Modal Verbs for beginners

1. Ability

2. Possibility

3. Permission

4. Obligation

​

​MODAL VERBS ARE USED TO EXPRESS

​TO GIVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS TO WHAT WE WANT TO SAY.

​

​

​​ABILITY

Can
Can't (Cannot)

​​POSSIBILITY

​​PERMISSION

​​OBLIGATION

Will
May
Might

Can
Could
May

Have to
Must
Ought to
Should

They don't use an "S" for the third person singular.
They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb without "to"

​

​AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

​SHE + CAN + SWIM

​INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

They go "first" when making questions.

​

​CAN + SHE + SWIM + ?

We use the negative form of the modal, most of the time we just add "NOT" to the modal verb.

​

​NEGATIVE SENTENCES

​SHE + CAN + NOT + SWIM

I + MAY + NOT + GO

But be careful, some of the modals have a different negative form.

​

​SHE + won't + SWIM

​SHE + ought not to + SWIM

​Let's study them by their uses...

​