Page 1

Modal Verbs

Page 2

MODAL USES EXAMPLE

Can- Ability / Possibility- Asking for permission- Request

- You can manage your home page- Can I borrow your document?- Can you help me?

Could

- Asking for permission- Request- Suggestion- Future possibility- Ability in the past

- Could I borrow your dictionary?- Could you repeat it once again, sir?- We could try to solve it by ourselves- I think we could have another tasks- Last year he could be the fastest runner

May- Asking for permission- Future possibility

- May I have another mineral?- Indonesia may become the champion

Must- Necessity / Obligation- Prohibition

- We must say good bye now- You mustn’t work all night long

Will

Shall

- Instant decisions- Offer- Promise- Certain prediction

- Offer- Suggestion- Asking what to do

- I will ask to front office, because .........- I will do anything to make you happy- I will be back again- Profit will increase next year

- Shall I fetch you?- We shall visit you at 4 O’clock this afternoon- What should I do?

Page 3

MODAL USES EXAMPLE

Might- Present possibility

- Future possibility

- We would better phone her tomorrow, she might be sleeping now.- They might give us a 20% discount

Would

- Asking for permission- Request- Making arrangement- Invitation- Preferences

- Would you mind if I go home with you?- Would you please wait for a moment?- Would three o’clock suit you? That would be fine- Would you like to visit her?- Would you prefer tea or coffee? I would like tea please

Should-Saying what’s right/correct-Recommending action-Uncertain prediction

- You should position your monitor well- I think we should check everything again- Profit should increase next year

Ought to -Saying what’s right/correct - You ought to position your monitor well