Modal Verbs

In English, there are some special verbs that have certain special characteristics. These verbs
are called “modal verbs“.

Characteristics:
1. They don’t need auxiliaries or helping verbs to make questions. If you want to make questions using a modal verb, just put the modal verb at the beginning of the questions.

2. It is not possible to use “to” (except with ought to and have to) after a modal verb.

3. The verb that follows a modal verb is always in the infinite form.

4. Never put two modals together.

Click on any modal verb below to learn how to use it.

WILL (future)

MIGHT (50% possibility, also a soft suggestion)

MAY (50% possibility, also asking for formal permission)

CAN (ability, informal permission)

SHOULD (suggestions, also strong possibility)

OUGHT TO (suggestions, also strong possibility)

SHALL (polite proposal, formal command and a future activity)

COULD (ability in past tense, polite requests, conditional tense, 50% possibility, also a soft suggestion)

WOULD (to express desire, polite offerings, and used for conditional tense, a past habit or action)

MUST / HAVE TO (obligation, necessity, very strong possibility)

have to” is not a modal verb but it has almost the same intensity as “must“. Must is sometimes a stronger obligation or possibility, but this depends on the context of the conversation.