Modal Auxiliary Verbs :





base form

Can

We use "Can" for ability, possibility, informal request, etc





e.g.

I can swim. (Ability)

It can rain tomorrow. (Possibility)

Can you give me a pen? (Request)





Could

We use "Could" for past ability, possibility, polite informal request, etc.





e.g.

When I was a child I could run fast. (Past ability)

Someone is knocking on the door it could be John. (Possibility)

Could you please attend the call? (Polite informal request)





May

We use "May" for possibility, formal request/ permission, to express wish, etc.





e.g

John may go to movie in the evening. (Possibility)

May I come in sir? (Formal request/ Permission)

May God bless you. (Wish)





Might

We use "Might" for less possibility, etc.





e.g.

I might buy Ferrari. (Less possibility)





Should

We use "Should" for suggestion, advice, etc.





e.g

You should wash hands before meal.(Suggestion)

He is ill he should meet doctor. (Advice)





Must

We use "Must" for necessity, obligation, etc.





e.g

If you want to win the match you must practice. (Necessity)

We must pay taxes on time. (Obligation)

We must follow traffic rules. (Obligation)





Ought to

We use "Ought to" for moral obligation, etc





e.g.

We ought to respect elders.





Will

We use "Will" for certainty, request, in simple future tense, willingness, etc.





e.g.

Train will come on time. (Certainty)

Will you please pass the salt? (Request)

I will play football tomorrow. (Simple future tense)

Someone is knocking the door I will open it. (Willingness)





Would

We use "Would" for possibility, request, offer, etc.





e.g.

It would happen. (Possibility)

Would you please help me? (Request)

Would you like to have tea or coffee? (Offer)





Shall

We use "Shall" to take confirmation, etc





e.g.

Shall I go now?

Shall we move ahead?





Used to

We use "Used to" for past repeated action, etc





e.g.

I used to live in Paris.

When I was a child my father used to bring chocolates for me.





Need to

We use "Need to" for necessity, etc.





e.g





Remember, We can use Modal Auxiliary Verbs in negative forms also.



Positive Negative Contraction Can Cannot Can’t Could Could not Couldn’t May May not - Might Might not Should Should not Shouldn’t Must Must not Mustn’t Ought to Ought not to Oughtn’t to Will Will not Won’t Would Would not Wouldn’t Shall Shall not Shan’t Used to Did not use to Didn’t use to Need to Need not to Needn’t to

If you want to pass the exam you need to study hard.Remember, We can usein negative forms also.





Helping or Auxiliary Verbs See also :





In English grammarare used to express mood of a speaker. We use Modal verbs to showWe useof main verb with modal auxiliary verb.e,g, I can speak English.He will come tomorrow.