Modal verb
Themodal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will,would.
‘Can’has the meaning of ability. It has a sense of permission, and also indicatespossibility.
e.g: I can speak French. (ability)
e.g. Can I use your telephone (permission)
e.g. He can be home now (possibility)
‘Could’ is used for ability in the past & polite request.
e.g: I could run 20 kms when I was young. ( ability in the past)
e.g: Could I stay here tonight? ( polite request)
‘Could’ and ‘might’ indicate remote possibility.
e.g: He could be home now or He might be homenow.
‘May’is used to express wish and hope.
e.g:May you live long! (wish)
‘Should’expresses desirability or duty.
e.g:We should help the poor.
‘Must’indicates an obligation.
e.g:We must obey our parents.
‘Would’indicates willingness.
e.g: Wouldyou help us?
‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.
e.g:You shall not go to bed now.
e.g:We must obey our parents.
‘Would’indicates willingness.
e.g: Would you help us?
‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.
e.g:You shall not go to bed now.
‘Must’indicates an obligation.
e.g:We must obey our parents.
‘Would’indicates willingness.
e.g: Would you help us?
‘Shall’is used with second and third person subject to express promise, threat, orstrong will.
e.g:You shall not go to bed now.