The modal verbs (auxiliary verbs) are auxiliary verbs that have a direct impact in the sense of the main verb that precede.
They are generally used to indicate possibility , doubt , suggestion , permission and obligation , among others.
One of the specifics of the use of modal verbs is that they are always accompanied by an infinitive verb without the to .
The most commonly used modal verbs in English are: can , could , will , would , should and may .
Check out the explanations below and learn about some of the main modal verbs in English.
Can
Can is used in the sense of power and / or achievement, and can indicate capacity / skill , request , permission and possibility .
Can’t and cannot are the negative forms of can .
Examples :
- They can speak Japanese . (They can speak Japanese.)
- Can I leave the room? (Can I leave the room?)
- She can use my computer . (She can use my computer.)
- He can’t go to the party . (He couldn’t go to the party.)
- We cannot arrive late . (We can’t be late.)
Could
The modal verb could is the past form of the verb can .
Could means could , achieved and / or could and is used to indicate capacity / skill , request , permission and possibility .
Couldn’t and could not are the negative forms of could .
Examples :
- They could speak Japanese . (They knew how to speak Japanese.)
- Could I leave the room? (Could I leave the room?)
- She could use my computer . (She could use my computer.)
- He couldn’t go to the party . (He couldn’t go to the party.)
- We couldn’t arrive late . (We couldn’t be late.)
See also Could
Will
Will is a modal verb that does not have a meaning of its own, but is used to indicate that the action expressed by the verb that follows it refers to the future.
Won’t and will not are the negative forms of will .
Examples :
- They will study Japanese . (They will study Japanese.)
- Will you leave the room? (Will you leave the room?)
- She will use my computer. (She will use my computer.)
- He won’t go to the party . (He will not go to the party.)
- We won’t arrive late . (We won’t be late.)
Would
The modal verb would is the past form of the verb will .
Would is a modal verb that does not have a meaning of its own, but changes the meaning of the preceding verb.
Would is used to indicate possibility , ask politely , offer something and refer to a hypothetical situation .
Wouldn’t and would not are the negative forms of would .
Examples :
- They would study Japanese if they had the money . (They would study Japanese if they had money.)
- Would you leave the room earlier if he asked you to? (Would you leave the room early if he asked you to?)
- She would use my computer if hers was broken . (She would use my computer if hers was broken.)
- He woudn’t go to the party by himself. (He wouldn’t go to the party alone.)
- We wouldn’t arrive late in such a special day . (We wouldn’t be late on such a special day.)
Should
The modal verb should can mean must and / or should .
Should has the function of auxiliary verb and is used to express advice , suggestion , expectation , probability and duty .
Shouldn’t and should not are the negative forms of should .
Examples :
- He should not arrive late at his brother’s wedding . (He shouldn’t be late for his brother’s wedding.)
- We should arrive early at the train station . (We must arrive at the train station early.)
- She shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving . (She shouldn’t be talking on the phone while driving.)
- They should arrive in 10 minutes . (They should arrive in 10 minutes.)
- You should fasten your seatbealts . (You must put your seat belt on.)
May
May is a modal verb that can be translated as it can and / or could and indicates request , possibility and permission .
May not is the negative form of may .
Examples :
- May I drink some water? (Can I drink some water?)
- She may leave now . (She can leave now.)
- He may be really tired . (He must be very tired.)
- They may not like the gift. (They may not like the gift.)
- It may rain . (It can rain.)
See also: Modal Verbs
Exercises
1. (FIEB-SP / 2016) In the fragment from the second paragraph – These connections may allow access to the Internet, for example to show computers in a store… ”- the word in bold indicates
a) need.
b) advisability.
c) request.
d) possibility.
e) permission.
Answer
Correct alternative: d) possibility.
The word may gives a sense of possibility to the preceding verb: allow .
Therefore, the phrase indicates that connections can allow access to the Internet.
2. (Unesp / 2014) Examine the box to answer the question.
In the context of the comic, the term “can” indicates an idea of
a) skill
b) knowledge
c) request
d) obligation
e) certainty
Answer
Correct alternative: c) order
In the sentence, the boy asks to read tweets instead of reading a book. Therefore, the use of can indicates an order .
3. (UFABC / 2007) In The fact that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day , the relation of meaning expressed by should is:
a) prohibition
b) probability
c) assumption
d) ability
e) advice
Answer
Correct alternative: e) counseling
The aforementioned phrase indicates an advice, a recommendation regarding the amount of water that a person should drink per day.