What are Modal Verbs?

• Could • Be able to • May • Must • Have to • Should

• Ought to • Will • Would • Shall • Do • Might

CAN

• We use “can” to say that someone has the ability or opportunity to do something: e.g.1 Can you speak English fluently?

e.g.2

It’s nice tonight. We can go for a swim.

Could

• “Could” is the past tense of can. It is also more polite. It is less sure.

e.g.1

Could you do me a favor?

e.g.2

I could swim 10 km continuously when I was young.

Be Able To

• “Be able to” is possible instead of “can” • It is a more formal then “can” e.g.

It’s nice that he was able to pass so well in the Exam.

May, Might, Could

• “May” and “Might” express the ideas that something is very impossible. We can use them for the present and the future.

e.g. There may/might be some tickets left. (Perhaps there are some left.)

• “May” can be use as “can”, but it is more polite.

e.g. May I ask you a question?

• “Could” is used when something is possible.

e.g. It could be good fun.

(But not “It can be good fun”)

Must , Have To

• In the present we use “must” and “have to” to say that something is necessary. e.g.1 You must be careful.

e.g.2 I have to work on Saturday mornings.

• When referring to the past, we use only “had to”.

e.g. Danny had to go to work yesterday.

(But not “Danny must go to work yesterday”)

Will, Would

• We use “will” for prediction. e.g. Mary has walked a long way. She will sleep well tonight. • We use “would” also for a prediction about a possible situation. e.g. How about going to LA next month?

That would be nice.

Shall, Should

• Normally we use “shall” only with I and we.

e.g. I shall probably go to England for holidays.

• We can use “should” to give advice or opinion.

e.g. You look tired. You should go to bed.

Should, Must

• “should” is not as strong as “must” e.g. You should apologise.

(It would be a good thing to do.) e.g. You must apologise.

(You have no alternative.)

Prepared by:

Chan Wing Yu Cheung Sik Chiu Lo Wing Yee Ng Po Ting Yu Ching Man