What are Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are some important differences: 1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person. Examples: He can speak Chinese. She should be here by 9:00. 2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past. Examples: He should not be late. They might not come to the party. 3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses. Examples: He will can go with us. Not Correct She musted study very hard. Not Correct Common Modal Verbs : Can Could May Might Must Ought to Shall Should Will Would For the purposes of this tutorial, we have included some expressions which are not modal verbs including had better, have to, and have got to. These expressions are closely related to modals in meaning and are often interchanged with them. Modals are special verbs which behave very irregularly in English. Englishpage.com has created one of the most in-depth modal tutorials in print or online. Study the modal explanations and complete the associated exercises and take another step toward English fluency Modal Simple I could swim at the beach. Modal Continuous I could be swimming at the beach right now.

Modal Perfect I could have swum at the beach yesterday. Modal Perfect Continuous I could have been swimming at the beach instead of working in the office. Passive Modal Simple The room should be cleaned once a day. Passive Modal Continuous The room should be being cleaned now. Passive Modal Perfect The room should have been cleaned yesterday. Passive Modal Perfect Continuous The room should have been being cleaned but nobody was there. (Rare form)

Could
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use could to: talk about past possibility or ability make requests Structure of Could subject + could + main verb The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"). subject + ? My grandmother She Could

auxiliary verb
could

main verb swim. walk. swim?

could not (couldn't) your grandmother

Notice that: Could is invariable. There is only one form of could. The main verb is always the bare infinitive. The main verb is always the bare infinitive. We cannot say: Use of Could could: Past Possibility or Ability We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able or free to do: I could swim when I was 5 years old. My grandmother could speak seven languages. When we arrived home, we could not open the door. (...couldn't open the door.) Could you understand what he was saying? We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the past. But when we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be able to (positive) and couldn't (negative). Look at these examples: Past + My grandmother could speak Spanish. (General ) A man fell into the river yesterday. The police were able to save him. (Specific Occasion) - My grandmother couldn't speak Spanish. (General ) A man fell into the river yesterday. The police couldn't save him. (Specific Occasion)
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"Could" is used to express possibility or past ability as well as to make suggestions and requests. "Could" is also commonly used in conditional sentences as the conditional form of "can." Examples: Extreme rain could cause the river to flood the city. possibility Nancy could ski like a pro by the age of 11. past ability You could see a movie or go out to dinner. suggestion Could I use your computer to email my boss? request We could go on the trip if I didn't have to work this weekend. conditional Using "Could" in Present, Past, and Future Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "could" behaves in different contexts. Modal use Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. John could be the one who stole the money. 2. John could have been the one who stole the money. 3. John could go to jail for stealing the money. could conditional of can 1. If I had more time, I could travel around the world. 2. If I had had more time, I could have traveled around the world. 3. If I had more time this winter, I could travel around the world. 1. NO PRESENT FORM 2. You could have spent your vacation in Hawaii. Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. Mary couldn't be the one who stole the money. 2. Mary couldn't have been the one who stole the money. 3. Mary couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. 1. Even if I had more time, I couldn't travel around the world. 2. Even if I had had more time, I couldn't have traveled around the world. 3. Even if I had more time this winter, I couldn't travel around the world. NO NEGATIVE FORMS You can also use:

could possibility

might, may

could suggestion

could past ability

3. You could spend your vacation in Hawaii. I could run ten miles in my twenties. I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. "Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct Could I have something to drink? Could I borrow your stapler? Requests usually refer to the near future.

I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties. I couldn't speak Swahili. "Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability. Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct Couldn't he come with us? Couldn't you help me with this for just a second? Requests usually refer to the near future.

be able to

could polite request

can, may, might

REMEMBER: "Could not" vs. "Might not" "Could not" suggests that it is impossible for something to happen. "Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens. Examples: Jack might not have the key. Maybe he does not have the key. Jack could not have the key. It is impossible that he has the key.

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Can
Can is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use can to: talk about possibility and ability make requests ask for or give permission Structure of Can subject + can + main verb The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"). subject + I He auxiliary verb can cannot can't you main verb tennis. tennis.

play play

? Can play tennis? Notice that: Can is invariable. There is only one form of can. The main verb is always the bare infinitive. The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"). We cannot say: Use of Can Can: Possibility and Ability We use can to talk about what is possible, what we are able or free to do: She can drive a car. John can speak Spanish. I cannot hear you. (I can't hear you.) Can you hear me? Normally, we use can for the present. But it is possible to use can when we make present decisions about future ability. A. Can you help me with my homework? (present) B. Sorry. I'm busy today. But I can help you tomorrow. (future) Can: Requests and Orders We often use can in a question to ask somebody to do something. This is not a real question - we do not really want to know if the person is able to do something, we want them to do it! The use of can in this way is informal (mainly between friends and family): Can you make a cup of coffee, please. Can you put the TV on. Can you come here a minute. Can you be quiet! Can: Permission We sometimes use can to ask or give permission for something: A. Can I smoke in this room? B. You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden. (Note that we also use could, may, might for permission. The use of can for permission is informal.)
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"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility Examples: I can ride a horse. ability We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission Can you hand me the stapler? request Any child can grow up to be president. possibility Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts. Modal use Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. I can speak Chinese. 2. SHIFT TO "COULD" I could speak Chinese when I was a kid. 3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" I will be able to speak Chinese by the time I finish my course. 1. With a burst of adrenaline, people can pick up cars. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he was able to lift the car off the child's leg. 3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" With a sudden burst of adrenaline, he will be able to lift the car. 1. I have some free time. I can help her now. Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. I can't speak Swahili. 2. SHIFT TO "COULD" I couldn't speak Swahili. 3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" I won't be able to speak Swahili. You can also use:

can general ability

be able to

can ability during a specific event

1. Even with a burst of adrenaline, people can't pick up something that heavy. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" Even the weight lifter, couldn't lift the car off the child's leg. 3. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" Even three men working together won't be able to lift the car. 1. I don't have any time. I can't help her now.

be able to

can opportunity

be able to

2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" I had some free time yesterday. I was able to help her at that time. 3. I'll have some free time tomorrow. I can help her then. 1. I can drive Susan's car when she is out of town. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO " I was allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week. 3. I can drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week. Can I have a glass of water? Can you give me a lift to school? Requests usually refer to the near future. Anyone can become rich and famous if they know the right people. Learning a language can be a real challenge. This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.

2. SHIFT TO "BE ABLE TO" I didn't have time yesterday. I wasn't able to help her at that time. 3. I won't have any time later. I can't help her then. 1. I can't drive Susan's car when she is out of town. 2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO " I wasn't allowed to drive Susan's car while she was out of town last week. 3. I can't drive Susan's car while she is out of town next week. Can't I have a glass of water? Can't you give me a lift to school? Requests usually refer to the near future. It can't cost more than a could dollar or two. You can't be 45! I thought you were about 18 years old. This use is usually a generalization or a supposition.
http://www.englishpage.com/modals/can.html could, may

can permission

can request

could, may

can possibility, impossibility