MODAL VERBS

Learn the

MODAL VERBS

START

ABILITY

CAN COULD BE ABLE TO

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PROBABILITY

100% MUST 90% SHOULD50% MAY / MIGHT / CAN / COULD 0% CAN / COULDN'T

REQUEST

CAN COULD WOULD

Modal Verbs

PERMISSION

CAN COULD MAY

ADVICE

SHOULD OUGHT TO HAD BETTER

OBLIGATION

MUST HAVE TO NEED TO

PROHIBITION

MUSTN'T CAN'T

BASIC RULES

LACK OF OBLIGATION

NOT HAVE TO NEEDN'T

List of modal verbs

SHOULD

WOULD

MUST

MAY

CAN

OUGHT TO

HAVE TO

MIGHT

COULD

SHALL

HAD BETTER

WILL

NEED TO

I can play the piano

ABILITY

I could play the piano when I was 8 years old

CAN

COULD

I am able to play the piano while I'm singing

BE ABLE

Can you open the window?

REQUEST

Could you open the window?

CAN

Would you open the window?

COULD

WOULD

Can I go to the party?

PERMISSION

Could I go to the party?

CAN

May I go to the party?

COULD

MAY

OBLIGATION

MUST

MUSTN'T Prohibition

HAVE TO

NOT HAVE TO Lack of Obligation

NEED TO

I must study

NEEDN'T Lack of Obligation

I have to study

I need to study

I must study

OBLIGATION

I have to study

MUST

MUSTN'T Prohibition

I need to study

HAVE TO

NOT HAVE TO Lack of Obligation

NEED TO

NEEDN'T Lack of Obligation

LACK OF OBLIGATION

NOT HAVE TO

NEEDN'T

You don't have to marry if you don't want to

You needn't marry if you don't want to

You mustn't drive until you are 18

PROHIBITION

You can't drive until you are 18

MUSTN'T

CAN'T

advice

SHOULD

OUGHT TO

HAD BETTER

You should go to the doctor

You ought to go to the doctor

You had better go to the doctor

They must be at home, the lights are on

PROBABILITY

They should be at home, they usually are

MUST 100%

SHOULD 90%

They can - could - may - might be at home

CAN / COULD 50%

MAY / MIGHT 50%

CAN'T 0%

They can't be at home, they are on holidays

PROBABILITY in the past: MODAL PERFECT

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MODAL VERBS!