13 Modal Auxiliary Verbs : Use & Examples

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

In English grammar "Modal Auxiliary Verbs" are used to express mood of a speaker. We use Modal verbs to show possibility, ability, obligation, permission, request, suggestion or advice. We use base form of main verb with modal auxiliary verb.

For example:

1. I can speak English.
2. He will come tomorrow.

Modal auxiliary verbs are super useful words that help us express things like possibility, necessity, ability, or permission in a sentence. They're like little helpers that make our sentences clearer and more interesting.

Some common modal auxiliary verbs include words like "can," "could," "will," "would," "may," "might," "shall," "should," "must," and "ought to."

See also: 

• Past Modals: Could Have, Should Have, Would Have

Now, let's break it down a bit:

1. Possibility: When we're talking about something that might happen or could happen, we use modal auxiliary verbs like "may," "might," or "could." For example, "It may rain tomorrow."
2. Necessity: When something is necessary or required, we use modal auxiliary verbs like "must" or "have to." For instance, "You must finish your homework before you can play."
3. Ability: When we talk about what someone is able to do, we use modal auxiliary verbs like "can" or "could." For example, "She can speak three languages."
4. Permission: When we're asking for permission or giving permission, we use modal auxiliary verbs like "may," "can," or "could." For instance, "Can I borrow your pen?"

Modal auxiliary verbs: (Use & Examples)

1. Can

• We use "Can" for ability, possibility, informal request, etc

e.g.

1. I can swim. (Ability)
2. It can rain tomorrow. (Possibility)
3. Can you give me a pen? (Request)

2. Could

• We use "Could" for past ability, possibility, polite informal request, etc.

e.g.

1. When I was a child I could run fast. (Past ability)
2. Someone is knocking on the door it could be John. (Possibility)
3. Could you please attend the call? (Polite informal request)

3. May

• We use "May" for possibility, formal request/ permission, to express wish, etc.

e.g

1. John may go to movie in the evening. (Possibility)
2. May I come in sir? (Formal request/ Permission)
3. May God bless you. (Wish)

4. Might

• We use "Might" for less possibility, etc.

e.g.

1. I might buy Ferrari. (Less possibility)

5. Should

• We use "Should" for suggestion, advice, etc.

e.g

1. You should wash hands before meal.(Suggestion)
2. He is ill he should meet doctor. (Advice)

6. Must

• We use "Must" for necessity, obligation, etc.

e.g

1. If you want to win the match you must practice. (Necessity)
2. We must pay taxes on time. (Obligation)
3. We must follow traffic rules. (Obligation)

7. Ought to

• We use "Ought to" for moral obligation, etc

e.g.

1. We ought to respect elders.

8. Will

• We use "Will" for certainty, request, in simple future tense, willingness, etc.

e.g.

1. Train will come on time. (Certainty)
2. Will you please pass the salt? (Request)
3. I will play football tomorrow. (Simple future tense)
4. Someone is knocking the door I will open it. (Willingness)

9. Would

• We use "Would" for possibility, request, offer, etc.

e.g.

1. It would happen. (Possibility)
2. Would you please help me? (Request)
3. Would you like to have tea or coffee? (Offer)

10. Shall

• We use "Shall" to take confirmation, etc.

e.g.

1. Shall I go now?
2. Shall we move ahead?

11. Used to

• We use "Used to" for past repeated action, etc.

e.g.

1. I used to live in Paris.
2. When I was a child my father used to bring chocolates for me.

12. Need to

• We use "Need to" for necessity, etc.

e.g

1. If you want to pass the exam you need to study hard.

13. Have to

• We use " Have to" for obligation & necessity.

e.g. 

1. I have to finish my homework before dinner. (Necessity: It's required for me to finish my homework.)
2. You have to wear a seat-belt when driving. (Obligation: It's a rule that you must follow.)
3. I have to exercise. (Obligation: Doctor told me that you must exercise)
4. They have to be at work by 9 AM. (Necessity: It's necessary for them to arrive by a specific time.)
5. We have to study for the exam tomorrow. (Obligation: There's an exam, and studying is required.)

Remember, We can use Modal Auxiliary Verbs in negative forms also.

Positive	Negative	Contraction
Can	Cannot	Can’t
Could	Could not	Couldn’t
May	May not	-
Might	Might not	-
Should	Should not	Shouldn’t
Must	Must not	Mustn’t
Ought to	Ought not to	Oughtn’t to
Will	Will not	Won’t
Would	Would not	Wouldn’t
Shall	Shall not	Shan’t
Used to	Did not use to	Didn’t use to
Need to	Need not to	Needn’t to

These little words add a lot of meaning to our sentences and help us communicate more effectively. So, the next time you're writing or speaking, remember to use modal auxiliary verbs to make your message clear and interesting!

See also : Helping or Auxiliary Verbs