Gateway to Grammar: Using Modal Verbs in English

Geoffrey the tiger-bird is using modal verbs as he thinks about what the future will be like if he eats all the other birds at the feeder. So, what is a modal verb? “ordinary” verbs are “doing words”, they describe actions. Modal verbs describe the ‘mode’ (or meaning) of the normal verbs around them: can, will, need to, must, have to, shall, ought to, and might. That’s a bit confusing, so I will use some examples to show how modal verbs work.

Will / would

– Will is used to talk about things you are certain about.

– “I will see you later tonight!”  

- Will becomes “would” in the past, and would is used to talk about hypothetical situations.

Can / could

– Can is used to talk about things you are able to do (you have the capability or it is possible).

– “I can swim really well”.

- Can becomes could in the past, and could is used to describe possibilities in hypothetical situations.

Might / may

– Might and may are used to talk about things that are possible, but you are not certain about them happening.

– “I might see you at the party tonight”.

- May is also used to describe things you are allowed (permitted) to do.

Should / ought to

– Should and ought to are used to talk about things that are a good idea, or a rule, but you are not certain these rules will be followed

- “I should eat healthy, but I really like chocolate and I’m hungry”.

Must / have to

– Must and have to are used to describe situations where you have no choice, and you are obligated to do something.

– “I have to drop the car off at home and walk to your house, because Mum wants to use it”.

Need

– Need is used to describe something that is necessary to you or a situation.

- “I need to run or I will miss the bus!”

Remember, if you change the modal verb in a sentence, you change the meaning completely. There is a big difference between “I can eat all the birds at the feeder”, and “I will eat all the birds at the feeder”. Hopefully, Geoffrey will learn this too.