Modal verbs V English language- these are verbs that in themselves do not denote an action, a state, but reflect, as they say in textbooks, “the speaker’s attitude to the action.”

What does it mean? Let's take the verb can(to be able to do something) - in itself it does not denote an action or state, like the verbs “fly”, “see”, “get scared”. But in combination with another verb it denotes the same attitude to action - in this case it is ability perform an action.

I can fix your TV in two minutes – I Can fix your TV in two minutes.

I can swim in cold water – I Can swim in cold water.

Modal verbs include:

• (could)- be able, be capable.
• - to be due.
• – should, must (e.g. “you should...”).
• (might)– expresses that there is permission (e.g. “I can…”)

Note: This article covers the most common modal verbs.

Why is it important to know modal verbs?

Modal verbs are VERY often used in colloquial and writing. Especially - it is one of the 10 most common verbs in the English language (see) and almost no conversation can take place without it.

In addition to the basic meanings, it is useful to know the basic nuances of using modal verbs. For example, in the phrase “You must help Bill” verb must expresses an obligation: “You must help Bill.” And in the sentence “You must be Bill” the same must has a completely different meaning: “You must be Bill.”

Features of modal verbs

Modal verbs are a special group of verbs (fortunately, very small in number) that live according to their own separate rules. Here are their main features.

1. Modal verbs in English are used with a semantic verb in, and the particle to is not placed between verbs.

Right:

• I canbuy you a candy – I Can buy candy for you.
• I mustdecline your offer – I must reject your suggestion.

Wrong:

• I can tobuy you a candy.
• I must todecline your offer.

2. Modal verbs are not conjugated, no endings are added to them, including the ending -s in the third person singular.

Right:

• He can walk on a wire. - He can walk on a tightrope.
• She must go. - She must go.

Wrong:

• He cans walk on a wire.
• She musts go.

3. Modal verbs are not used in the future tense with an auxiliary verb.

In most cases, modal verbs can refer to action in the future, this becomes clear from the context.

• I can help you tomorrow. - I I can (I can) help you tomorrow.
• We must get back home by midnight. - We must be back home by midnight.
• He may pass his exam later with another group. - He may (can) take the exam later with another group.
• You should ask her out tomorrow. - You should invite her somewhere tomorrow.

4. The verbs can and may have past tense forms.

These forms are respectively:

I also note that should is the past tense form of a modal verb shall, which is used quite rarely in modern English, see.

5. The interrogative form is formed without an auxiliary verb - the modal verb is placed before the subject:

• I can drive - Can I drive?
• She could help us – Could she help us?
• We must go - Must are we going?
• I may ask - May I ask?
• You should try - Should I try?

6. The negative form is formed with the help of the particle not, it is placed after the modal verb (and is written together with the verb can). IN colloquial speech Usually negative forms are abbreviated.

• cannot – can’t
• could not – couldn’t
• may not – may not
• might not – mightn’t
• shouldn't – shouldn't
• must not – mustn’t

Note:

Mustnot has not the opposite must meaning. For example:

You must not- does not mean “must not”, that is, “you have no obligation” (here “you don’t have to”), but “you cannot”, “you are prohibited”, “forbidden”. In Russian, sentences with a prohibition expressed as must not are often translated into impersonal sentences.

• You mustn't enter that room – To you forbidden go into that room.
• You mustn't smoke here – Here prohibited smoke.

May not also has the meaning of prohibition, but softer than must not.

• You may not go there - to you it is forbidden go there.
• You may not touch it – to you it is forbidden it's touching.

Cannot can mean both physical impossibility, inability, and a ban in a mild form.

• You can't take in all those kittens. - You can not shelter all these kittens (this is impossible).
• You can't park here – Here it is forbidden park (this is prohibited).

Synonyms of modal verbs

Modal verbs have non-modal synonyms that are conjugated according to general rules.

These are the synonyms:

• Can = be able to (be able)
• Must = have to (to be due)
• May = be allowed to (have permission)
• Should = be supposed to (imply, be due) - not in all cases.

Modal verbs are considered insufficient - this means that they do not have future tense forms, some (must) do not have past tense forms. Using synonyms you can replace missing forms of modal verbs.

Replacing a modal verb with a synonym is not entirely complete and accurate. For example, must can mean moral necessity, duty, and have to can mean forced necessity.

I must help my parents. - I must help your parents (duty, obligation).

My colleague is being late for the meeting, I have to wait for him. – My colleague is late for a meeting, I must(I have to) wait for him.

