Modal Verbs: Top 15 Key Points

Understanding modal verbs is essential for expressing ability, possibility, permission, and obligation in English. This guide covers the top 15 key points about modal verbs.

No.	Key Point	Explanation	Examples
1	Can (Ability/Possibility)	Expresses ability or possibility.	"I can speak three languages." "It can get very cold in winter."
2	Could (Past Ability/Polite Request)	Used for past ability or making polite requests.	"When I was young, I could run fast." "Could you help me with this?"
3	May (Permission/Possibility)	Used for permission or possibility.	"May I leave early today?" "It may rain this evening."
4	Might (Possibility)	Used for expressing a lower possibility than 'may'.	"She might come to the party." "It might not work."
5	Must (Obligation/Necessity)	Expresses obligation or necessity.	"You must wear a seatbelt." "She must finish her project soon."
6	Must not (Prohibition)	Expresses prohibition.	"You must not smoke here." "He must not disturb the class."
7	Should/Ought to (Advice)	Used for giving advice or making recommendations.	"You should see a doctor." "They ought to save some money."
8	Had better (Advice/Warning)	Similar to 'should' but with more urgency.	"You had better check the engine soon." "She had better be on time."
9	Would (Polite Request/Past Habit)	Used for polite requests or past habits.	"Would you pass the salt?" "When I was a child, I would play outside."
10	Will (Future/Decision)	Used for future events or decisions made at the moment of speaking.	"I will call you tomorrow." "She will go to college next year."
11	Shall (Offer/Suggestion)	Mostly used in formal English for offers or suggestions.	"Shall I open the window?" "Shall we begin the meeting?"
12	Using Modal Verbs in Questions	Modal verbs are often used in questions to make them more polite.	"Can you help me?" "Should we call them?"
13	Negative Forms of Modal Verbs	Adding 'not' to modal verbs to form their negative versions.	"You cannot park here." "She should not be late."
14	Modal Verbs with Perfect Infinitive (have + past participle)	Used to talk about past possibilities or hypothetical situations.	"He might have missed the train." "She could have won the race."
15	Avoiding Double Modals	In standard English, using two modal verbs together is generally avoided.	Incorrect: "I must can go." Correct: "I must be able to go."