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

Summary

This video script from English-speaking 360 offers an in-depth look at eight modal verbs: can, could, may, might, should, must, will, and would. It breaks down their various uses, including expressing abilities, permissions, possibilities, requests, and obligations. The script also introduces the concept of 'power level' to differentiate the strength of modal verbs in context. The video is designed to clarify common confusions and provides practical examples to help English learners master these versatile helping verbs.

Takeaways

• 📘 Modal verbs are helping verbs used to express different aspects of actions, such as abilities, permissions, and possibilities.
• 🔑 'Can' is used to express ability, permission, possibility, request, offer, and prohibition.
• 🍽️ 'Could' is more polite than 'can' and is used for requests, suggestions, past ability, possibility, and conditional situations.
• 🌟 'May' is used for permission, possibility, and expressing wishes or hopes.
• 🤔 'Might' indicates a lower level of possibility compared to 'can' and is often used with 'want to' for suggestions.
• 📚 'Should' is used for advice and expectations, reflecting a strong recommendation or an expected outcome.
• 🚫 'Must' expresses obligation, deduction, and prohibition, indicating a necessity or a strong conclusion.
• 🔮 'Will' is used for future actions, promises, offers, predictions, and spontaneous decisions.
• 🎩 'Would' has various uses including polite offers, requests, past habits, unreal conditionals, future in the past, and reported speech.
• 🔄 Modal verbs can have overlapping meanings, leading to confusion, but understanding their 'power levels' can help differentiate their use in context.
• 📉 The script emphasizes the importance of recognizing the varying degrees of politeness and certainty associated with different modal verbs.

Q & A

What are modal verbs and what is their primary function in English grammar?

Modal verbs are helping verbs that assist other verbs. They are used to express various nuances such as abilities, permissions, obligations, and possibilities.

How many different uses does the modal verb 'can' have according to the script?

The modal verb 'can' has six different uses: to show ability, permission, possibility, a request, an offer, and prohibition.

What is the difference between using 'can' and 'could' to make a polite request?

'Could' is more polite than 'can' when making a request. For example, 'Could you pass the salt?' is more polite than 'Can you pass the salt?'

What are the three uses of the modal verb 'may' as described in the script?

The modal verb 'may' can be used to ask for permission, express possibility, and convey a wish or hope.

How is the modal verb 'might' used to express a suggestion?

'Might' is often used with 'want to' to express a suggestion, such as 'You might want to try updating your software.'

What are the two main uses of the modal verb 'should' mentioned in the video?

The modal verb 'should' is used to offer advice and express expectations.

What is the primary use of the modal verb 'must' in terms of obligation?

'Must' is used to express obligation, such as 'You must wear a seat belt during takeoff.'

How many different uses does the modal verb 'will' have, and what are they?

'Will' has five different uses: to express future action, make a promise, offer help, make a prediction, and indicate a spontaneous decision.

What are the six uses of the modal verb 'would' as explained in the script?

The modal verb 'would' can be used to make a polite offer, request, express a past habit, indicate a conditional unreal situation, refer to a future in the past, and for reported speech.

How can modal verbs express different levels of possibility?

Modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'may', and 'might' can express different levels of possibility, with 'can' indicating the highest level of certainty (around 80%) and 'might' the lowest (around 30%).

How does the script differentiate the politeness levels of modal verbs when asking for permission?

The script suggests that 'can' is the least polite with a politeness level of 40%, 'could' is more polite at 60%, 'may' is at 70%, and 'would you mind' is the most polite at 80%.

What is the script's advice on using 'might' for asking permission?

The script advises that using 'might' to ask for permission is very formal and polite, but it is less common and not recommended for frequent use.