Modal Verbs in English and How to Use Them

Learn the modal verbs in English - and how to use them!

Model verbs and how to use them.

Why are modal verbs so important in English?

One of the reasons is cultural - we usually ask for things instead of using the imperative.

An example of this is in a restaurant we might say, ¨Could I please have the bill? ¨ or, ¨Can I have a coffee?´

In terms of business English, we often use modal verbs to make requests, even when they are to a person you are in charge of. It often doesn´t mean that the person has a real choice - you are still the boss, after all - but it seems more polite. An example could be if you ask if a report can be sent to you, but in reality, as the boss, it could be an order disguised as a request.

So if you do not know how to use modal verbs properly you could have problems such as misunderstandings in the workplace.

To read more on cultural differences in the workplace, watch this video: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN ENGLISH.

In this article, I'm going to briefly run through some of the main model verbs that we use and how to use them.

Have to & Must for Obligation

The first two that I want to talk about are have to and must in the sense of obligation. We use these when we are obligated to do something. The difference really in the meaning would be that must can be stronger.

It also can be more of an internal obligation, but really, we use them interchangeably a lot of the time. So don't worry too much about the nuances, the differences.

Let's go into how we use them.

I have to go shopping v I must go shopping. These are two things that I really need to do.

Negative:

I don't have to go shopping means that it's not necessary for me to go shopping. I have to go shopping means that it is necessary.

So they are completely different to each other in the negative.

I must go shopping means that it's something that is necessary for me to do.

I mustn't go shopping means that is prohibited. I can't go. It's not allowed. It's not permitted. So, in the negative, don't have to and must are completely different, so be careful there.

The past:

In the past they are also different.

Must, in the sense of obligation, has no past, so we use the past of have to.

For example:

Today I have to go → yesterday I had to go.

Today I must go → yesterday, I had to go.

Let's move on then to:

Must as a logical conclusion.

This is a different way of using must, and it's when we come to a conclusion about something because of the evidence or because of what we know or what we think we know.

For example, he has no shoes. He must be very poor.

Another example: She works in the penthouse, the top floor of the office block in the centre of New York. She must be very successful.

In the past, must → must + have + participle.

She worked in the penthouse, so she must have been very successful.

Can, could, and to be able to, in terms of ability.

So let's start with, can, can is something that you have the ability to do or not.

For example, can you swim? Yes, I can. No, I can't.

Could you swim in the past? (So could, in this case is can in the past) yes, I could. No, I couldn't.

To be able to is, has a similar meaning - do you have the power to do it? Do you have the ability to do it?

This appears more difficult, but really you just need to change the verb to be, depending on your tense.

E.g. in different tenses:

Present: I am able to swim

Past: I was able to swim

Future: I will be able to swim

Present perfect: I have been able to swim.

Can is for present. Sometimes we use it for future, for example, I can go to the cinema tomorrow.

Could is for past, and conditional sentences - I could go yesterday, or I could go if you allowed me to.

To ask for permission, can and could are used.

The difference is the level of politeness - could is more formal than can.

E.g.

Can I have a cookie? Perfect for all situations. Very polite.

Could I have a cookie? It is a little bit more formal and it's more polite and it's probably ideal for all situations. So if you're not sure, use could.

Do you mind if I have a cookie?

This is perfectly polite. Again, it's a little bit more formal than can, similar to could.

Just be careful, because it's a little bit longer, so maybe a little bit more difficult to use.

Would you mind if I had a cookie? This is asking in a more polite way.

May I have a cookie? is more formal again, and might I have a cookie? Is very formal - not really common at all, except maybe if you're having cookies with the queen. I would never use that and no one I know would use that.

To review levels of formality in making a request:

From least formal to most formal:

Can → Could → Do you mind → Would you mind → May I → Might I?

To be supposed to.

To be supposed to is to be expected to, or that you expect to do something. almost an obligation sometimes.

So let's go into some examples.

For example, I am supposed to start work at 8am. That is my start time for work, but sometimes I am late because of the traffic, or sometimes I start early.

That is the time that I am supposed to start - my expected starting time.

Be careful because a common mistake that I hear here in Spain because of directly translating it from Spanish is: ~~it is supposed that I~~ - this is wrong!

You always start with the person supposed to be involved in the action.

E.g.

I am supposed to be there.

It is supposed to rain because the weather forecast tells me so.

They are supposed to arrive in 10 minutes.

In the past, you just change the verb to be:

I was supposed to be there 5 minutes ago.

Or for example, if you're talking about the future, we use the present, as we suppose now that something will happen in future.

E.g.

Tomorrow it's supposed to rain.

I am supposed to go to the beach tomorrow.

Should, ought to, may and might.

Should and ought to are the same.

Both of them denote advice or probability.

I should exercise more is something that is good for me to do. It's not an obligation, but really it's a good thing for me to do.

I ought to exercise more often means the same.

In terms of probability:

Should = 80/90% probability:

I should get the job because I worked really hard. I have a lot of experience. I prepared very well. So I'm 80% sure, I expect to get the job because I have all the right qualifications. I ought to get the job is the same.

May/Might = 50% probability:

I may get the job because I've prepared well - this is a probability, but less, maybe 50%.

Note: Might and mean are the same: it might rain because there are clouds in the sky, but I'm not sure.

The following verbs all have one structure in the past:

Modal verb + have + participle of the verb:

Could
Would
Should
May
Might
Must (logical conclusion)

It takes a little bit of practice to do this fluently, of course, but it is just a simple construction that needs practice.

So let's go into it with some examples:

I should go to the cinema → I should have gone to the cinema.

I would do it → I would have done.

He must be sleeping → He must have been sleeping.

I may forget → I may have forgotten.

I might give it to you → I might have given it to you.

I could do it → I could have saved it.

That´s a quick overview of modal verbs - I hope it was helpful!

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Categories: : Grammar and Vocabulary