Skip to learning
Practice

GRAMMAR LESSON

Modal Verbs

Beginner

Auxiliary Verbs

UNDERSTAND THE PATTERN

The rule in plain English

Core modals such as can, could, may, might, should and must are followed by a base verb: can go, must be, should have. They do not take -s with he or she. Choose the modal for the intended meaning, such as ability, advice, permission or obligation.

SEE HOW IT WORKS

Examples in context

  1. The rules say you must bring your ID.
  2. I could play the guitar when I was ten.
  3. You should take a break. — advice

MAKE IT STICK

Put the rule into practice

Try 3 questions. Read the explanation after each answer, then review any mistakes and try again.

Make it yours

Write one sentence about your life using this grammar.

Check your sentence

Core modals such as can, could, may, might, should and must are followed by a base verb: can go, must be, should have. They do not take -s with he or she. Choose the modal for the intended meaning, such as ability, advice, permission or obligation.

Compare: The rules say you must bring your ID.

Check the sentence structure and whether your meaning fits the rule.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

Your quiz score is for this attempt only. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

GO DEEPER

Explore the full explanation

Start with a modal and a base verb

Core modals include can, could, may, might, must, should, will and would. They do not add -s with he or she. Say She can swim, not she can swims or she can to swim.

Choose the meaning you need

  • Ability: I can tie my shoelaces.
  • Advice: You should check the address before leaving.
  • Obligation: The examination rules say we must bring identification.
  • Permission: May I use this chair?
  • Possibility: The parcel might arrive today.
  • Request: Could you help me carry this box, please?
  • Offer: I will carry the smaller bag.

Several modals can sometimes fit a sentence. It may rain, it might rain and it could rain all express uncertain possibility. An exercise needs enough context or a specified function to make one answer uniquely appropriate.

Questions and negatives

Place the modal before the subject in a question: Can she join us? Put not after it in a negative: She cannot join us. Do not add do or does to these core-modal questions.

Distinguish mustn’t, which prohibits something, from don’t have to, which removes an obligation. You mustn’t bring food differs from You don’t have to bring food.

Time comes from the context

Could may express past ability, as in I could read when I was five, or a present request, as in Could you help? Avoid assigning each modal to one fixed tense column.

To look back, use modal + have + past participle: I should have checked the timetable often expresses regret; She must have missed the message is a strong deduction. These forms express different viewpoints on a past situation.

Quick self-check

  1. State an ability using can/should/must: I ___ tie my shoelaces.
  2. Give advice using can/should/must: You ___ check your work.
  3. State a prohibition using must/could/may: Candidates ___ not use notes in this closed-book exam.
Check the answers

1. Can expresses ability. 2. Should gives advice. 3. Must not expresses the prohibition.

Review this topic in the free app

Answer the app’s practice questions and try your own sentence. Your completed lesson will appear in Progress and count towards your practice streak.

Practise this topic in the app →

No account needed. Complete the practice in the app to save progress in this browser. Website-only quiz attempts are not added automatically.