Modal Verb |
Picture |
Example in a sentence |
can:
possibility and ability
Click
here for a
YouTube video |
|
This baby can crawl.
I can crawl |
We can crawl |
You can crawl |
You can crawl |
He
can crawl |
|
She can crawl |
They can crawl |
It can crawl |
|
negative contraction: can't crawl
|
will:
future
Click
here for a
YouTube video |
|
He will go to the beach later today.
I will go |
We will go |
You will go |
You will go |
He will go |
|
She will go |
They will go |
It will go |
|
negative contraction: won't go |
shall:
possibility and future possibility |
This sounds so formal I'm going to recommend that you not
use it. Shall is not popular. (One less word to remember!) |
Your teacher recommends that you don't use shall if your interest is in American English. 98 % of
the American public doesn't use it. It sounds very formal. In
fact, it sounds too formal. (blech!) |
may:
possiblity and permission |
 |
1. (future possibility) They may
walk their dogs this afternoon.
2. (Asking permission)
A: May I walk your dog?
B: Yes, you may.
I may walk |
We may walk |
You may walk |
You may walk |
He may walk |
|
She may walk |
They may walk |
It may walk |
|
negative: may not walk (don't contract this one!) |
could
-
past tense of can--usually negative.
-
possibility and ability
|
|
When I went out to eat last night, I couldn't
read the signs
because they were in Chinese.
I could read |
We could read |
You could read |
You could read |
He could read |
|
She could read |
They could read |
It could read |
|
negative contraction: couldn't read |
would:
past tense of "will" |
|
She wouldn't touch the spider she saw earlier this morning
because she's afraid of them.
I would touch |
We would touch |
You would touch |
You would touch |
He would touch |
|
She would touch |
They would touch |
It would touch |
|
negative contraction: wouldn't touch |
| should:
recommendation and good idea.
(Related to "shall" but much
better and easier to use.) |
|
He should be careful on those rollerskates because he could
fall.
I should be |
We should be |
You should be |
You should be |
He should be |
|
She should be |
They should be |
It should be |
|
negative contraction: shouldn't be |
| might:
possibility
(use instead of "may" in some
cases) |
|
These eggs might break when they hit the
ground. In fact, they'll probably break unless they land on
something soft.
I might break |
We might break |
You might break |
You might break |
He might break |
|
She might break |
They might break |
It might break |
|
negative: might not break (don't contract!) |
must:
necessary and important |
|
They must attend this important meeting.
I must attend |
We must attend |
You must attend |
You must attend |
He must attend |
|
She must attend |
They must attend |
It must attend |
|
negative: must not attend (a contraction here is okay, but
it sounds formal and it sounds British. Most Americans try
not to sound like they have a British accent, but you may use
the contraction if you want to) |
Remember: Modal
verbs are followed by the main verb in the simple form.
I must go
He must be
They should eat
NOW TAKE A QUIZ
Here are the
answers for the quiz on video.
|
