Modal verbs

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.

Certainty: will, must and can't

Mandy will be in London now.
Probability: should and ought to
The rain should stop soon.
Possibility: may, might, can and could
The keys may be in my coat pocket.
Habits: will, would and used to
People will leave litter everywhere.
The verb dare
I daren't go up on the roof.

Introduction to modal verbs

1. A modal verb is always the first word in the verb phrase. It always has the same
form and never has an ending. After a modal verb we put a bare infinitive.
It will be windy. You should look after your money.
A modal does not have a to-infinitive after it (except ought).
2.

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.

Present: We must know now. The letter might be in my bag.

Future: We must know soon. The letter might arrive tomorrow.
For the past we use had to, was able to etc, or we use a modal verb + have.
Past: We had to know then. The letter might have arrived yesterday.
But in some contexts could, would, should and might are past forms of can, will,
shall and may.
I can't remember the formula. (present)
I couldn't remember the formula. (past)
4.

A modal verb can go with the perfect, the continuous or the passive.

Perfect: I may have shown you this before.

Continuous: They may be showing the film on television.
Passive: We may be shown the results later.
5. There are some expressions with have and be which have very similar meanings to
the modal verbs.
a) The main expressions are have to, be able to, be allowed to and be going to.
You have to fill in this form. I was able to cancel the order.
b) We can use have to, be able to, etc to talk about the past.
We had to do a test yesterday. NOT We must do a test yesterday.
*There are some important differences in the use of modal verbs and these
expressions, e.g. must and have to; can/may and be allowed to; and
could and was able to; and will and be going to.