B1daily

Modal Verbs - Daily English

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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."

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  1. I (ability) speak two languages fluently.
  2. You (obligation) wear a seatbelt when you are in a car.
  3. He (not/can) come to the party because he is sick.
  4. We (advice) eat more vegetables to stay healthy.
  5. They (possibility) arrive late if the traffic is bad.
  6. She (not/have to) wash the dishes; I will do them later.
  7. (polite request) you help me carry these heavy grocery bags?
  8. It (possibility) rain this afternoon, so take an umbrella.
  9. You (advice) call your mother on her birthday.
  10. Students (obligation) turn off their phones during the exam.
  11. I (past ability) swim very well when I was a child.
  12. We (not/can) park our car here; it is a private zone.
  13. He (advice) study harder if he wants to pass the test.
  14. You (strong recommendation) try this cake; it is delicious!
  15. They (ability) play the piano beautifully.
  16. She (possibility) go to the cinema with us tonight.
  17. We (obligation) arrive at the airport two hours before the flight.
  18. You (not/should) drink too much coffee before bed.
  19. (permission) I borrow your pen for a moment?
  20. It (possibility) be very cold in the mountains this weekend.
  21. He (deduction) be exhausted after that long flight.
  22. I (advice) buy some milk on my way home.
  23. You (permission) use my laptop if yours is broken.
  24. We (possibility) visit our grandparents next summer.
  25. They (not/must) shout in the library.

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.