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There are 9 main modal verbs in English which have many different functions. Here are just a few of the
common uses:
Modal
Can
Could
Might
May
Must
Will
Would
Shall
Should
Example
Function
I can swim.
present ability
permission
occasional possibility
I could swim.
past ability
past permission
We could go out.
making suggestions
future possibility
future possibility
He might be French.
present possibility
permission
possibility
I must go home.
obligation
He must be angry.
deduction
spontaneous decision
He'll be late.
prediction
threat/promise
offer
hypothesising
past habits
Shall we go home?
making suggestions
I shall be late.
prediction (formal)
advice
He should be asleep.
expectation
Note: the negatives don't always mean the exact opposite of the positive forms. You can learn more about
this on the pages for the different functions.
Common Problems
You can never use two modal verbs together.
I will must stop smoking before I'm 30. X
Fortunately, most modal verbs have expressions with a similar meaning which you can use instead.
I will have to stop smoking before I'm 30.
After a modal verb we use an infinitive without 'to'.
I must to go home now. X
I must go home now.
However, many similar expressions are used with 'to'.
I ought to go home now. ( = should go)
I have to go home now. ( = must go)
I used to eat lots of cake. ( = would eat)
I 'm not allowed to drink beer. ( = can't drink)
Don't do it!
Questions
Is it necessary?
Do I have to do it?
Is it allowed?
Can I do it?
It is possible to ask questions with "must I do it?", but it sounds more formal and is less common.
Mustn't or Don't Have To?
The meaning for these is completely different. Mustn't means it is very wrong, or it is a very bad
idea. Don't have to means that you don't need to do something (if you don't want to). For example:
You mustn't eat this - it's poisonous.
You don't have to eat this if you don't like it.
Must or Have to?
Often we use these words to mean the same thing. However, you can use must to show that you think
it is necessary, andhave to to show that another person thinks it's necessary.
I must do some homework tonight.
(I think it's important to do it)
I have to do some homework tonight.
(my teacher / parents told me to do it)
If you want to use any other tense, we always use have to.
One day I'll have to learn to drive.
I've never had to work very hard.
Past
Note: if you want to talk about abilities in the future, or use other tenses, you need to use be able to.
I will be able to speak perfect French one day.
I have been able to swim since I was a child.
Specific Abilities in the Past
Not all abilities are general. Some abilities happen only once (or a certain number of times) in a
particular situation. In positive sentences, we only use was able to.
I was very tired but I could stay awake all night. X
I was very tired but I was able to stay awake all night.
If the sentence is negative, we use could or was able to.
I couldn't hear him because of the music.
I wasn't able to hear him because of the music.
She must be a
vampire.
MIGHT
COULD
I think it's
possible
CAN'T
It's
impossible
She can't be a
vampire.
Modal verbs are always followed by the infinitive (without 'to'). But you need to decide if you are
talking about a state, an action in progress, or a finished action/state.
Present States
He might be at home
modal + infinitive
now.
Actions in progress now
He might be
workingnow.
modal + be + verb-ing
Past Actions/States
He might have gone out.
STATE VERBS
Not all verbs describe actions. For example, the verbs believe and want are inside you, you
don't do them. These verbs are states not actions, so we don't usually make continuous tenses with
them.
At the moment, I want some coffee.
(not "I am wanting...")
Common State Verbs
Examples
Likes/dislikes
adore, love, like, don't mind, dislike, hate,
loathe, approve, disapprove, prefer
I like rabbits.
I loathe coffee.
Possession
have, own, possess, belong, owe
I own 3 houses.
That chair belonged to me.
Senses
be, see, hear, seem, appear, smell, feel,
sound
He seems tired.
I heard a noise.
Thinking/the mind
know, understand, believe, think, agree,
disagree, suppose, suspect, doubt
Describing things
weigh, contain, consist, measure, cost, be
Wants
want, need, fancy, desire, wish
Note 1: some verbs have more than one meaning, which can be an action or a state.
She is smelling a flower.
(action in progress, not "she smells ...")
The flower smells lovely.
(state, not "it is smelling")
There are lots of verbs like this. Here are some more examples:
I think you are crazy!
a state: think = in my opinion
I'm thinking about my new boyfriend.
an action: think = dreaming about
I have three cars.
a state: have = possess
I'm having dinner.
an action: have dinner = eat dinner
Note 2: You can't make the present continuous with a state verb, but you can use state verbs in their ing form when they are nouns. For example:
Having a brother is great! (Having is a noun)
I am having have a brother. (am having is a verb)