Modal Verbs: Types, Expressions, and Usage

Study Notes

Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary verb that express modality, which includes notions such as ability, permission, obligation, and possibility.
They are used to express degrees of necessity, obligation, and possibility.

Can: ability, capacity, or skill
- Present: I can speak English.
- Past: I could speak English when I was a student.
Could: possibility, permission, or ability
- Present: I could go to the party if I wanted to.
- Past: I could have gone to the party, but I was tired.
May: permission, possibility, or ability
- Present: You may go to the party if you finish your homework.
- Past: She may have gone to the party, but I'm not sure.
Might: possibility or uncertainty
- Present: It might rain tomorrow.
- Past: He might have forgotten his umbrella.
Shall: suggestion, offer, or proposal
- Present: Shall we go to the movies tonight?
- Past: I shall never forget that day.
Should: obligation, advice, or recommendation
- Present: You should study harder for the exam.
- Past: I should have studied harder for the exam.
Will: future action or prediction
- Present: I will go to the store tomorrow.
- Past: I will have graduated by next year.
Would: past habitual action or hypothetical situation
- Past: I would walk to school when I was a kid.
- Hypothetical: I would buy a car if I had the money.
Must: necessity, obligation, or strong suggestion
- Present: You must try this cake, it's delicious.
- Past: I must have left my keys at home.