This document provides definitions and examples of usage for various modal verbs in English including can, may, must, should, ought to, have to, be to, shall, will, would, need, and dare. For each modal verb, the document outlines the different meanings and tenses used, and provides examples of how they are used in affirmative, negative, interrogative and conditional sentences. The document is intended to teach English grammar related to modal verbs.

1. Prepared byPrepared by
an English teacheran English teacher
O.A. LepertO.A. Lepert
ShostkaShostka
School 1School 1

2. PlanPlan
1.1. Where are modal verbs used?Where are modal verbs used?
2.2. CanCan
3.3. MayMay
4.4. MustMust
5.5. Should and oughtShould and ought
6.6. To haveTo have
7.7. To beTo be
8.8. ShallShall
9.9. Will and wouldWill and would
10.10. NeedNeed
11.11. DareDare

3. Where are modal verbsWhere are modal verbs
used?used?
Modal verbs are used to show the speaker’s attitude toward the
action or the state indicated by the infinitive, i.e. they show that
the action indicated by the infinitive is considered as possible,
impossible, probable, improbable, obligatory, necessary, advisable,
doubtful or uncertain, etc.

4. CanCan
The verb can has two forms: the present tense
(can) and the past tense (could). The form could is
also used as Subjunctive II. In this case it refers
to the present or future when followed by the
Indefinite Infinitive and to the past when followed
by the Perfect Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. I can swim.I can swim.
He could read when he was five ears old.He could read when he was five ears old.
Could you eat now?Could you eat now?
I could learn Latin very soon.I could learn Latin very soon.
You could have gone to the libraryYou could have gone to the library
yesterday.yesterday.

5. The verb can has the following meanings:The verb can has the following meanings:
1. Physical or mental ability, capability, possibility
depending on circumstances. The equivalent of can in
these meanings is the combination to be able to which
has all tenses. The form could followed by the Perfect
Infinitive shows that the action was not carried out.
e.g.e.g. He can lift this weight.He can lift this weight.
I couldn’t solve the problem.I couldn’t solve the problem.
You could have bought this book; it was on sale.You could have bought this book; it was on sale.
He could have guessed it.He could have guessed it.
Perhaps this young man will be able to help you.Perhaps this young man will be able to help you.
She wasn’t able to answer.She wasn’t able to answer.

6. 2. Permission. The form could is used in this meaning only in
interrogative sentences to express a polite request.
e.g.e.g. You can use dictionaries.You can use dictionaries.
You can’t use dictionaries.You can’t use dictionaries.
Can I sit with you for a little?Can I sit with you for a little?
Can I come in?Can I come in?
Could I take your pen?Could I take your pen?

7. 3. Doubt, astonishment, incredulity. In
these meanings the verb can is used only in
interrogative and negative sentences but it
may be followed by all forms of the
infinitive.
The Continuous Infinitive refers to the
present. If the verb has no continuous
form, the Indefinite Infinitive is used to
refer the action to the present.
The Perfect Infinitive refers to the
past.
e.g.e.g. Can she be working now?Can she be working now?
He can’t be waiting for us now.He can’t be waiting for us now.
Can he know Japanese?Can he know Japanese?
She cannot have said this.She cannot have said this.
Could something have happened out thereCould something have happened out there
to keep her away?to keep her away?

8. MayMay
The verb may has two forms: the present tense – may
and the past tense – might. But the form might is
used as the past tense of the Indicative Mood only in
subordinate clauses according to the rule of the
sequence of tenses.
The form might is mostly used as Subjunctive II. It
refers to the present or future when followed by the
Indefinite Infinitive and to the past when followed by
the Perfect Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. She asked the doctor if he might use hisShe asked the doctor if he might use his
telephone.telephone.

9. The verb may has the following meanings:The verb may has the following meanings:
1. Supposition implying uncertainty. In this meaning the verb
may is used in affirmative and negative sentences with all
forms of the infinitive.
The Indefinite Infinitive mostly refers to the future.
The Continuous Infinitive refers to the moment of speaking
and the Perfect Infinitive to the past.
e.g.e.g. He may be waiting for you.He may be waiting for you.
She may know about it.She may know about it.
They may be at school now.They may be at school now.
I may have put it on the table.I may have put it on the table.

10. 2. Possibility depending on circumstances. In this
meaning may is used only in affirmative sentences.
When might is followed by the Perfect Infinitive it
shows that the action was not carried out.
e.g.e.g. You may go to school by bus.You may go to school by bus.
You might find him in between 11 and 12.You might find him in between 11 and 12.
I might have stayed at home.I might have stayed at home.

