. Verbs of probability (may, might, can, could) can also be used to express permissions or prohibitions. For example:
(?) May/ might/ can/ could/ speak to the bank manager, please? - Can I speak to the bank manager, please?
As can be seen from the question, in requests to allow something, you can use any of these verbs. The only difference will be in the formality of the situation. The verb can is the simplest way of addressing, while may, might and could are more formal.
Let's try to answer this question affirmatively (permission) and negatively (prohibition):
(+) Yes, you may/ might/ can. - Yes. Can.
(-) No, you may not/ might not/ can not. - No you can not.
The verb could is not used as an answer in such situations.
IV. Verbs obligations are the verbs must and have to. They differ little from each other in meaning, but in form they are quite different. So, for example, the verb must is auxiliary those. itself constructs questions and negations, but the verb have to does not. Or the verb must has no form neither the present time nor the future, and the verb have to has, so when you need to express an obligation not in the present tense, only the verb have to is used. Let's look at some examples:
You must leave immediately. - You must leave immediately.
I have to visit the dentist. - I need (should) visit the dentist.
(-) You mustn"t smoke here. - You can’t smoke here.
(-) You don"t have to smoke here. - You don’t need to smoke here.
(?) Must we obey? - Should we obey?
(?) Does he have to travel that far? - Should he travel such a distance?
We had to open the door to let the smoke out. “We had to open the doors so the smoke could come out.” (past)
My mum will have to pay my school fee. - My mother will have to pay the school fee. (future)
The verbs must and have to can be used interchangeably in the present tense, but must is considered to imply a stronger duty, while have to reserves the right to choose. For example:
You must go to this party. It's very important. - You (necessarily) must go to this party. It is very important.
I think, you have to go to this party. - I think you should go to this party. (but it's up to you to decide whether to go or not).
While the verbs must and have to are very similar, their negative forms have completely different meanings: mustn"t - impossible, prohibited; don"t have to - no need, not necessary. Let's look at the following examples:
You mustn"t smoke at school. It"s prohibited. - You can't smoke at school. It is forbidden. (ban)
Actually, you don"t have to come with me. I can go myself. - In principle, you don’t have to come with me. I can go myself. (lack of obligation).
V. Requests are very similar to permissions, therefore, using the verbs we already know can and could we can make a request. For example:
Can/ Could you help me with this bag, please? - Could you help me with this bag, please?
However, you can also use modal verbs to ask for help: will and would. For example:
Will/ Would you help me with ,y homework? - Could you help me with my homework?
And the best phrase to express a request is the phrase Would you mind + gerund verb. Let's consider in a sentence:
Would you mind helping me? - Can you help me?
To express offers of help and simply interesting proposals, the verb shall is used, and less often will. For example:
Shall I help you with your begs? - Do you need help with your bags?
Shall I make you a cup of tea? - Should I make you a cup of tea?
Shall we go to the cinema? - Shouldn't we go to the cinema?
Here, I shall/ will help you. - Wait, now I will help you.
I will bring you some water. - I'll bring you some water.
VI. Advice is given in English using modal verbs should and ought to. These verbs are equivalent in meaning, but should is a more informal word and is used more often. Let's look at examples of advice:
You should/ ought to go to the dentist. - You should go to the dentist.
The weather is chilly. You should/ ought to put on your coat. - The weather is cool. You should wear a coat.
When you talk to older people, you should/ ought to be more polite. - When you talk to people older than you, you should be more polite.
The verb should has both a negative form - shouldn't, which is also used for advice, and an interrogative form. For example:
(-) You shouldn't stay there for a long time. - You shouldn't stay there for a long time.
(-) She shouldn’t talk to me like that. - She shouldn’t talk to me like that.
(?) Should I call the police? - Should I call the police?
(?) Should I hide while it "s not late? - Should I (should) hide before it’s too late?
The verb ought to does not have a negative or interrogative form.
VII. The main verb of need in English is the modal verb - need to. But necessity can also be expressed using the verb have to. For example:
You need to lose some weight. = You have to lose some weight. You need (should, must) lose some weight.
These same verbs are used to express lack of need. You just need to use the negative form, and since the verbs need to and have to are not auxiliary, the words don"t and doesn"t need help. Let's look at examples:
You don"t have to cook if you don"t like it. -You don't have to cook if you don't like it.
He doesn't need to cut his hair. - He doesn't need to cut his hair.
In English there are many examples of the use of modal verbs in national sayings. Here you will find some of them:
Hares may pull dead lions by the beard. - Hares can pull a dead lion’s beard./ A dog that has died will not bite.
No living man all things can. - No person can do everything./ You cannot embrace the immensity.
Bird may be known by its song. - You can recognize a bird by the way it sings.
As the tree falls, so shall it lie. - When a tree falls, that’s where it should lie./ Where the tree leaned, that’s where it fell.
As you brew, so must you drink. - What you brewed, then dissolve.
Things past cannot be remembered. - The past cannot be returned.
Drowning man will catch at a straw. - A drowning man clings to a straw.
Needs must when the devil drives. - You have to when the devil urges you on. / Nothing can be done against necessity.
