A modal verb in English is a type of auxiliary verb used to express various shades of meaning such as possibility, necessity, permission, ability, and obligation.

Modal verbs include “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “must,” and “ought to.”

Modal Verb Examples

Here are 20 examples of modal verbs with explanations:

  • Can: I can swim. (Ability) – Indicates the ability to swim.
  • Could: Could you help me? (Polite Request) – Used to make a polite request.
  • May: You may leave early. (Permission) – Grants permission to leave early.
  • Might: It might rain later. (Possibility) – Suggests a possibility of rain.
  • Must: You must finish your homework. (Necessity) – Expresses a strong necessity.
  • Shall: Shall we go for a walk? (Suggestion) – Suggests an activity.
  • Should: You should eat your vegetables. (Advice) – Provides advice or a recommendation.
  • Will: He will arrive at 5 PM. (Future Action) – Indicates a future action.
  • Would: I would like a coffee. (Polite Request) – Used for polite requests.
  • Ought to: You ought to study for the exam. (Duty) – Implies a moral or duty.
  • Need to: I need to buy groceries. (Requirement) – Indicates a necessity.
  • Have to: We have to attend the meeting. (Obligation) – Expresses an obligation.
  • Dare: She dare not speak up. (Negative form, Rare) – Used in negative sentences for a strong prohibition.
  • Used to: I used to play soccer. (Past Habit) – Indicates a past habit or action.
  • Would rather: I would rather stay home. (Preference) – Expresses a preference.
  • Could have: He could have passed the exam. (Possibility in the past) – Suggests a missed opportunity.
  • Must not: You must not smoke here. (Prohibition) – Indicates a strong prohibition.
  • Might as well: I might as well go to the party. (Suggestion) – Suggests doing something because there’s no better option.
  • Shall not: We shall not tolerate this behavior. (Formal Prohibition) – A formal way to express prohibition.
  • Will not: They will not be attending the conference. (Future Negation) – Negates a future action.