It is used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission and to show possibility. The negative form of "Can" is "Can't".
Examples
Ability:
I can speak French.
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Impossibility:
I can't help you.
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Request:
Can you give me those bags?
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Possibility:
We can go to the cinema this weekend.
Permission:
You can leave now.
The past form of "Can" is "Could". We can use "be able to" instead of "Can" to talk about the past or the future.
Examples
She could run fast when she was young.
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Cars will be able to fly in the future.
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She was able to run fast when she was young.
They were able to win a game in the 90's.
It is used to talk about an ability in the past. We can also use "was/were able to" instead of "Could".
The negative form of Could" is "Could not" and its contraction is "Couldn't".
Examples
Tom could jump higher 10 years ago.
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Tom was able to jump higher 10 years ago.
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She couldn't sleep well when the baby was born.
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I could run a marathon in my twenties.
It can be used to talk about a possibility or probability. It is also used to make suggestions and requests.
Examples
Suggestion:
Rose could help you if you want to.
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Possibility:
I could go with you.
Probability:
It could rain tomorrow.
Request:
Could you close the door, please?
It is used to talk about possibility. It can also be used to talk about a possibility in the future, like the modal "Could".
The negative form of "May" is "May not".
Examples
It may rain today.
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It may not be good.
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We may go to the cinema.
It may snow tomorrow.
Emma may want to have a drink now.
"May" can be used to give permission or instructions. In the interrogative form, the use of "May" sounds more polite than "Can" or "Could".
Examples
May I have a coffee?
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You may use your cell phone now.
She may arrive at 10 p.m.
May I leave now?
"Might" is another Modal verb with the same meaning as "May" but the last one indicates more certainty or probability.
Take into account that we also use "Might" instead of "May" to talk about the Past. The negative form of "Might" is "Might not".
Examples
They might not visit you tonight.
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She might win the race.
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He might have gone out last Saturday.
You might try tomorrow.
It is used to talk about the future, to make promises and offers, to express spontaneous decisions, plans and predictions.
The past form of "Will" is "Would".
Its negative form is "Will not" and the contraction is "Won't" (it is more used).
Examples
Offer:
I will help you with those bags.
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I won't tell anyone, I promise.
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Plan:
We will go on vacations next summer.
Spontaneous decision:
I will go with you.
I will use the stairs.
Promise:
I will help you with your homework.Prediction:
Cars will fly by 2050.
"Shall" has the same meaning as "Will" but it is more formal, so we use "Shall" to talk with a superior, an unknown person or an authority.
It is common to use "Shall" when we want to ask for advice or an opinion.
The negative form of "Shall" is "Shall not".
Examples
Shall I tell her?
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He shall not be fired.
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I'm cold. Shall I close the window?
I shall never forget you.
"Should" and "Ought to" have a very similar meaning. We use them to talk about obligations and recommendations.
We write "Should" and "Ought to" followed by the infinitive form of the verb. Their negative forms are "Shouldn't and "Oughtn't".
Examples
They should do it now.
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You ought to study every day.
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He oughtn't call her like that.
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He shouldn't call her like that.
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You look tired, you should go to bed.
It should be cloudy tomorrow.
You shouldn't eat sweets before dinner.
There are some subtle differences between "Should" and "Ought to".
"Should" is often used to give advice while "Ought to" has to do with moral duty.
Take into account that "Should" is more commonly used, especially in the negative or interrogative form.
Examples
You should tell him the truth.
Emma shouldn't go out so late at night.
You ought to visit your grandpa more often.
Should I call the doctor?
Children ought to respect old people.
"Must" and "Have to" are quite similar, they are used to talk about obligations and they are followed by the infinitive form of the verb.
There are some differences in meaning, we use "Must" to express personal opinions about what should be done, instead, "Have to" is used to express an external obligation imposed by someone else.
We use "Must" to talk about a probability or to assume something.
Examples
We must leave now.
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They have to study a lot for tomorrow.
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Personal obligation:
I must brush my teeth every day.
Assumption:
John must be at home.
Imposed by the law:
You have to use the seatbelt when driving.
Personal opinion:
Expressing that it was imposed by an authority:
It is said by the teacher:
You must study for tomorrow.
The negative form of "Must" is "Mustn't". The negative form of "have to" depends on the subject, "Don't/Doesn't have to". There are differences in meaning.
We use "Mustn't" to talk about prohibitions but we use "Don't/Doesn't have to" when there is lack of obligation.
You can also use "Must" to ask rhetorical questions.
Examples
There is no necessity:
I don't have to cook dinner.
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Prohibition:
You mustn't smoke in public areas.
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Lack of obligation:
You don't have to come if you don't want to.
Rhetorical question:
Must she talk to you in that way?
"Would" is used to talk about the past or about the future in the past, it is the past form of "Will". We also use "Would" in the Conditional sentences.
It is also used to express desire, opinions or making polite requests.
We generally write "Would" followed by the main verb in the infinitive form.
Examples
Opinion:
I would call Tom if I were you.
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Future in the past:
Last Saturday I would have gone with you.
Polite request:
Would you help me with the shopping bags, please?
Polite request:
Would you like to go to the theatre?
Desire:
If I had money I would buy a plane.
The short form of "Would" is ('d). Its negative form is "Wouldn't".
Examples
I wouldn't go there.
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She'd work harder if she had time.
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If I had my wallet, I'd pay for the pizza.
We wouldn't eat that.
He'd like to go to New Zealand some day.
1 Modals are complementary verbs.
2 The sentence "I think it could rain tomorrow" is an example of…
3 "Should" and "Ought to" have very different meanings.
4 The negative form of Would is…
5 Which of the following sentences sounds more polite?
6 The Past form of Can is…
7 We also use Would in the Conditional sentences.
8 Which of the following Modal verbs is used to express ability?
9 Which of these Modals is more formal?
10 We use Mustn't to talk about prohibitions.
11 Which of the following Modal verbs is used to talk about an ability in the past?
12 Which of the following sentences expresses a prohibition?
13 The verb after the Modal verb is generally written in the…
14 Which of the following sentences is a request?
15 "Will" is used to make promises.
