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Summary
The modal verbs (or 'modal auxiliary verbs') are will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must,
need, ought to and dare.
I must go now. We can park here.
There are some expressions with have and be which have similar meanings to the
modal verbs.
I have to go now. We're allowed to park here.
These expressions can have other forms such as a past tense or a to-infinitive.
I had to hurry to get here. We asked to be allowed to go.
Modal verbs express meanings such as necessity and possibility. We can use modal verbs to tell or allow
people to do things; or we can use them to say how certain or uncertain we are.
Ability: can, could and be able to
Most people can swim.
Necessity: must, have (got) to, needn't and mustn't
I must go to the bank.
Obligation and advice: should, ought to etc
You should answer the letter.
Permission: can, could, may, might and be allowed to
We can leave our luggage at the hotel.
Like the other auxiliary verbs (be, have and do), modal verbs are important in negatives, questions, tags and so on.
A modal verb can have not after it, and it comes before the subject in questions.
Your desk shouldn't be untidy.
How should I organize my work?
You should take notes, shouldn't you? ~ I suppose I should.
3.
A modal verb does not usually have a tense. It can refer to the present or the future.
A modal verb can go with the perfect, the continuous or the passive.