Modals are helping verbs used to indicate permission, possibility, obligation, advice, ability, prohibition, requests, and preference. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. Modals are used along with a main verb to express things like permission, possibility, or necessity. Modal verbs have various functions in English including indirect speech, negative statements, and for emphasis.

1. MODALS

2. Modals are helping verbs (meaning they precede other verbs) used to indicate
verbs) used to indicate permission, possibility, obligation, advice, ability,
prohibition, requests, and preference.
Ex.
Common Modal Verbs
Can Ought to
Could Shall
May Should
Might Will
Must Would
Ex.
Permission: Can I take your sister to the dance?
Possibility: We might go to a movie tonight if you’re interested in coming
interested in coming along.
Obligation: Researchers must further review the study.

3. Use of Modals
It is used along with a main verb to express
permission, or necessity.
Ex.
In the statement “you must leave,” “must” is a
that it’s necessary for the subject “you” to perform
verb “leave”.
Take Note:
The modal verb “will” is used to form the future
action that has not yet occurred
Ex.
I will clean the garage

4. Other uses of modal verbs
Modal verbs have various other functions in English. They can also be
In indirect speech
In negative statements
For emphasis
Indirect speech
Modal verbs are used in indirect speech to indicate what someone
modal verbs stay the same when used in indirect speech, the past
is used instead.
Ex. “can” becomes “could”.
Ex.
Jhon Carlo said “I will visit on Saturday.”
Jhon Carlo said “he would visit on Saturday.”

5. Negative statements
In negative statements containing modal verbs,
“not” comes immediately after the modal verb
other verbs. The negative form is often
Ex. “would not” becomes “wouldn’t.”
Ex.
Brent can’t focus because his sister is playing
You mustn’t play football inside the

6. Emphasis
In everyday conversation, people sometimes
on a modal verb to refute a previous statement
emphasized word is often italicized when
Ex.
Why can’t you be nice?
I can be nice!
You won’t finish the project on time.
I will finish it on time!