Modal Verbs

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Modal Verb

Picture

Example in a sentence

can

possibility and ability

This baby can crawl.

I can crawl	We can crawl
You can crawl	You can crawl
He can crawl
She can crawl	They can crawl
It can crawl

negative contraction: can't crawl

will

future

He will go to the beach later today

I will go	We will go
You will go	You will go
He will go
She will go	They will go
It will go

negative contraction: won't go

shall

possibility and future possibility

This sounds so formal I'm going to recommend that you not use it. Shall is not popular. One less word to remember!l

Your teacher recommends that you don't use shall if
your interest is in American English. 98 % of the American public
doesn't use it. It sounds very formal. In fact, it sounds too formal.
blech!l

may

possiblity and permission

1. (future possibility They may walk their dogs this afternoon

. (Asking permission)

A: May I walk your dog?l

B: Yes, you may

I may walk	We may walk
You may walk	You may walk
He may walk
She may walk	They may walk
It may walk

negative: may not walk don't contract this one!l

could

past tense of can--usually negative
possibility and ability

When I went out to eat last night, I couldn't read the signs because they were in Chinese

I could read	We could read
You could read	You could read
He could read
She could read	They could read
It could read

negative contraction: couldn't read

would

past tense of "will"

She wouldn't touch the spider she saw earlier this morning because she's afraid of them

I would touch	We would touch
You would touch	You would touch
He would touch
She would touch	They would touch
It would touch

negative contraction: wouldn't touch

should

recommendation and good idea

Related to "shall" but much better and easier to use

He should be careful on those rollerskates because he could fall

I should be	We should be
You should be	You should be
He should be
She should be	They should be
It should be

negative contraction: shouldn't be

might

possibility

use instead of "may" in some cases

These eggs might break when they hit the ground. In fact, they'll probably break unless they land on something soft

I might break	We might break
You might break	You might break
He might break
She might break	They might break
It might break

negative: might not break (don't contract!)

must

necessary and important

They must attend this important meeting

I must attend	We must attend
You must attend	You must attend
He must attend
She must attend	They must attend
It must attend

negative: must not attend a contraction here is
okay, but it sounds formal and it sounds British. Most Americans try
not to sound like they have a British accent, but you may use the
contraction if you want to

Remember: Modal verbs are followed by the main verb in the simple form

I must go

He must be

They should eat

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