Basic uses of modal verbs

Modal verb Can (could)

The verb can is used for:

1. Expressions of opportunity, ability to do something, question, polite request:

Can is used in the present and future tenses, and could in the past tense.

Present tense:

I can show you new world - I Can show you a new world.

I can't believe it! – I can not believe it!

In interrogative form the request is:

Can I help you? - Can can I help you?

Can do you do me a favour? - You you can do me a favor?

Sentences with the negative form can’t can express not only impossibility, but also a prohibition:

You can't move this stone. - You can not move this stone (it's too heavy).

You can't walk on the grass. – It is forbidden walking on the grass (this is prohibited).

Past tense:

He could play guitar - He knew how to play the guitar.

I couldn't forgive him - I couldn't forgive him.

Interrogative sentences with could express a polite request towards a second person. More polite than with can.

Could do you pass me that book? – Could you will you pass me that book?

Future – verb can does not change in any way, his attitude towards the future is clear from the context:

I can talk to you later. - I I can (I can) talk to you later.

James can fix your car tomorrow. – James may (can) fix your car tomorrow.

2. “It can’t be that...”

This combination is also used in negative sentences when the speaker does not believe, does not allow the possibility that the action actually happened. When translating such phrases into Russian, the words “can’t be”, “couldn’t”, “really” are usually used.

Lara cannot have done it! – Lara I could not such do!

No, he cannot have said it! - No he could not such say!

Can she have said it? – Really she is said?

Modal verb Must

1. Ought (to be obliged to do something)

You must be Peter - You, there must be, Peter.

These must be his footsteps - This, there must be, his traces.

You should have turned left! - You had to turn left! (and turned right)

You should have seen this place! - You needed to see this place! (but you didn’t see)

3. “In theory it should”

At the verb should there is also the meaning “in theory should”, that is, there is some expected, intended action, but it may not be carried out. In this case, the turnover is more often used be supposed to.

I should (am supposed to) be at work now, but the show is so damn interesting – I must be (supposedly) at work now, but this series is damn interesting.

Doctors say that we should (are supposed to) exercise if we want to stay healthy – Doctors say that we need to(we are supposed to) exercise to stay healthy.

Modal verb May (might)

1. Have permission, permission

In present and future tense

You may do what you want – You can do what you want (present tense).

You may play with your friends later. – You can play with your friends later (future tense)

May I ask you a question? – Can(may I) ask you a question?

IN negative form may not expresses a prohibition:

You may not play with them. - You it is forbidden playing with them (I forbid it).

In the past time to express permission, it is not the verb might that is used (it expresses an assumption, see below), but the phrase be allowed to- have permission.

I was allowed to continue working on my project. - To me allowed continue working on my project.

We were not allowed to wear uniform. - Us not allowed wear a uniform.

2. Assumption

The verb used to make a guess is may or might, in this case it is translated as “perhaps”, “maybe”, etc. The difference between may and might is that may expresses the speaker’s greater confidence in the assumption. However, this difference may be highly context dependent or may not be significant.

Present and future tense

Scheme: May / might + infinitive (without to)

You might know that place – You, Maybe, you know this place (present tense).

He may visit us tonight – He, May be, will visit us in the evening (future tense).

Past tense:

Scheme: May / might + have + Past Participle

She might have forgotten the documents at home. - She, maybe I forgot documents at home.

I may have seen you before. - I, may have seen you before.

Video lessons on modal verbs

In the grammar section of Puzzle English there are several video lessons on the topic of modal verbs, here is the first one: “The Verb Can”.

By going to the “Grammar” section on the Puzzle English service, you can watch the rest of the video lessons (they are available for free), as well as complete the exercises.

In English, there is a concept of "modality", which reveals the broader meaning of a phrase or verb in the context of a sentence. Many may have heard about modal verbs before while studying English at school or in other educational institutions. However, this topic is worth remembering. And for those who encounter this phenomenon in language for the first time, it will be interesting to consider the material below.

What are “modal verbs” and why are they needed?

There are few purely modal verbs in English: can/couldmay/might,shouldandmust. And although each of them has its own eigenvalue, they all perform the same function: they complement the action of the main verb.

They also all have common features:

• the next verb following the modal is written without the particle “to”.

Example: We can go out from here – We can go out from here

• the ending “-s” is not added to modal verbs in the 3rd person

Example: He must come straight home – He must come straight home

• modal verbs do not change and have only one form of the present tense (except could/might verbs)

Example: I'm maying to want some help– I may want some help.

Correct placement in a sentence.

