Modal verbs: list with meanings and examples
A modal verb is used with another verb to express ability, possibility, permission or obligation: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would and ought to.
List of modal verbs (10)
- canto be able to
- couldthe past form of "can": was or were able to
- mayused to say that something is possible
- mightused to say that something is possible but not certain
- mustto have to; used to say that something is necessary
- oughtused with "to" to say what is right or sensible
- shallused with "I" and "we" to talk about the future or to make offers and suggestions
- shouldused to say what is right, advisable or expected
- willused to talk about the future
- wouldthe past form of "will", and used to talk about imagined situations