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2.939v5.667H9.351V9h3.414v1.561h.046c.477-.9 1.637-1.85 3.37-1.85c3.601 0 4.267 2.37 4.267 5.455v6.286zM5.337 7.433a2.06 2.06 0 0 1-2.063-2.065a2.064 2.064 0 1 1 2.063 2.065m1.782 13.019H3.555V9h3.564zM22.225 0H1.771C.792 0 0 .774 0 1.729v20.542C0 23.227.792 24 1.771 24h20.451C23.2 24 24 23.227 24 22.271V1.729C24 .774 23.2 0 22.222 0z\"\u002F>",true,{"id":40,"title":41,"author":42,"body":43,"cefrLevel":869,"date":42,"description":870,"exercises":42,"extension":871,"faqs":872,"gcseTier":42,"intro":42,"language":885,"lastUpdated":42,"meta":886,"navigation":38,"path":887,"seo":888,"stem":889,"verbSlugs":42,"__hash__":890},"pages\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fmodal-verbs.md","Modal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them",null,{"type":44,"value":45,"toc":857},"minimark",[46,66,71,78,156,159,212,228,232,253,307,334,338,341,393,415,419,422,462,471,474,518,527,531,534,588,611,615,618,672,688,696,716,720,723,811,815,818,851],[47,48,49,50,54,55,58,59,54,62,65],"p",{},"Modal verbs are the small helping words that let you talk about ability,\npermission, obligation, advice and how certain you are. ",[51,52,53],"em",{},"Can, could, may, might,\nmust, shall, should, will"," and ",[51,56,57],{},"would"," are the core nine. Alongside them sit the\nsemi-modals ",[51,60,61],{},"ought to, have to",[51,63,64],{},"need to",", which do the same jobs but behave\na little differently. The good news: the core modals all follow the same three\ngrammar rules, so once you have those, you only have to learn the meanings.",[67,68,70],"h2",{"id":69},"the-shared-rules-that-make-modals-easy","The shared rules that make modals easy",[47,72,73,74,77],{},"Ordinary verbs change form and need ",[51,75,76],{},"do"," for questions. Modal verbs do not. They\nshare three rules, and these rules apply to every modal in the list.",[79,80,81,97],"table",{},[82,83,84],"thead",{},[85,86,87,91,94],"tr",{},[88,89,90],"th",{},"Rule",[88,92,93],{},"Right",[88,95,96],{},"Wrong",[98,99,100,116,135],"tbody",{},[85,101,102,106,111],{},[103,104,105],"td",{},"No -s in the third person",[103,107,108],{},[51,109,110],{},"She can swim.",[103,112,113],{},[51,114,115],{},"She cans swim.",[85,117,118,125,130],{},[103,119,120,121,124],{},"Followed by the bare infinitive (no ",[51,122,123],{},"to",")",[103,126,127],{},[51,128,129],{},"I must go.",[103,131,132],{},[51,133,134],{},"I must to go.",[85,136,137,142,151],{},[103,138,139,140],{},"Questions and negatives without ",[51,141,76],{},[103,143,144,147,148],{},[51,145,146],{},"Can you help?"," \u002F ",[51,149,150],{},"You can't go.",[103,152,153],{},[51,154,155],{},"Do you can help?",[47,157,158],{},"A few points worth fixing in your memory:",[160,161,162,191,197],"ul",{},[163,164,165,166,169,170,173,174,177,178,180,181,54,184,187,188],"li",{},"The verb after a modal is always the base form: ",[51,167,168],{},"go, be, eat, work",". No ",[51,171,172],{},"-s",",\nno ",[51,175,176],{},"-ed",", no ",[51,179,123],{},". ",[51,182,183],{},"He should studies",[51,185,186],{},"He should to study"," are both wrong;\nit is ",[51,189,190],{},"He should study.",[163,192,193,194],{},"To make a question, put the modal first: ",[51,195,196],{},"Should I call her? Will they come?",[163,198,199,200,203,204,207,208,211],{},"To make a negative, add ",[51,201,202],{},"not"," after the modal: ",[51,205,206],{},"I cannot come. You should not\nworry."," The short forms are ",[51,209,210],{},"can't, won't, shouldn't, mustn't, wouldn't"," and so\non.",[47,213,214,215,54,218,220,221,223,224,227],{},"The semi-modals ",[51,216,217],{},"have to",[51,219,64],{}," are the exception: they do use ",[51,222,76],{}," for\nquestions and negatives (",[51,225,226],{},"Do you have to leave? You don't need to wait","), because\ngrammatically they behave more like ordinary verbs.",[67,229,231],{"id":230},"ability-can-could-be-able-to","Ability: can, could, be able to",[47,233,234,237,238,241,242,245,246,54,249,252],{},[51,235,236],{},"Can"," is the everyday word for ability in the present. ",[51,239,240],{},"Could"," is its past form.