1. In affirmative sentences.

Subject + modal + verb:

• We should go now - We should go now.
• You must stay - You must stay.
• She can help us - She can help us.

2. In negative sentences.

Subject + modal + not (or n’t) + verb:

• We mustn’t stay out late - We must not be absent for long.
• She may not come - She may not come.

3. In interrogative sentences.

Modal + subject + verb:

• Can you drive? - Do you know how to drive?
• Must they leave now? - Should they leave now?

4. Short answers:

Yes, No + subject + modal (+ not, n’t):

• Yes, I can.
• No, she shouldn't.

Let's look at each verb separately.

Can,could(to be able, to be able to, to be able)

It is the most common modal verb. Used to talk about the capabilities of the subject:

• in the present tense, when it is a constant truth.

I can drive - I can drive.

Can you play the piano? No, I can’t – Do you know how to play the piano? No I do not know how to.

• in the present tense, at the moment.

He can help you now - He can help you now.

• in the future, with expressions of time.

She can’t come to the party tomorrow - She won’t be able to come to the party tomorrow

• in the past tense we use could/couldn't't to talk about abilities or knowledge .

She could play the piano when she was five - She could play the piano when she was five.

She couldn’t speak English very well when she arrived here – She couldn’t speak English very well when she arrived here.

• We can't use could to talk about events that have already happened. But we can use couldn't to talk about actions or events whose implementation was impossible.

She couldn't come to the party. (For her, coming to the party was impossible)

NOT She ​​could come to the party.

They couldn't eat all their dinner. (For them, eating the whole dinner was impossible)

NOT They could eat all their dinner.

• Can And could can also be used in requirements or queries.

Can you help me? - Can you help me?

Could you open the door for me, please? – Could you open the door for me, please?

Can I have a drink? -Can I have a drink?

Could we use your phone? – Could we use your phone?

P.S. Сould is a more polite form, unlike can.

May,might(be able, have permission)

This pair of modal verbs denotes probability, possibility, permission. Might is more polite form, how may. Are used:

• To talk about possibilities in the future.

They may leave soon - They may leave soon.

They might leave soon - They could leave soon.

(It is possible that they will leave soon, but I am not sure about that.)

He may be at the office - He may be in the office.

He might be at the office - He could be in the office.

(It's possible he's in the office now, but I'm not sure.)

• For polite requests.

May I sit here? -Can I sit here?

May we come in? -Can we come in?

However, you cannot use might for the interrogative form.

NOT Might I sit here? or Might we come in?

Some notes:

• Negative form may pronounced like maynot. We can't talk mayn't.
• Negative form might usually pronounced like mightnot. Use mightn't allowed, but used very rarely.
• We can use May I...? or Maywe...? for polite requests, but we cannot use may when we ask someone to do something. NOT May you open the door, please?
• Basically we don't use may or might in interrogative form, with the exception of polite requests. But sometimes we can ask a question with Doyouthink...?

Example: Do you think they might be here soon? “Do you think they might be here soon?”

But not Might they be here soon?

Should(should, should)

We often use should to give various types of advice:

• You should go home - You should go home. (I think it would be better for you to stay at home.)
• He shouldn’t eat so many sweets - He shouldn’t eat so many sweets. (I think overeating on sweets will be bad for him.)

We can also use should both in the present and in the future tense:

• We should leave now - We should leave now.
• We should leave early in the morning - We should leave early in the morning.

We often use should With I think... or Do you think...?:

• I think we should leave - I think we should leave
• Do you think I should write to him? “Do you think I should write to him?”

Must(must)

This modal verb more strictly expresses the subject’s need to perform an action, or confidence in something. Must order of magnitude stronger than should. And its use increases the priority of the entire sentence:

• I must do some work tonight - I must do some work tonight.
• We must get up early tomorrow - We must get up early tomorrow.
• He must be there. - He should be there.

Also use must possible both in the present and in the future tense:

• We must go there now - We must go there now.
• We must go soon there - We must go there soon.

Thus, today you have learned why you need “ modal verbs” and how to use them correctly in a sentence. There are also some equivalents of these verbs, which will be discussed in future articles. That's all. Good luck

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Here you can take a lesson on the topic: Modal verbs in English. Modal verbs.

In this lesson we will look at a special category of 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 must verbs 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 y verb have to - is, therefore, 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 are completely different meanings: mustn"t - impossible, prohibited; don"t have to - no need, not mandatory. 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 most 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. In simple terms, 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 polyfunctional 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.

Formation of sentences

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 of 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 usage in conversational literacy English speech confirms that you have mastered a level of English that has crossed the initial level a 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!

