Modals in English Grammar
1. can
Use |
Examples |
ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be able to) |
I can speak English. |
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) |
Can I go to the cinema? |
request |
Can you wait a moment, please? |
offer |
I can lend you my car till tomorrow. |
suggestion |
Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? |
possibility |
It can get very hot in Arizona. |
2. could
Use |
Examples |
ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be able to) |
I could speak English. |
permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to) |
I could go to the cinema. |
polite question * |
Could I go to the cinema, please? |
polite request * |
Could you wait a moment, please? |
polite offer * |
I could lend you my car till tomorrow. |
polite suggestion * |
Could we visit Grandma at the weekend? |
possibility * |
It could get very hot in Montana. |
3. may
Use |
Examples |
possibility |
It may rain today. |
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) |
May I go to the cinema? |
polite suggestion |
May I help you? |
4. might
Use |
Examples |
possibility (less possible than may) * |
It might rain today. |
hesitant offer * |
Might I help you? |
5. must
Use |
Examples |
force, necessity |
I must go to the supermarket today. |
possibility |
You must be tired. |
advice, recommendation |
You must see the new film with Brad Pitt. |
6. must not/may not
Use |
Examples |
prohibition (must is a little stronger) |
You mustn't work on dad's computer. |
You may not work on dad's computer. |
7. need not
Use |
Examples |
sth. is not necessary |
I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight. |
8. ought to
similar to should – ought to sounds a little less subjective
Use |
Examples |
advice |
You ought to drive carefully in bad weather. |
obligation |
You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room. |
9. shall
used instead of will in the 1st person
Use |
Examples |
suggestion |
Shall I carry your bag? |
10. should
Use |
Examples |
advice |
You should drive carefully in bad weather. |
obligation |
You should switch off the light when you leave the room. |
11. will
Use |
Examples |
wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) |
Will you please shut the door? |
prediction, assumption |
I think it will rain on Friday. |
promise |
I will stop smoking. |
spontaneous decision |
Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will. |
habits |
She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking. |
12. would
Use |
Examples |
wish, request (more polite than will) |
Would you shut the door, please? |
habits in the past |
Sometimes he would bring me some flowers. |
* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.