USE OF MODAL VERBS

MODAL VERB MEANING INTENTION EXAMPLE QUESTIONS

CAN ABILITY OR PERMISSION He can play the piano

CANT ABILITY OR PERMISSION She cant walk faster. Can you speak German?

CANT PROHIBITION You cant smoke in a restaurant

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COULD ABILITY, PERMISSION or PROBABILITY I could run very fast when I was a child.
Could you play guitar when you were 6 years old?
COULDNT ABILITY, PERMISSION or PROBABILITY I couldnt sleep last night.

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MUST OBLIGATION You must go to the post office to buy stamps
Must you go home now?
MUSTNT PROHIBITION You mustnt drive if you drink

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SHOULD ADVICE You should study harder.
Should I call the doctor?
SHOULDNT ADVICE I think you shouldnt go to bed so late

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MAY PROBABILITY We may go out tonight

MAY NOT PROBABILITY I may not come today

MIGHT PROBABILITY I might go to the cinema tonight.

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MIGHT NOT PROBABILITY She might not be his wife

OUGHT TO OBLIGATION, ADVICE You ought to go to the doctor if it hurts

OUGHT NOT TO OBLIGATION You ought not to be late tonight

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WOULD POLITE REQUEST I would go to the beach
Changes the verb into a
conditional

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WOULD NOT POLITE REQUEST I would not like to fail the exam

NEED TO NECESSITY You need to buy the flight ticket to get on a plane

NEEDNT NOT NECESSARY You neednt worry about me

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SHALL SUGGESTION OR OFFER Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

NOTICE THAT, TO MAKE ALL PREVIOUS MODAL VERBS IN NEGATIVE, WE ONLY ADD NOT AFTER THE MODAL VERB
NOTICE THAT IN QUESTIONS, MODAL VERBS ACT LIKE AUXILIAR IN OUR WASV FORMULA

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MODAL VERB MEANING INTENTION EXAMPLE

HAVE TO OBLIGATION You have to pass the exam to get your licence
DONT HAVE TO NECESSITY You dont have to go to school tomorrow, its Sunday!
NOTICE THAT WE NEED AN AUXILIAR TO CREATE NEGATIVE SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS
IN QUESTIONS, HAVE TO DOESNT ACT LIKE AUXILIAR IN OUR WASV FORMULA

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EXAMPLE: What time DO you have to go to the doctor?

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