MODAL VERBS: All you need to know about CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, MUST, SHOULD, SHALL, WILL and WOULD

Summary

This video lesson provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and using the 9 modal verbs in English: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. The instructor explains their various functions, such as expressing ability, permission, deduction, requests, suggestions, and obligations, with clear examples. Viewers also receive helpful tips on pronunciation and contractions. Interactive quizzes and a free downloadable PDF Study Guide further reinforce the learning process. The lesson aims to make modals less confusing and provide learners with practical tools to use them confidently in both formal and informal contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Modal verbs in English (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) are a common source of confusion for learners.
• 😀 The key feature of modal verbs is that they have only one form, and they do not take -ing, -ed, or -s in the third person singular.
• 😀 Modal verbs are followed by the base form of another verb and do not use a to-infinitive.
• 😀 Questions with modal verbs are formed by inverting the subject and the modal verb without using 'do' or 'did'.
• 😀 Modal verbs like 'can', 'could', and 'may' can be used to make requests, give permission, and make deductions.
• 😀 Modal verbs have both present and past uses: 'can' expresses present ability, while 'could' is used for past ability.
• 😀 'Must' is used to express certainty, strong obligation, or necessity, while 'may' and 'might' express uncertainty or possibility.
• 😀 'Should' is used for obligations, advice, and expectations, and it’s less forceful than 'must'.
• 😀 'Shall' is often used for offers and suggestions, especially in British English, and is less common in American English.
• 😀 'Will' is used for future predictions, promises, and requests, while 'would' is a more polite, less direct form of 'will' and is used for hypothetical situations.

Q & A

What are modal verbs, and why do they cause difficulty for students?

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs like 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', 'must', 'shall', 'should', 'will', and 'would'. They are challenging for students due to their various functions, meanings, and complex usage in different contexts.

What is unique about the form of modal verbs in English?

Modal verbs in English have a single, unchanging form. They don't change for tense or add suffixes like -ing, -ed, or -s, which is rare in English grammar.

How do you form questions with modal verbs?

To form questions with modal verbs, invert the subject and modal verb, without using 'do' or 'did'. For example, 'Can I help you?' or 'Should I dye my hair green?'

How do you create negative sentences with modal verbs?

Negatives are formed by adding 'not' after the modal verb, like 'could not', 'should not', etc. Contractions like 'can't' or 'won't' are common, but 'may not' is rarely contracted.

What is the difference between 'can' and 'could'?

'Can' refers to present ability or general permission, while 'could' is used for past ability or to express polite requests and possibilities.

How do we use 'might' and 'may' in terms of possibility?

'Might' and 'may' are used to talk about possibilities in the present or future. 'Might' is often used more in speech, while 'may' is more formal and is also used for asking for permission.

What is the use of 'must' in modal verb expressions?

'Must' is used to express strong necessity or obligation, as well as to make deductions when you are certain about something. For example, 'I must call my dad' or 'She must be tired.'

How do we use 'should' in modal verb sentences?

'Should' is used for giving advice, making suggestions, or expressing obligations that are less strong than 'must'. For example, 'You should wear a seatbelt' or 'Should we go to the cinema?'

What is the function of 'shall' in modal verb usage?

'Shall' is typically used with 'I' and 'we' in British English to make offers, suggestions, or ask for advice. For example, 'Shall we go for a walk?' In American English, it is less common, and other verbs like 'should' may be used instead.

How does 'will' function in terms of promises and requests?

'Will' is commonly used to make future predictions, promises, and requests. For example, 'I will help you tomorrow' or 'Will you pass the salt?'