Introduction to Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) express ability, permission, obligation, possibility, and advice.

Why it matters: Modals are central to everyday English for politeness, requests, and expressing degrees of certainty.

Main uses:

• Ability: can/could
• Permission: can/may/might
• Obligation: must/should/have to
• Possibility: may/might/could