also known as modal auxiliaries or simply modals, are a special class of verbs in English that are used to express various attitudes or moods regarding actions or states.
They often indicate
◦ possibility
◦ necessity
◦ permission
◦ ability
◦ obligation.
Unlike regular verbs, modal verbs do not have infinitive or participle forms, and they do not usually take an "-s" in the third person singular form.
Here are the main modal verbs in English:
Can
Used to indicate
◦ ability
◦ possibility
◦ permission
◦ request.
Ability:
She can speak Spanish fluently.
Possibility:
It can rain later.
Permission:
Can I borrow your pen?
Request:
Can you help me with this?
Could
The past tense form of "can," used to indicate
◦ past ability
◦ polite requests
◦ possibility.
Past ability:
When I was younger, I could run very fast.
Polite request:
Could you please pass the salt?
Possibility:
It could be expensive.
May
Used to indicate
permission
possibility
polite request.
Permission:
You may leave the room now.
Possibility:
It may rain tomorrow.
Polite request:
May I ask you a question?
Might
Similar to "may," used to indicate
possibility especially when the possibility is uncertain or less likely.
Possibility:
He might come to the party tonight.
Uncertain future:
I might go to the gym later.
Must
Used to indicate
◦ obligation
◦ necessity
◦ strong recommendation
◦ deduction.
Obligation:
You must finish your homework before going out.
Necessity:
We must find a solution to this problem.
Strong recommendation:
You must try this new restaurant.
Deduction:
She must be tired after working all day.
Should
Used to indicate
◦ advice
◦ recommendation
◦ expectation
◦ obligation that is less strong than "must."
Advice:
You should eat more vegetables for better health.
Recommendation:
We should book our tickets in advance.
Expectation:
He should be here by now.
Obligation:
Students should attend all classes.
Would
Used to indicate
◦ polite requests
◦ hypothetical situations
◦ habits in the past.
Polite request:
Would you please pass me the salt?
Hypothetical situation:
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
Habit in the past:
When we were kids, we would play outside every day.
Will
Used to indicate
◦ future actions
◦ intentions
◦ promises
◦ predictions.
Future action:
I will call you later.
Intention:
We will start the project next week.
Promise:
I will always support you.
Prediction:
It will rain tomorrow.
Shall
Used to indicate
◦ future action
◦ obligation
◦ possibility.
It's often used in formal contexts or in legal or contractual language.
Suggestions and Offers:
Shall we go for a walk?
Shall I help you with your bags?
Formal Requirements or Laws:
All employees shall wear safety gear at all times.
The contract specifies that payment shall be made within 30 days.
Future Actions or Intentions:
I shall call you when I arrive.
We shall meet again someday.
Commands or Directives:
You shall not enter this area without authorization.
Thou shalt not steal. from more formal or archaic contexts
Predictions or Proposals:
The weather forecast suggests it shall rain tomorrow.
Shall we proceed with the plan?
While "shall" is still used in some formal contexts, in everyday language, "will" is often used instead.
Ought to
Used to indicate
◦ duty
◦ obligation
◦ advisability.
It suggests that something is the right thing to do or the proper course of action.
Expressing Obligation or Duty:
You ought to finish your homework before watching TV.
We ought to help those in need.
Expressing Moral or Ethical Standards:
She ought to apologize for what she said.
He ought to be more considerate of others.
Giving Advice or Recommendations:
You ought to see a doctor if the pain persists.
They ought to invest in renewable energy for a sustainable future.
Making Suggestions or Expressing Probability:
He ought to arrive soon; he left early.
It ought to rain today based on the forecast.
Past Obligation or Regret:
I ought to have studied harder for the exam.
She ought not to have trusted him.
"Ought to" is often followed by the base form of a verb. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, though it may sound slightly more formal compared to other modal verbs like "should."