\n",[51,243,244],{},"Be able to"," fills the gaps where ",[51,247,248],{},"can",[51,250,251],{},"could"," have no form, such as the\nfuture or the perfect.",[79,254,255,268],{},[82,256,257],{},[85,258,259,262,265],{},[88,260,261],{},"Modal",[88,263,264],{},"Use",[88,266,267],{},"Example",[98,269,270,282,294],{},[85,271,272,274,277],{},[103,273,248],{},[103,275,276],{},"present ability",[103,278,279],{},[51,280,281],{},"I can speak three languages.",[85,283,284,286,289],{},[103,285,251],{},[103,287,288],{},"past or general ability",[103,290,291],{},[51,292,293],{},"She could read at the age of four.",[85,295,296,299,302],{},[103,297,298],{},"be able to",[103,300,301],{},"future, perfect, or after another modal",[103,303,304],{},[51,305,306],{},"I will be able to drive next year.",[47,308,309,310,313,314,317,318,180,320,323,324,327,328,330,331,124],{},"One trap: for a single successful action in the past, English prefers ",[51,311,312],{},"was\u002Fwere\nable to"," or ",[51,315,316],{},"managed to",", not ",[51,319,251],{},[51,321,322],{},"I could pass the exam"," sounds wrong for\none event; say ",[51,325,326],{},"I was able to pass the exam."," (",[51,329,240],{}," is fine for general past\nability: ",[51,332,333],{},"I could swim when I was young.",[67,335,337],{"id":336},"permission-can-could-may","Permission: can, could, may",[47,339,340],{},"All three ask for or give permission. They differ mainly in formality, not\nmeaning.",[79,342,343,354],{},[82,344,345],{},[85,346,347,349,352],{},[88,348,261],{},[88,350,351],{},"Register",[88,353,267],{},[98,355,356,368,380],{},[85,357,358,360,363],{},[103,359,248],{},[103,361,362],{},"informal, everyday",[103,364,365],{},[51,366,367],{},"Can I sit here?",[85,369,370,372,375],{},[103,371,251],{},[103,373,374],{},"polite, slightly softer",[103,376,377],{},[51,378,379],{},"Could I borrow your pen?",[85,381,382,385,388],{},[103,383,384],{},"may",[103,386,387],{},"formal",[103,389,390],{},[51,391,392],{},"May I leave early today?",[47,394,395,396,54,398,400,401,404,405,313,408,411,412],{},"To give permission, ",[51,397,248],{},[51,399,384],{}," are normal (",[51,402,403],{},"You can go now. You may begin",").\nTo refuse it, use ",[51,406,407],{},"can't",[51,409,410],{},"may not",": ",[51,413,414],{},"You can't park here. Visitors may not\nenter.",[67,416,418],{"id":417},"obligation-and-necessity-must-have-to","Obligation and necessity: must, have to",[47,420,421],{},"This is where the most useful distinction in the whole topic lives.",[79,423,424,435],{},[82,425,426],{},[85,427,428,430,433],{},[88,429,261],{},[88,431,432],{},"Source of obligation",[88,434,267],{},[98,436,437,450],{},[85,438,439,442,445],{},[103,440,441],{},"must",[103,443,444],{},"the speaker's own authority or strong personal feeling",[103,446,447],{},[51,448,449],{},"I must finish this tonight.",[85,451,452,454,457],{},[103,453,217],{},[103,455,456],{},"an external rule or someone else's authority",[103,458,459],{},[51,460,461],{},"I have to wear a helmet on site.",[47,463,464,465,467,468,470],{},"If the pressure comes from you, ",[51,466,441],{}," fits. If it comes from a law, a boss or a\nrule, ",[51,469,217],{}," fits. In speech the two often overlap, but the source is the real\ndifference.",[47,472,473],{},"The negatives are not interchangeable, and this catches almost everyone:",[79,475,476,488],{},[82,477,478],{},[85,479,480,483,486],{},[88,481,482],{},"Negative",[88,484,485],{},"Meaning",[88,487,267],{},[98,489,490,504],{},[85,491,492,495,498],{},[103,493,494],{},"mustn't",[103,496,497],{},"it is forbidden (prohibition)",[103,499,500,503],{},[51,501,502],{},"You mustn't tell anyone."," (Telling is not allowed.)",[85,505,506,509,512],{},[103,507,508],{},"don't