B1business

Modal Verbs - Business English

Type your answer in each blank and press Enter to check it, or use Check answers below. A cue in (brackets) is the word to put in the right form.

Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) sit before a main verb to add meaning such as ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice or deduction. They are useful at work because they let you sound polite, cautious or firm without changing the main verb. Three rules cover most cases. First, the modal is followed by the bare infinitive, with no "to": "I can send the report today," not "I can to send." Second, modals do not take -s in the third person: "She must approve it," never "She musts." Third, you form questions and negatives with the modal itself, not with "do": "Could you confirm the time?" and "We should not delay." Notice the difference in strength: "must" and "have to" express strong obligation ("All staff must complete the training"), while "should" gives advice ("You should reply within 24 hours"). For deduction, "must" shows near-certainty ("She isn't answering; she must be in a meeting") and "might" or "could" shows possibility ("The client might call back this afternoon"). A common pitfall is adding "to": say "I might join the call," not "I might to join." Another is using "must" for the past; for past obligation, use "had to": "I had to reschedule yesterday."

Let's practise. Type each answer and press Enter, I'll check it with you.

  1. You (obligation) submit the quarterly report by Friday afternoon.
  2. We (possibility) schedule a follow-up meeting next week if you are free.
  3. Employees (not/should) use personal phones during the client presentation.
  4. Mr. Thompson (possibility) arrive late due to heavy traffic.
  5. We (advice) review the contract details before signing anything.
  6. You (not/must) share the confidential password with anyone.
  7. I (offer) help you with the spreadsheet if you need assistance.
  8. The marketing team (possibility) increase the budget for the next campaign.
  9. All staff members (obligation) attend the safety training session.
  10. She (ability) speak three languages fluently, which is great for our international clients.
  11. We (advice) send a thank-you email to the investors today.
  12. The project (future) be completed by the end of the month.
  13. You (advice) check your inbox for the meeting invite.
  14. He (deduction) be the new department manager because he looks very professional.
  15. They (past ability) not find a solution to the technical issue yesterday.
  16. If we want to win the bid, we (obligation) prepare a better proposal.
  17. You (not/can) enter the server room without authorization.
  18. The CEO (possibility) visit our branch office sometime this summer.
  19. We (formal future) begin the presentation once everyone is seated.
  20. I (polite request) like to request a deadline extension for this task.
  21. You (advice) not make any promises to the client yet.
  22. The shipment (possibility) arrive later than expected.
  23. We (possibility) discuss the budget during our lunch break.
  24. He (obligation) finish the audit before the board meeting starts.
  25. They (advice) hire more developers to speed up the process.

Common questions

What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to'?

Both express strong obligation, but 'must' often comes from the speaker's own authority or a felt necessity, while 'have to' usually refers to an external rule. Compare: 'I must finish this proposal tonight' (my decision) and 'I have to submit expenses by Friday' (company rule). Importantly, for the past you cannot use 'must'; use 'had to': 'We had to cancel the meeting.'

When do I use 'can', 'could', 'may' and 'might' for possibility and permission?

For permission, 'can' is normal and 'may'/'could' are more formal: 'Can I leave early?' versus 'May I leave early?' For present or future possibility, use 'may', 'might' or 'could' to show something is uncertain: 'The deal might close this week' or 'Prices could rise.' 'Can' expresses general ability or possibility, not a specific guess: 'I can speak French.'

How do I make polite requests and offers with modal verbs?

Use 'could', 'would' and 'may' to sound polite and professional. For requests: 'Could you send me the figures?' or 'Would you mind reviewing this?' For offers: 'Shall I book the room?' or 'I can help with that.' Past-form modals like 'could' and 'would' feel softer and more tentative than 'can' and 'will', which makes them safer in emails to clients or senior colleagues.