🔧 Modals & Auxiliaries
Master the helping verbs that express possibility, necessity, and ability
🌟 Understanding Modals & Auxiliaries
🔧 What are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are special helping verbs that express attitudes like possibility, necessity, ability, or permission. They modify the meaning of the main verb and follow specific rules.
- Can/Could: Ability and possibility
- May/Might: Permission and possibility
- Shall/Should: Future and advice
- Will/Would: Future and hypothetical situations
- Must/Ought to: Necessity and obligation
Can / Could
Express ability, possibility, and polite requests.
Ability • Possibility • Requests
✅ I can swim well
✅ Could you help me?
May / Might
Express permission and possibility.
Permission • Possibility • Politeness
✅ May I come in?
✅ It might rain today
Shall / Should
Express future actions and advice.
Future • Advice • Obligation
✅ Shall we go now?
✅ You should study more
Will / Would
Express future and hypothetical situations.
Future • Hypothetical • Polite requests
✅ I will call you tomorrow
✅ Would you like coffee?
Must / Ought to
Express strong necessity and moral obligation.
Necessity • Obligation • Strong advice
✅ You must wear a seatbelt
✅ We ought to help them
Modal Rules
Important grammar rules for using modals correctly.
Grammar • Structure • Usage
✅ No -s in third person
✅ Followed by base verb
🎯 Interactive Sentence Builder
Click the parts below to build sentences with modal verbs!
I
You
She
We
They
can
could
may
might
shall
should
will
would
must
go
help
study
come
finish
tomorrow
now
later
soon
today
Click parts above to build your sentence!
💪 Expressing Ability
💪 Can vs Could for Ability
Can and could are used to express ability, but they have different time references and levels of certainty.
| Modal | Time | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can | Present | Current ability | I can speak English |
| Could | Past | Past ability | I could swim when I was young |
| Could | Present | Theoretical ability | I could help you (if you want) |
| Can't | Present | Inability | I can't drive a truck |
| Couldn't | Past | Past inability | I couldn't understand him |
💪 Practice: Ability
Choose the correct modal: "When I was a child, I _____ climb trees easily."
Hint: This refers to past ability.
Answer: "could" - We use "could" for past ability.
Complete: "She _____ speak three languages fluently."
Hint: This is about current ability.
Answer: "can" - We use "can" for present ability.
✋ Asking for Permission
✋ Levels of Politeness
Different modals express different levels of formality when asking for permission.
| Modal | Formality | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can | Informal | Casual permission | Can I borrow your pen? |
| Could | Polite | Polite requests | Could I use your phone? |
| May | Formal | Formal permission | May I come in? |
| Might | Very formal | Very polite requests | Might I suggest something? |
🏠 At Home (Informal)
Can I watch TV?
Can I have some cookies?
🏫 At School (Polite)
Could I go to the bathroom?
May I ask a question?
🏢 At Work (Formal)
May I leave early today?
Might I make a suggestion?
🤔 Expressing Possibility
🤔 Degrees of Possibility
Modals express different levels of certainty about future or present possibilities.
| Modal | Certainty Level | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will | 95% certain | Strong prediction | It will rain tomorrow |
| Should | 80% certain | Expected outcome | She should arrive soon |
| May | 50% certain | Equal possibility | It may be true |
| Might | 30% certain | Less likely | He might come later |
| Could | 20% certain | Remote possibility | It could happen |
🤔 Practice: Possibility
Weather forecast: "It _____ rain this afternoon." (70% chance)
Hint: High probability, expected outcome.
Answer: "should" - High probability (80% certain).
"I'm not sure, but she _____ be at home." (uncertain)
Hint: Uncertainty, less likely.
Answer: "might" - Less certain possibility (30%).
❗ Expressing Necessity
❗ Must vs Should vs Ought to
Different modals express different strengths of necessity and obligation.
| Modal | Strength | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must | Strong necessity | Rules, laws, urgent needs | You must wear a helmet |
| Should | Advice/recommendation | Good idea, advisable | You should exercise regularly |
| Ought to | Moral obligation | Right thing to do | We ought to help others |
| Mustn't | Prohibition | Not allowed | You mustn't smoke here |
| Don't have to | No necessity | Not required | You don't have to come |
🚨 Emergency/Rules
You must call 911
Students must attend class
💡 Advice
You should eat vegetables
We should leave early
❤️ Moral Duty
We ought to be kind
You ought to tell the truth
🔮 Future Actions
🔮 Will vs Shall vs Would
Different modals express future actions with varying degrees of certainty and formality.
| Modal | Usage | Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will | Future prediction | General future | I will call you tomorrow |
| Will | Spontaneous decision | Immediate decision | I will help you with that |
| Shall | Formal future (I/we) | Formal/legal | I shall return |
| Shall | Suggestions | Questions | Shall we go now? |
| Would | Hypothetical future | Conditional | I would help if I could |
| Would | Polite requests | Courtesy | Would you like coffee? |
🔮 Practice: Future
"_____ we dance?" (making a suggestion)
Hint: Used for suggestions in questions.
Answer: "Shall" - Used for suggestions with "we".
"I _____ buy a car if I had money." (hypothetical)
Hint: Conditional/hypothetical situation.
Answer: "would" - Used for hypothetical situations.
⚖️ Modal Comparison
⚖️ Complete Modal Overview
Compare all modal verbs and their primary functions side by side.
| Modal | Primary Function | Secondary Function | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Can | Present ability | Informal permission | I can swim | Can I go? |
| Could | Past ability | Polite requests | I could run fast | Could you help? |
| May | Formal permission | Possibility (50%) | May I enter? | It may rain |
| Might | Low possibility | Very polite requests | He might come | Might I suggest? |
| Shall | Formal future (I/we) | Suggestions | I shall return | Shall we go? |
| Should | Advice | High possibility | You should rest | She should arrive soon |
| Will | Future prediction | Spontaneous decisions | It will rain | I will help you |
| Would | Hypothetical | Polite requests | I would go if... | Would you like tea? |
| Must | Strong necessity | Strong deduction | You must stop | He must be tired |
| Ought to | Moral obligation | Strong advice | We ought to help | You ought to study |
🎯 Interactive Practice
🎯 Modal Selection Practice
Choose the best modal for each situation:
Asking your boss for time off: "_____ I leave early today?"
Expressing past ability: "When I was young, I _____ climb any tree."
Strong advice: "You _____ see a doctor about that cough."
Low possibility: "It's cloudy, but it _____ not rain."
📋 Modal Verbs Worksheet
Complete the sentences by choosing the most appropriate modal verb. Consider the context and level of formality required.
Score: 0/15
1.
"_____ you help me with this heavy box?" (polite request)
2.
"Students _____ wear uniforms to school." (rule)
3.
"It _____ rain later - the sky looks very dark." (high possibility)
4.
"_____ I borrow your pencil?" (informal permission)
5.
"When I was younger, I _____ run very fast." (past ability)
6.
"You _____ eat more vegetables for better health." (advice)
7.
"_____ we go to the movies tonight?" (suggestion)
8.
"I _____ call you tomorrow morning." (future promise)
9.
"He _____ be at home - his car is in the driveway." (logical deduction)
10.
"_____ you like some coffee?" (polite offer)
11.
"We _____ help those in need." (moral obligation)
12.
"She _____ come to the party, but I'm not sure." (low possibility)
13.
"_____ I use your bathroom?" (formal permission)
14.
"If I had time, I _____ learn to play piano." (hypothetical)
15.
"You _____ smoke in this building." (prohibition)
🏆 Modal Verbs Quiz
Score: 0/10
Click "Start Quiz" to begin!
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