Modal Verbs Table
Modal
|
USES
|
PRESENT/ FUTURE
|
PAST
|
be supposed to
|
expectation
|
We are
supposed to meet them here.
|
We were
supposed to meet here.
|
be to
|
strong expectation
|
We are to meet
them here.
|
We were to meet
them here.
|
Can / Can’t
Could/ Couldn’t
|
ability /
possibility
|
I can learn
modal verbs online.
|
I could jump
high a few years ago but now I can't.
|
informal permission
|
You can use
my car tomorrow.
|
||
informal polite request
|
Can I borrow your book?
|
That can't have
been true!
|
|
impossibility (negative only)
|
Cats can't swim.
|
||
Have to
|
necessity
|
I have to go
to class today.
|
I had to go
to class yesterday.
|
lack of necessity (negative)
|
I don't have
to go to class today.
|
I didn't have
to go to class yesterday.
|
|
Have got to
|
necessity
|
I have got to go
to class today
|
I had to go
to class yesterday.
|
Had better
|
strongly advised
|
You had better be
on time.
|
(past form uncommon)
|
May
|
polite request
|
May I borrow your
book?
|
|
formal permission
|
You may leave the room.
|
||
less than 50%
certainty
|
He may be at the school.
|
He may have been at school.
|
|
Might
|
less than 50%
certainty
|
He might be at school.
|
He might have been at school.
|
Must
|
strong necessity
|
I must go
to class today.
|
I had to go
to class yesterday.
|
prohibition
|
You must not open
that door.
|
||
95% certainty
|
Mary isn't in class.
She must be sick.(present only)
|
Mary must have
been sick yesterday.
|
|
Ought to
|
advisability
|
I ought to study
tonight.
|
I ought to have
studied last night.
|
80% certainty
|
She ought to be
at school
|
She ought to have
done well on the test.
|
|
Shall
|
ask another person's opinion (only used with I or
we)
|
Shall I invite them too?
Shall we dance? |
|
Should
|
advisability
|
I should study
tonight
|
You should have
paid your bills.
|
80% certainty
|
He should be
at school
|
He should have
done well on the test.
|
Another Reference for Modals
| Legal Obligation / Official | MUST | Police officer: 'You must wear a seatbelt.' |
| Logical Conclusion | MUST | The teacher's absent. She must be sick. |
| Reporting a Rule | BE SUPPOSED TO | We are supposed turn our cell phones off in movie theaters. |
| Personal Necessity / Obligation | HAVE TO / HAVE GOT TO | I have to call the doctor today. |
| Possibility | CAN | I can meet with you on Friday. |
| Ability | CAN / BE ABLE TO | I can play the piano. I am able to speak English. |
| Permission | CAN / BE ALLOWED TO | I can have a dog in my apartment. I am allowed to have pets in my room. |
| Past Ability | COULD / WAS ABLE TO | When I was a kid, I could run for hours. could vs was were able to |
| Past Permission | WAS ALLOWED / PERMITTED TO | I wasn't allowed to go out at nights. |
| Advice | SHOULD | You should call your mother on her birthday. |
| Warning | HAD BETTER | You'd better study before the test. |
| A Choice / Not required | DON'T HAVE TO | I don't have to wear a suit to work. |
| Possibility / Uncertainty about the future *adverb MAYBE | MAY / MIGHT | It might / may rain this evening. May be it will rain this evening. |
| Polite request | WOULD / COULD | Would you open the door, please? |
| Permission | MAY / CAN / COULD | May I borrow your pen? |
| To express what you want | WOULD LIKE | I would like to learn English free. |
| Preference | WOULD RATHER | I would rather walk than drive. |
Modal Verbs: Shades of Modality
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