have to",[103,510,511],{},"there is no obligation (it is optional)",[103,513,514,517],{},[51,515,516],{},"You don't have to tell anyone."," (You can if you want.)",[47,519,520,54,523,526],{},[51,521,522],{},"You mustn't come",[51,524,525],{},"You don't have to come"," mean opposite things. The first\nforbids it; the second says it is up to you.",[67,528,530],{"id":529},"advice-should-ought-to-had-better","Advice: should, ought to, had better",[47,532,533],{},"These three recommend a course of action, getting stronger as you go down the\nlist.",[79,535,536,547],{},[82,537,538],{},[85,539,540,542,545],{},[88,541,261],{},[88,543,544],{},"Strength",[88,546,267],{},[98,548,549,562,575],{},[85,550,551,554,557],{},[103,552,553],{},"should",[103,555,556],{},"normal advice",[103,558,559],{},[51,560,561],{},"You should see a doctor.",[85,563,564,567,570],{},[103,565,566],{},"ought to",[103,568,569],{},"the same as should, slightly more formal",[103,571,572],{},[51,573,574],{},"You ought to apologise.",[85,576,577,580,583],{},[103,578,579],{},"had better",[103,581,582],{},"a warning; there is a bad result if you don't",[103,584,585],{},[51,586,587],{},"You'd better leave now or you'll miss it.",[47,589,590,54,593,595,596,599,600,603,604,327,607,610],{},[51,591,592],{},"Should",[51,594,566],{}," mean almost the same thing. ",[51,597,598],{},"Had better"," is stronger and\ncarries a hint of threat or urgency; it always points to a present or future\nsituation, never a general truth. Note its odd shape: it uses ",[51,601,602],{},"had"," but talks\nabout now, and its negative is ",[51,605,606],{},"had better not",[51,608,609],{},"You'd better not be late",").",[67,612,614],{"id":613},"possibility-probability-and-deduction","Possibility, probability and deduction",[47,616,617],{},"Modals let you say how sure you are about something. This is one of the most\nuseful jobs they do, and it works on a scale of certainty.",[79,619,620,631],{},[82,621,622],{},[85,623,624,626,629],{},[88,625,261],{},[88,627,628],{},"Certainty",[88,630,267],{},[98,632,633,646,659],{},[85,634,635,638,641],{},[103,636,637],{},"must be",[103,639,640],{},"you are certain it is true",[103,642,643],{},[51,644,645],{},"The lights are on - she must be home.",[85,647,648,651,654],{},[103,649,650],{},"can't be",[103,652,653],{},"you are certain it is not true",[103,655,656],{},[51,657,658],{},"He can't be 40, he looks 25.",[85,660,661,664,667],{},[103,662,663],{},"might \u002F may \u002F could be",[103,665,666],{},"it is possible, you are not sure",[103,668,669],{},[51,670,671],{},"They might be stuck in traffic.",[47,673,674,675,677,678,680,681,180,684,687],{},"Note that the negative of ",[51,676,637],{}," (certain something is true) is ",[51,679,650],{},", not\n",[51,682,683],{},"mustn't be",[51,685,686],{},"Mustn't"," is for prohibition, not deduction.",[47,689,690,691,695],{},"For deductions about the past, use ",[692,693,694],"strong",{},"modal + have + past participle",":",[160,697,698,704,710],{},[163,699,700,703],{},[51,701,702],{},"She must have left."," (I am sure she left.)",[163,705,706,709],{},[51,707,708],{},"He can't have known."," (I am sure he didn't know.)",[163,711,712,715],{},[51,713,714],{},"They might have missed the train."," (It is possible they did.)",[67,717,719],{"id":718},"common-mistakes","Common mistakes",[47,721,722],{},"Ranked by how often they actually appear:",[724,725,726,739,767,780,795],"ol",{},[163,727,728,731,732,735,736],{},[692,729,730],{},"Adding -s in the third person."," ",[51,733,734],{},"She cans drive, he musts go."," Modals never\ntake -s. It is ",[51,737,738],{},"She can drive, he must go.",[163,740,741,731,747,750,751,754,755,54,758,760,761,763,764,766],{},[692,742,743,744,746],{},"Putting ",[51,745,123],{}," after a modal.",[51,748,749],{},"I must to go, you should to rest."," The verb\nafter a core modal is the bare infinitive: ",[51,752,753],{},"I must go, you should