Thus, we became acquainted with a special grammatical topic in the English language - modal verbs, as well as some rules for their use. Modal verbs are used quite often and will appear more than once in sentences. If you pay attention to their use in sentences, and also try to come up with your own examples, then the knowledge will not be in vain.
In the English language, in addition to verbal units that express action, there is a group of verbs that serve to fix modality in speech. Speaking in simple language, they express not the action itself, but various kinds of relationships of a certain nature to these actions. Together with the infinitive, modal units form a compound predicate. In general, this is another group of “nasty” verbs in the English language. Modal form of the English verb The origin of these words is lost in the darkness of centuries. In any case, I was unable to come across a thread that would lead me to their origins. No matter how much I tried to find out their basis from various sources, I did not find anything unambiguous, but also no more or less intelligible explanation.
They differ from ordinary verbs in a number of features, which you can familiarize yourself with a little later. However, in my opinion, they the most important sign- this is the fact that they convey not the state or action of a person or object, but precisely our attitude: “I must know this table" or "I I want to learn these words."
What is meant by the word "attitude"? The speaker can evaluate any action as necessary, possible, requested, permitted, very probable, unlikely, prohibited, ordered, etc. Depending on the speaker’s assessment of the situation and the structure of the sentence, one of the modal verbs is used in speech.
In total, linguists managed to fix 4 actual modal ones, 4 of their main analogues, as well as 6 units of a multifunctional type.
Modal verbs in English: Modal verbs in English
- Can/Could
- May/Might
- Be to
- Have to / Have got to
- Should
- Ought to
- Would
- Used to
- Shall
The first three are used most often in speech. These verbs sometimes replace other relational words because they have a more general meaning.
Modal verbs in English form interrogative sentences without the auxiliary unit to do, and the construction itself is in preposition: Shall I help you?
The negative form in a sentence is formed by placing the particle not in postposition. Often, especially in oral communication, they merge into one form and are reduced. See table:
If you want to learn how to construct sentences correctly, then you must remember that modal verbs, excluding have (got) to, ought to and be to, are followed by a bare infinitive, and the to particle disappears: I must go.
Distinctive features
Their second name is insufficient, due to the fact that they do not have a number grammatical forms that other words have - states or actions. Modal verbs in English have the following features:
- They are not conjugated by numbers and persons, that is, in the 3rd person singular they do not form the ending -s. The exceptions are need to, have to and be able to, since they have a conjugation paradigm
- They are used in speech together with semantic verbs, which at the same time lose the to particle, or can be omitted in the context of a text or conversation: I have to
- Lack of gerunds, participles and impersonal infinitives due to the lack of complex tense forms (see next point)
- There is no future or past tense, and there are no continuous or perfect forms, with the exception of may (might) and can (could)
To make it easier to understand the rules for using modal verbs, carefully study this table: 
Table of modal verbs Why do you need to know modal verbs? 
Their correct use in spoken literate English confirms that you have mastered a level of English that has crossed the initial basic level of everyday communication. And if you don’t use them in your speech when communicating with an American or a British person, then this means that you are still at the initial stage of learning English and do not have sufficient competence.
Therefore, improve, grow, create a positive impression! Good luck!
Modal verbs are a special group of English verbs that have a number of features
1. do not name actions, but only express the attitude of the speaker
2. do not have a number of grammatical categories
3. used without the particle ‘to’ (exceptions have to, to be to, ought to)
1) can
| meaning | example |
|---|---|
| ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to) ability of physical or mental action (synonym to be able to) |
I can speak English. I can (can) speak English |
| permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) permission (synonym: to be allowed to) |
Can I go to the cinema? Can I go to the cinema? |
| request request |
Can you wait a moment, please? Could you wait a minute? |
| offer offer |
I can lend you my car till tomorrow. I can lend you my car until tomorrow. |
| suggestion offer |
Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? Let's visit grandma this weekend. |
| possibility opportunity |
It can get very hot in Arizona. Arizona can get very hot. |
2) could
| meaning | example |
|---|---|
| ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to) ability of physical or mental action in the past (synonym to be able to) |
I could speak English. I could speak English. |
| permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to) permission in the past (synonym: to be allowed to) |
I could go to the cinema. I could go to the cinema. (I was allowed.) |
| polite request polite form of request |
Could you wait a moment, please? Could you wait a minute? |
| polite offer polite sentence form |
I could lend you my car till tomorrow. I could lend you my car until tomorrow. |
| polite suggestion polite sentence form |
Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? Could we go to grandma's this weekend? |
To express a single action in the past, managed to, was/were able is used instead of could:
I managed to climb the mountain without nobody's help. (I managed to climb the mountain without anyone's help.)
3) may
4) might
5) must
6) must not/may not
| meaning | example |
|---|---|
| prohibition ban |
You mustn't work on dad's computer. You are not allowed to work on your father's computer. You may not work on dad's computer. |
7) need not/don’t have to
9) shall
10) should
11) will
12) would
13) need/have to
| meaning | example |
|---|---|
| necessity necessity |
I need to/have to study tonight. You don't need to study today. |
have to used instead must in the past time
