Modal verbs provide additional meaning to the main verb of a sentence and help express ideas like ability, permission, possibility, certainty, and obligation. Common modal verbs include can, may, might, should, must, have to, would, and shall. Modal verbs do not conjugate or require auxiliary verbs, are followed by an infinitive without "to", and have limited tense forms. Their specific meaning depends on the context.

1. MODAL VERBS
 They are auxiliary verbs that provide additional and specific meaning to the main
verb of the sentence
 Modal verbs are sometimes referred to as modal auxiliary verbs because they help
other verbs
 More common: can, may, might, should, must, have to, would, shall
How do we use modals?
S M V
Subject Verb
V
Example: Mary could play the piano
 They don’t accept conjugation
 They don’t need other auxiliary verbs
Form
 There is no “s” in singular He can ski
 There is no “do / does” in the question Would you like to come with me?
 There is no “don’t / doesn’t” in the negative They can’t be serious
 Modal verbs do not have infinitives or –ing forms
 Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without to I can swim
 Modal verbs do not have all the tenses
What do they mean?
 They can have more than one meaning depending on the situations
Ex: I can play the piano. – Ability
Can I go out tonight? – Permission