11. 3. Permission. In this meaning the verb may is
followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. You may go – with whom you will.You may go – with whom you will.
May I use your phone?May I use your phone?
Might I speak a word to you?Might I speak a word to you?
4. Reproach, disapproval. In this meaning only might
is used.
e.g.e.g. You might be more attentive.You might be more attentive.
You might have written me a littleYou might have written me a little
something, anyhow.something, anyhow.

12. MustMust
The verb must has only one form. The
infinitive after it may refer to the present
or future. It may also refer to the past in
object clauses if the verb of the principal
clause is in the past tense.
e.g.e.g. He must be at school now.He must be at school now.
She must come tomorrow.She must come tomorrow.
He told that she must consult aHe told that she must consult a
doctor.doctor.

13. The verb must has the following meanings:The verb must has the following meanings:
1. Obligation, duty, necessity. In these meanings must is
used in affirmative and interrogative sentences with the
Indefinite Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. To catch the train I must get up at six.To catch the train I must get up at six.
Must we come to school tomorrow?Must we come to school tomorrow?
But he had to wait a quarter of an hour.But he had to wait a quarter of an hour.

14. 2. Prohibition. In this meaning must is used in negative
sentences and is followed by the Indefinite Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. You must not talk aloud in the reading-hall.You must not talk aloud in the reading-hall.
You don’t have to learn the poem by heart.You don’t have to learn the poem by heart.
Must we come to school tomorrow? No, you needn’t.Must we come to school tomorrow? No, you needn’t.
3. Order or advice. In these meanings must is used with the
Indefinite Infinitive in affirmative and negative
sentences.
e.g.e.g. Tomorrow you must come to school at eight.Tomorrow you must come to school at eight.
You must not read this book. It is not interesting.You must not read this book. It is not interesting.

15. 4. Supposition implying assurance. In these meaning
must is used with all forms of the infinitive but only
in affirmative sentences. The Continuous Infinitive
refers to the present. The Perfect Infinitive refers
to the past. The Indefinite Infinitive is used with
reference to the present if the verb has no
Continuous form.
The verb must denoting supposition never refers to
the future and is not used in negative sentences.
e.g.e.g. They must be surrounding the house.They must be surrounding the house.
He must be eighty years old.He must be eighty years old.
He must have caught cold.He must have caught cold.

16. Should and oughtShould and ought
The verbs should and ought have almost
the same modal meaning.
The verbs should and ought have theThe verbs should and ought have the
following meanings:following meanings:
1. They express moral obligation,
abvisability or desirability from the
point of view of the speaker.
In combination with the Indefinite
Infinitive they refer to the present or
future.
e.g. You ought to go to the moviese.g. You ought to go to the movies
more.more.
Kate is in hospital. You shouldKate is in hospital. You should
visit her.visit her.

17. With the Continuous Infinitive they refer to
the present, sometimes to the moment of
speaking.
e.g.e.g. You oughtn’t to be working for thoseYou oughtn’t to be working for those
people.people.
I think we ought to be starting.I think we ought to be starting.

18. The combination of the Perfect Infinitive with the
affirmative form of should and ought shows that an
action which is considered desirable was not carried out.
The Perfect Infinitive with the negative form of should
or ought shows that an action which is considered
undesirable was carried out.
e.g. You should have sent her to school.e.g. You should have sent her to school.
He ought to have waited for you.He ought to have waited for you.
You shouldn’t have left her.You shouldn’t have left her.
We have done things we ought not to have done.We have done things we ought not to have done.

19. 2. The verbs should and ought are sometimes used to denote
supposition bordering on assurance though the verb must
is mostly used for this purpose.
e.g.e.g. He ought to be able to do something.He ought to be able to do something.
You ought to be a happy wife.You ought to be a happy wife.
3. The verb should is used in rhetorical questions beginning
with why to express astonishment or indignation.
e.g.e.g. Why should I feel guilty about it?Why should I feel guilty about it?
Why shouldn’t I go for a walk?Why shouldn’t I go for a walk?

20. To haveTo have
Unlike other modal verbs the verb to have
has the infinitive, the participles and
gerund.
The interrogative and negative forms of
the modal verb to have in the Present
Indefinite and in the Past Indefinite are
formed by means of the auxiliary verb to
do.
e.g.e.g. Do we have to sleep with him inDo we have to sleep with him in
here?here?
You don’t have to go in.You don’t have to go in.
You did not have to think about it.You did not have to think about it.

