This document provides information on the meanings and uses of various modal verbs and related expressions in English, including can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, have to, have got to, had better, and ought to. It explains that modal verbs are used to express attitudes such as necessity, permission, possibility, probability, and intention. Each modal verb and expression is defined with examples for different meanings and uses. Tips are also provided on forms of modal verbs and when to use alternatives like "have to" in place of "have got to."

1. FUTURE TENSE – MODAL
VERBS
Different Meaning Of The Modal
Verbs
(+ some phrasal verbs)

2. Modal Verbs
1. Can
2. Could
3. May
4. Might
5. Must
6. Shall
7. Should
8. Will
9. Would
For example:
 Modals can express that a
speaker feels somethins is
necessary, advisable,
permissible, possible, or
problable; and in addition,
they can convey the strengh
of those attitudes.
 Modal Auxiliaries generally
express speakers’ attitudes.

3. Can
 "Can" is one of the most commonly used modal
verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or
opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to
show possibility or impossibility.
OPPORTUNITY
I'll have some free time tomorrow. I can help her then.
I won't have any time later. I can't help her then.
PERMISSION
I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.
I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week.
REQUEST
Can I have a glass of water? / Can't I have a glass of water?
 POSSIBILITY
Learning a language can be a real challenge. /
You can't be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old.

4. COULD
 "Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as
well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is
also commonly used in conditional sentences as the
conditional form of "can.“
• POSSIBILITY
John could go to jail for stealing the money. / Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime.
• SUGGESTION
You could spend your vacation in Hawaii.
 POLITE REQUEST
Could I borrow your stapler? / Couldn't you help me with this for just a second?
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

5. MAY
 "May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It can also be used to
give or request permission, although this usage is becoming less common.
• POSSIBILITY
Jack may get upset if you don't tell him the truth./
Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the truth
• GIVE PERMISSION
You may leave the table when you finish your dinner. /
You may not leave the table until you are finished with your dinner.
• REQUEST PERMISSION
May I borrow your eraser? / May I make a phone call?
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

6. MIGHT
 "Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It is also often used
in conditional sentences. English speakers can also use "might" to make
suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English
• POSSIBILITY
She might take the bus to get home. I don't think Bill will be able to give her a ride./
She might not take the bus. She might get a ride from Bill.
• CONDITIONAL OF MAY
If I entered the contest tomorrow, I might actually win. Unfortunately, I can't enter it./
Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, I might not win.
• SUGGESTION
You might try the cheesecake./ You might not want to eat the cheese cake. It's very calorific.
• REQUEST
Might I have something to drink? / Might I borrow the stapler?
REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

7. MUST
 "Must" is most commonly used to express certainty. It can also be used to express
necessity or strong recommendation, although native speakers prefer the more
flexible form "have to." "Must not" can be used to prohibit actions, but this sounds
very severe; speakers prefer to use softer modal verbs such as "should not" or
"ought not" to dissuade rather than prohibit.
• Must Not - PROHIBITION
You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles. /
You must not forget to take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics.
PROHIBITION USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.
NECESSITY
We must get a permit to enter the park next week.

8. SHALL
 "Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences
with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is
also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of
"shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination.
"Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English;
Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in
suggestions or formalized language.
• FUTURE ACTION
I shall be there by 8:00. / I shall not be there. I have a previous obligation.
• SUGGESTIONS
Shall we begin dinner? / Shall we move into the living room?
• VOLUNTEERING, PROMISING.
I shall take care of everything for you. / I shall never forget you
• INEVITABILITY
We shall overcome oppression / He shall not be held back.

9. SHOULD
 "Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give
advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
• RECOMMENDATION, ADVISABILITY
You really should start eating better./
Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next
week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house.
• OBLIGATION
We should return the video before the video rental store closes.
"SHOULD" CAN ALSO EXPRESS SOMETHING BETWEEN RECOMMENDATION AND OBLIGATION. "BE SUPPOSED
TO" EXPRESSES A SIMILAR IDEA AND CAN EASILY BE USED IN THE PAST OR IN NEGATIVE FORMS.
• EXPECTATION
Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday. /
Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week.

10. WOULD
 "Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves
as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate
repetition in the past.
• CONDITIONAL
If I were elected president next year, I would cut the cost of education./
If I were president, I would not sign the tax increase next week.

11. WILL
 USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do
something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one
the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often,
we use "will" to respond to someone else's
complaint or request for help. We also use "will"
when we request that someone help us or
volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use
"will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily
do something.
 USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
USE 3 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a
Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express
the idea of a general prediction about
the future. Predictions are guesses about
what might happen in the future. In
"prediction" sentences, the subject
usually has little control over the future.

12. Tips
 Each Modal verb have more tan one meaning or use.
 Modal Verbs do not take a final –S, ever when the subject is she, he
or it.
Correct: She can do it.
Incorrect: She cans do it

13. Have To
 "Have to" is used to express necessity
• NECESSITY
She will have to finish the other books before the final exam./
She won't have to take any other literature classes. American Literature
101 is the only required course.

14. Have Got To
 "Have got to" is used to express necessity and obligation.
• NECESSITY
- You have got to be there on time tonight if you want to get a seat in the crowded theater./
SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
- You won't have to be there on time to get a seat.
FUTURE OBLIGATION
Haven't you got to be there by 7:00? / Haven't you got to finish that project today?
"HAVEN'T GOT TO" IS PRIMARILY USED TO ASK ABOUT FUTURE OBLIGATIONS. IT CAN BE USED IN STATEMENTS, BUT THIS IS LESS COMMON.

15. Had Better
 "Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It
can also be used to express desperate hope as well as warn
people.
• RECOMMENDATION
You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it /
You had better not clean the toaster until you unplug it.
• DESPERATE HOPE, WARNING
The movie had better end soon. / They had better be here before we start dinner.
They had better not be late. / They had better not forget Tom's birthday gift.
DESPERATE HOPES AND WARNINGS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE

16. Ought To
 "Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to"
also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong
probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "Ought
not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing something,
although Americans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had
better not."
• RECOMMENDATION, ADVICE
Margaret ought to come to the fitness center with us tonight. /
Margaret ought not stay at home in front of the TV. She should go to the fitness center with us.
• ASSUMPTION, EXPECTATION, PROBABILITY
She ought to receive the package tonight.
"OUGHT NOT" IS USED PRIMARILY TO EXPRESS NEGATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. (SEE ABOVE.)
Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not."
"Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not."

17. Bibliography
 http://www.englishpage.com/index.html
 Understanding and using English Grammar, 4th Edition, Betty S. Azar
and Stacy A. Hagen