In English, there are special verbs that are necessary to express ability, opportunity, obligation, permission. They are not subject to the rules for forming forms of ordinary verbs. Modal verbs in English occupy a separate level of grammar; their meanings must be remembered so as not to get into an awkward situation. Let's look at the basic modal verbs, the rules for their use, and their meanings.

What is a modal verb?

A modal verb is a verb that does not express an action, but indicates possibility, necessity and other meanings. It is not used independently, but only in combination with a semantic verb expressed by an infinitive. Modal ones include might, must, can, could, ought, should and others. Only some of them have a past tense form, for example, can - could, while others use the perfect infinitive to express the completeness of the action:

He must have done it. - He must have already done it.

Among the formal distinctive features the following can be distinguished:

• Lack of ending - s in the 3rd person present tense. She can swim. - She can swim. He might be there. - He should be there.
• Lack of infinitive, gerund, and past participle.
• Lack of an auxiliary verb in interrogative sentences. The modal verb comes first in general issues and after the question word in special ones. Can you help me? - Can you help me? May I come in? - Can I come in? How can I help you? - How can I help?
• Formation of a negative form using the particle not without adding an auxiliary verb. We don't need to do that. - We don't need to do this.
• Many English modal verbs have equivalents. For example, to have (must), to be (must), to be able to (can, could), to be allowed (might, may).
• Most modal verbs are followed by a semantic verb expressed by an infinitive without the particle to, however, there are exceptions. For example, You ought to be more careful. - You should be more careful. This fact ought not to be mentioned so often. - This should not have been mentioned so often.

Modal verbs in English: rules of use

Let's look at the main modal verbs in English according to their meanings. Moreover, each modal verb can have more than one meaning:

Probability Expression

Verbs are used to express possibility or probability can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. The speaker uses must, should if he is completely confident in his words.

He hasn`t had a lunch. He must be hungry. - he didn't have lunch. He must be hungry.

It`s very dark outside. It must be dangerous to home on foot. - It's very dark outside. Walking home is dangerous.

Ask Peter. He shouldn't know. - Ask Peter. He should know.

The speaker uses could, may, might to express the possibility of something in the future.

We might come late. - We might be late.

He may travel by plane. - Perhaps he will fly on an airplane.

Unless we hurry up, we could be late. - We might be late if we don't hurry up.

To express actions possible in the present or near past, the perfect infinitive is used.

It`s practically 3 o`clock now. She could have arrived now. - It's almost three o'clock. She could have already arrived.

He might have come hours ago. - She could have arrived several hours ago.

The English modal verbs could, can in the negative form with the particle not are used to express the impossibility of something in the past or present tense.

It was a joke. She couldn`t be serious. - It was a joke. She couldn't speak seriously.

It can`t be true.- This cannot be true.

Expression of physical ability and ability to perform an action

To express a person's abilities and physical skills, the modal verb can is used. It has two tense forms: can to express a person’s abilities in the present and could - in the past. In other tense forms, the verb can be equivalent to to be able (to).

We can`t translate the text.- We cannot translate the text.

He couldn`t see me, I was too far. - He couldn't see me, I was too far away.

We'll be able to see each other very often. - We can see each other more often.

He has been able to help me. - He managed to help me.

Expressing permission to perform an action

The speaker uses the modal verb can to ask permission to do something. Past tense form could will mean the same thing, but will make the phrase more polite and formal.

Can I ask a question? - Can I ask a question?

Could I ask a question? - Let me ask a question.

The verb may has a modal meaning: to allow something to be done and can be used instead of can.

May I visit a doctor? - Can I visit the doctor?

Expression of obligation

To express obligation, the modal verbs must, have to, need to are usually used, the negative form of which is intended to express the absence of the need to do something. Most should verbs are in the present tense. Had to also has a past tense form.

I must pick up my daughter from the kindergarten. - I have to pick up my child from kindergarten.

When I was ill I had to take the pills two times a day. - When I was sick, I had to take pills 2 times a day.

To give advice to someone, we can also use the corresponding modal verbs should or ought to.

You should stop smoking. - You have to quit smoking.

You ought to cut down the amount of meat you eat. - You should reduce the amount of meat you eat.

The modal verb ought to together with the perfect infinitive will help you criticize someone's behavior.

He should have made more effort on winning the medal. “He should have put in more effort and tried to win a medal.”

Table of modal verbs

For convenience and clarity, examples of modal verbs along with their meanings can be placed in a table.

Sentences with modal verbs are very common in English. It is important to learn to understand their meaning in each specific case.