Modal Verbs

Modal Verbs

Modals for advice, Permission, ability, offers and requests

She saw her boyfriend with another woman.

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Give some advice

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She has bad grades at school.

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Give some advice

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He needs to lose weight.

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Give some advice

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SHOULD

​"Should" is a modal verb most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice

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You should​ study hard if you want to have good grades at school.

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What is she saying?

May I go to the bathroom, please?

What is she saying?

Can I borrow your pen, please?

CAN & MAY

CAN and MAY are both used to talk about permission. Using CAN is considered informal. If you want to sound formal, use MAY.

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May I come in Mr Tharp?

Can I have a cookie Mom?​

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What is she saying?

Could you open the door, please?

CAN, MAY, COULD & WOULD

CAN, MAY, COULD and WOULD are used for requests. A requests is when you ask politely for something​.

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NOTE: MAY, COULD and WOULD are used for polite requests.​

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Could you help me with these heavy bags, please?

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What ability do they have?

They can dance.

CAN & COULD

CAN and COULD are also used to talk about abilities. Can is used in the present and future and Could is used for abilities in the past.

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​I can speak four languages.

​I could swim, but I couldn't ride a bike when I was nine years old

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What is she saying?

Shall I get you a coffee?

SHALL

SHALL is used for offers and ​strong intentions.

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Multiple Choice

Good afternoon Mr Brown, ______ I enter the class?

• Shall

• May

• Can

• Should

Multiple Choice

You _________ visit a dentist at least twice a year

• can

• shall

• should

• would

Multiple Choice

Jeremy _________ speak three languages.

• may

• should

• shall

• can

Multiple Choice

You look tired. …………….. I make dinner this evening?

• Can

• Shall

• May

• Should

Multiple Choice

Now, I can speak English, but in the past, I ___

• couldn't

• can't

• shouldn't

• wouldn't