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English Modal Verbs Table

Modal verb Usage ability can when something is possible permission informal requests past form of "can" could polite requests possibility possibility may as! or give permission "formal# past form of "may" possibility you have to do it must must not/ mustn't shall it&s very logical or very li!ely to happen you are not allowed to do it future for "I" and "we" questions and suggestions for "I" and "we" Example I can do several things at the same time. Miracles can happen. You can go now. Can you come for a minute? She said she could pay for us as well. Could you move your bag please? It could be that he missed the train. It may rain tomorrow. May I spea!? $e said he might change his mind. %his might fail. You must obey the law %hey left so early they must be home by now. You mustn&t smo!e in here. I shall see him tomorrow. 'et&s continue shall we?

might

the right thing to do advice should what is li!ely or e*pected to happen future action or states "not plans# promises and intentions past form of "will" imagined situations

She should call the police. ( )hat should I do? ( You should stop thin!ing about it. )e should be bac! by midnight. +rices will go up ne*t summer. It&s alright I&ll pic! it up. $e told me he would come. )hat would you do if you were him?

will

would

( )ould you please sit down? ( )ould you li!e some tea? for polite requests offers and ( )e are meeting with Sarah invitations ne*t Saturday would you li!e to come along? to say what you want to do or have I would li!e a piece of ca!e. You ought to apologi,e.

ought to

the right thing to do

English Modal Verbs Situations Table


Situation re uests "formal# re uests "informal# re uests "polite# re uests "polite# permission "formal# permission "informal# obligation "full# obligation "partial# obligation "partial# "less common# logical conclusions "stronger than "should"# logical conclusions "wea!er than "must"# possibility "general# possibility "wea!er than "may" and "might"# possibility "wea!er than "may"# possibility "stronger than "might"# !uture actions.states.intentions Modal Verb may can could would may can must should ought to must should can could might may will Example May I sit down? Can I sit down? Could I sit down? )ould you mind if I sit down? You may sit down. You can sit down. You must tell the police the truth. You should tell your friends the truth. You ought to tell your friends the truth. $e left an hour ago so he must be there already. $e left half an hour ago I believe he should be there already. It can rain sometimes. It could rain but it is not very common in this part of the country. It&s not very cloudy yet but it might rain. It starts getting cloudy it may rain soon. 'oo! at the s!y/ It will rain soon.

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