Mastering Modal Verbs: Usage, Types, and Examples in English
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Modals are verbs that are used to indicate modality i.e. the mood or the attitude of the speaker which may be likelihood, ability, obligation, request, wish, duty and suggestion etc. The commonly used modals are can, could, may, might, would, shall, should, need, must and ought etc.
| MODALS | USAGE | EXAMPLES |
| Can | To express ability | I can speak Russian fluently. |
| Can | To request permission | Can I open the door? |
| Could | To request politely | Could you please do it for me? |
| May | To express possibility | It may rain. |
| May | To request permission | May I come in? |
| May | Wish or Prayer | May you live long! |
| May | Purpose | He works hard so that he may pass. |
| Might | Less possibility | She might be sleeping now. |
| Must | To express obligation | You must leave now. |
| Must | To express strong belief | He must beover 80 years old. |
| Must | Logical certainity | Living alone in such a big city must be difficult. |
| Should | To give advice | You should stop smoking |
| Should | To express probability | We should obey the laws. |
| Should | To express probability | She should be in temple. |
| Would | To request or Offer | Would you like to have a cup of tea? |
| Would | Habitual action or Past routine | She would study at noon. |
| Would | Wish | I would be glad to help you. |
| Ought * | To express moral obligation | We ought to love our parents |
| Will | Wish, Request, Demand | Will you please pick up the phone? |
| Will | Prediction, Assumption | I think it will rain on Monday. |
| Will | Promise | I will quit smoking. |
| Will | To express habits | Her mom is strange; she will sit for hours without talking. |
| Need not | To express an action which is not necessary | He need not go there again. |
* (it is stronger than should and must)
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English Grammar