21. The verb to have has the following meanings:The verb to have has the following meanings:
1. To have as a modal verb expresses obligation or
necessity depending on circumstances.
e.g.e.g. I have to get up the next morning at seven.I have to get up the next morning at seven.
I had to sell most of my things.I had to sell most of my things.
2. The expression to have got is also used with modal
meaning expressing obligation or necessity.
e.g.e.g. I’ve got to get up early.I’ve got to get up early.
Have you got to get up early?Have you got to get up early?

22. To beTo be
To be as a modal verb is used in two tenses:
the Present Indefinite and the Past
Indefinite.
e.g.e.g. He is to come at five.He is to come at five.
He was to come at five.He was to come at five.
The present tense of to be can be followed
only by the Indefinite Infinitive. The Perfect
Infinitive can be used with the past tense of
to be to show that the action was not carried
out.
e.g.e.g. He was to have come at five.He was to have come at five.

23. The verb to be has the following meanings:The verb to be has the following meanings:
1. Obligation resulting from a previous
agreement, plan, schedule, time-table, etc.
e.g.e.g. We were to work two hours everyWe were to work two hours every
morning.morning.
We are to meet at the theatre.We are to meet at the theatre.

24. 2. Order or instruction.
e.g.e.g. You are to go to sleep.You are to go to sleep.
You’re not to come here any more.You’re not to come here any more.
The medicine is to be kept in a coolThe medicine is to be kept in a cool
dark place.dark place.
3. Possibility. In this case to be is mostly
used with the Passive Infinitive.
e.g.e.g. He was not to be found.He was not to be found.
They were to be seen upon theThey were to be seen upon the
principal streets.principal streets.

25. ShallShall
The verb to be has the following meanings:The verb to be has the following meanings:
1. In affirmative and negative sentences the modal
verb shall is used in the second and third persons to
express an order, warning, threat, promise.
e.g.e.g. You shall go into the dining-room first.You shall go into the dining-room first.
You shall not do that again.You shall not do that again.
Whatever I know, you shall know.Whatever I know, you shall know.
The modal verb shall is used with the Indefinite
Infinitive which denotes an action referring to the
future.

26. 2. In interrogative sentences the modal
verb shall is used in the first and third
persons to get an order or instruction
from the person addressed.
e.g.e.g. Shall I come to see you there?Shall I come to see you there?
Shall I turn on the lights for you?Shall I turn on the lights for you?
Shall he go home?Shall he go home?

27. Will and wouldWill and would
The verbs will and would have the following meanings:The verbs will and would have the following meanings:
1. The principal meaning of the modal verbs will and
would is that of will, intention, determination. In this
meaning will and would are used with the first person
in affirmative and negative sentences.
e.g.e.g. We will help you.We will help you.
I won’t go there.I won’t go there.
I often write him but he won’t answer.I often write him but he won’t answer.

28. 2. In interrogative sentences will and would are
used to express a polite request.
e.g.e.g. Will you have a cup of tea?Will you have a cup of tea?
Won’t you sit down?Won’t you sit down?
Would you help me?Would you help me?
Would you like some coffee?Would you like some coffee?

29. 3. If will and would used in negative sentences
refer to lifeless things, they show that the thing
fails to perform its function.
e.g.e.g. The knife won’t cut.The knife won’t cut.
The window wouldn’t open.The window wouldn’t open.
4. Will and would as modal verbs can be used in
adverbial clauses of condition.
e.g.e.g. If you will allow me, I will see you home.If you will allow me, I will see you home.

30. NeedNeed
The verb need expresses necessity. It can be used
both as a modal and as a notional verb.
As a modal verb need forms its interrogative and
negative forms without the verb to do and is
followed by the infinitive without the particle to.
e.g.e.g. You need not trouble about that at all.You need not trouble about that at all.
You needn’t hurry.You needn’t hurry.
Need we go there?Need we go there?
I’ll need this magazine.I’ll need this magazine.

31. The Perfect Infinitive used with the verb
need shows that an unnecessary action has
been performed.
e.g.e.g. You needn’t have done this exerciseYou needn’t have done this exercise
in written form.in written form.
I needn’t have told it at thatI needn’t have told it at that
moment.moment.

32. DareDare
The verb dare means to have the courage or impertinence
to do something. It is used mostly in interrogative and
negative sentences.
e.g.e.g. How dare you say it?How dare you say it?
For a while he dared not move.For a while he dared not move.
Neither George nor I dared to turn round.Neither George nor I dared to turn round.