Modal Verbs: Can, Could, Should and More

Core modal verbs express meanings such as possibility, ability, advice and obligation. They normally take a bare infinitive and do not add a third-person -s.

Modal verbs are special helper verbs that add meaning like possibility, ability, or necessity. They're like seasoning for your sentences! 🌟

CAN & COULD: Ability & Possibility

I can swim.

💡 Present ability

She could read at age 4.

💡 Past ability

Can I help you?

💡 Offering help / asking permission

It could rain tomorrow.

💡 Possibility

SHOULD & OUGHT TO: Advice

You should eat more vegetables.

💡 Giving advice

We ought to help them.

💡 Moral obligation (formal)

You shouldn't stay up late.

💡 Advice against something

MUST & HAVE TO: Obligation

You must wear a seatbelt.

💡 Strong obligation (law/rule)

I have to finish my homework.

💡 External obligation

You mustn't smoke here.

💡 Prohibition - NOT allowed!

MAY & MIGHT: Permission & Possibility

May I come in?

💡 Formal permission request

It may snow tonight.

💡 Possibility (50% chance)

She might be late.

💡 Less certain possibility

WOULD: Requests & Hypotheticals

Would you help me, please?

💡 Polite request

I would travel if I had money.

💡 Hypothetical situation

When I was young, I would play outside.

💡 Past habit

Modal	Use	Example
can	ability, permission, possibility	I can help you
could	past ability, polite request, possibility	Could you help me?
should	advice, recommendation	You should rest
must	strong obligation, certainty	You must stop
may	permission, possibility	May I leave?
might	slight possibility	It might work
would	polite request, hypothetical	Would you like tea?

Continue learning

Conditional Sentences: Types and Examples · Future Simple with Will: Rules and Examples

Practice in the 30 Days English Challenge: Day 7: Will, Shall, May and Can: Ability, Offers and Permission · Day 8: Would, Should, Could and Might: Uses and Examples