may/might
can
could
Modal verbs
must
should
Characteristics of modal verbs
- They have the same form for all the persons, i.e. I can, he can, they can. - They are followed by the infinitive without to, i.e. I should go, he might come.
Characteristics of modal verbs
- They express concepts like ability (can), advice (should), obligation (must), or possibility (might). - They act as auxiliaries in interrogative and negative forms: Can I go? or You shouldn't drink and drive.
Ability
- To express ability in different tenses:I have been able to run 5 km since I joined the club. I will be able to create a website when I finish the course.
- To express ability in the present:I can type fast.
- To express ability in the past:I could sing well when I was at school.
Let's practise
Advice/ suggestions
Practice
Possibility and certainty
- Alcaráz must feel delighted.- It might rain later so take an umbrella with you. - That can't be our new teacher. That's a woman and our new teacher is a man.
Obligation, prohibition and lack of obligation
- To express lack of obligation:You don't have to go to the festival if you don't want to.
- To express obligation:I must go now.She has to wear a helmet.
- To express prohibition:You mustn't park your car here.
Permission and requests
- To ask for permission: Can I go to the party, please? You could borrow my new game if you like. - To make a request: Could you get me a glass of water, please? May I help you?
Modal verbs
IRENE LARROCHA DENIZ
Created on February 8, 2026
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Transcript
may/might
can
could
Modal verbs
must
should
Characteristics of modal verbs
- They have the same form for all the persons, i.e. I can, he can, they can. - They are followed by the infinitive without to, i.e. I should go, he might come.
Characteristics of modal verbs
- They express concepts like ability (can), advice (should), obligation (must), or possibility (might). - They act as auxiliaries in interrogative and negative forms: Can I go? or You shouldn't drink and drive.
Ability
- Be able to
- To express ability in different tenses:I have been able to run 5 km since I joined the club. I will be able to create a website when I finish the course.- Can/ can't
- To express ability in the present:I can type fast.- Could/couldn't
- To express ability in the past:I could sing well when I was at school.Let's practise
Advice/ suggestions
Practice
Possibility and certainty
- Alcaráz must feel delighted.- It might rain later so take an umbrella with you. - That can't be our new teacher. That's a woman and our new teacher is a man.
Obligation, prohibition and lack of obligation
- don't have to
- To express lack of obligation:You don't have to go to the festival if you don't want to.- must / have to
- To express obligation:I must go now.She has to wear a helmet.- mustn't
- To express prohibition:You mustn't park your car here.Permission and requests
- Can/ Could/ May
- To ask for permission: Can I go to the party, please? You could borrow my new game if you like. - To make a request: Could you get me a glass of water, please? May I help you?