rest.","\n(",[51,756,757],{},"Ought to, have to",[51,759,64],{}," keep their ",[51,762,123],{},", because the ",[51,765,123],{}," is part of\nthe semi-modal itself.)",[163,768,769,731,772,775,776,779],{},[692,770,771],{},"Confusing mustn't with don't have to.",[51,773,774],{},"You mustn't pay"," (it is forbidden\nto pay) when you mean ",[51,777,778],{},"You don't have to pay"," (paying is optional). They are\nopposites; choose carefully.",[163,781,782,731,788,791,792],{},[692,783,784,785,787],{},"Using ",[51,786,76],{}," with a modal.",[51,789,790],{},"Do you can come? Does she must stay?"," Modals make\ntheir own questions: ",[51,793,794],{},"Can you come? Must she stay?",[163,796,797,731,802,805,806,411,808],{},[692,798,784,799,801],{},[51,800,248],{}," for the past.",[51,803,804],{},"Yesterday I can't sleep."," For the past you need\n",[51,807,251],{},[51,809,810],{},"Yesterday I couldn't sleep.",[67,812,814],{"id":813},"practice","Practice",[47,816,817],{},"Choose the correct modal. Answers are below.",[724,819,820,828,834,840,845],{},[163,821,822,823,827],{},"She ",[824,825,826],"code",{},"___"," (can \u002F cans) play the violin beautifully.",[163,829,830,831,833],{},"You ",[824,832,826],{}," (mustn't \u002F don't have to) touch that wire - it's dangerous.",[163,835,836,837,839],{},"I'm not sure, but they ",[824,838,826],{}," (must \u002F might) be at home.",[163,841,842,844],{},[824,843,826],{}," you help me with this box, please?",[163,846,847,848,850],{},"When I was a child I ",[824,849,826],{}," (can \u002F could) climb any tree in the garden.",[47,852,853,856],{},[692,854,855],{},"Answers:"," 1. can (modals never take -s) 2. mustn't (it is forbidden, a real\ndanger) 3. might (you are not certain) 4. Can \u002F Could (Could is more polite) 5.\ncould (general ability in the past)",{"title":858,"searchDepth":859,"depth":859,"links":860},"",2,[861,862,863,864,865,866,867,868],{"id":69,"depth":859,"text":70},{"id":230,"depth":859,"text":231},{"id":336,"depth":859,"text":337},{"id":417,"depth":859,"text":418},{"id":529,"depth":859,"text":530},{"id":613,"depth":859,"text":614},{"id":718,"depth":859,"text":719},{"id":813,"depth":859,"text":814},"B1","A clear guide to modal verbs in English (can, must, should, will and more). The shared grammar rules, every function with a table, and the mistakes to avoid.","md",[873,876,879,882],{"q":874,"a":875},"What are modal verbs in English?","Modal verbs are helping verbs that add meaning such as ability, permission, obligation, advice or possibility. The main ones are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would, plus the semi-modals ought to, have to and need to. They sit before a main verb in its base form: I can swim, you should rest, she must leave.",{"q":877,"a":878},"What is the difference between mustn't and don't have to?","They are opposites. Mustn't means it is forbidden (You mustn't smoke here means smoking is not allowed). Don't have to means there is no obligation but you are free to choose (You don't have to come means coming is optional). Mixing them up is one of the most common errors learners make.",{"q":880,"a":881},"Do modal verbs change in the third person?","No. Modal verbs never take an -s in the third person singular. It is she can, he must, it should - never she cans or he musts. This is one of the rules that makes modals easier than ordinary verbs.",{"q":883,"a":884},"What is the difference between must and have to?","Must usually expresses the speaker's own authority or a strong personal feeling (I must call my mother). Have to expresses an external rule or obligation that comes from someone else (I have to wear a uniform at work). In many situations either works, but the source of the obligation is the key difference.","english",{},"\u002Fenglish\u002Fgrammar\u002Fmodal-verbs",{"title":41,"description":870},"english\u002Fgrammar\u002Fmodal-verbs","V8tDL4lSGxAhZBioiq9kyWNP9X40SsjJC_jtDA9UWSQ"]