Modal Verbs

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Yellow Level

Lesson Ten

Modal Verb

Picture

For example in a sentence

can:

possibility and ability

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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 that I recommend you not use it. Shall is not popular. (One less word to remember!)

Your teacher suggests 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. It sounds too formal. (blech!)

may:

possibility and permission

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

2. (Asking permission)

A: May I walk your dog?

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!)

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 was 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 a 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 simple form.

I must go.

He must be tired.

They should eat.

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