Modal verbs
Use modals to express ability, permission, advice, obligation, and probability.
Use modals to express ability, permission, advice, obligation, and probability.
Unit 72 – Modal verbs (A2)
Introduction
In everyday English, we often need to say what we can do, what we must do, what we should do, what we are allowed to do, and what is probably true. Modal verbs help us express these ideas clearly and politely. In this unit, you will learn the most common modal verbs at A2 level and how to use them in simple, natural sentences.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you can use modal verbs to talk about ability, permission, advice, obligation, and probability in the present and near future, and you can form correct questions and negatives with modals.
1) What modal verbs are (and how they behave)
Modal verbs are special verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, have to, and should. They help another verb. Most modals do not change form: we say I can, he can, they can (not “he cans”).
Important concept
Structure: Subject + modal + base verb
Examples: She can swim. / They should study. / I might go.
To make a negative, we add not: cannot / can’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t, might not. To make a question, we put the modal before the subject: Can you help? Should we leave?
2) Ability: can / can’t (and could for past ability)
We use can to talk about ability in the present: I can drive. We use can’t for lack of ability: He can’t swim.
We often use could to talk about general ability in the past: When I was six, I could read. (For A2, focus on can for present ability and could for past ability.)
Warning
Do not add to after a modal: I can swim (not “I can to swim”). Use the base verb.
3) Permission: can / could / may
We use can to ask for and give permission in informal situations: Can I use your phone? / Yes, you can.
We use could to sound more polite: Could I open the window? It is polite, not necessarily past.
We can also use may for permission, especially in more formal English: May I come in?
Important concept
Short answers with permission:
Yes, you can. / No, you can’t.
Yes, you may. / No, you may not. (more formal)
4) Advice: should / shouldn’t
We use should to give advice or say what is a good idea: You should drink more water. We use shouldn’t to say something is not a good idea: You shouldn’t go to bed so late.
Advice can be gentle and friendly. In conversation, it often sounds like a suggestion, not a command.
5) Obligation: must / mustn’t / have to / don’t have to
Must and have to express obligation (something necessary). In many A2 contexts, they are similar: I must study tonight. / I have to study tonight.
Mustn’t expresses prohibition (it is not allowed): You mustn’t smoke here.
Don’t have to expresses no obligation (it is not necessary): You don’t have to come early.
Warning
Mustn’t = it is forbidden.
Don’t have to = it is not necessary.
These meanings are different.
6) Probability: might / may / could
We use might, may, or could to say something is possible, but not certain: It might rain. / She may be at home. / They could be late.
These modals are useful when you do not want to sound too sure. They are common in daily plans and small predictions.
7) Quick summary
Ability: can / can’t (present), could (past ability)
Permission: can (informal), could (polite), may (formal)
Advice: should / shouldn’t
Obligation: must / have to; mustn’t (prohibition); don’t have to (no obligation)
Probability: might / may / could
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with the best modal verb. Answers are shown in the table.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ______ swim, but I can’t dive. | can |
| 2) ______ I borrow your pen, please? (polite) | Could |
| 3) You ______ see a doctor if you feel very sick. | should |
| 4) Students ______ wear a uniform at this school. (obligation) | have to |
| 5) You ______ park here. It’s a bus stop. (prohibition) | mustn’t |
| 6) We ______ bring food. There is a café inside. (no obligation) | don’t have to |
| 7) It ______ rain later, so take an umbrella. (possibility) | might |
| 8) When my grandfather was young, he ______ run very fast. (past ability) | could |
| 9) ______ I come in? (more formal permission) | May |
| 10) You ______ check your passport before the trip. (advice) | should |
Unit 72 – Modal verbs (A2)
Introduction
In everyday English, we often need to say what we can do, what we must do, what we should do, what we are allowed to do, and what is probably true. Modal verbs help us express these ideas clearly and politely. In this unit, you will learn the most common modal verbs at A2 level and how to use them in simple, natural sentences.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you can use modal verbs to talk about ability, permission, advice, obligation, and probability in the present and near future, and you can form correct questions and negatives with modals.
1) What modal verbs are (and how they behave)
Modal verbs are special verbs such as can, could, may, might, must, have to, and should. They help another verb. Most modals do not change form: we say I can, he can, they can (not “he cans”).
Important concept
Structure: Subject + modal + base verb
Examples: She can swim. / They should study. / I might go.
To make a negative, we add not: cannot / can’t, shouldn’t, mustn’t, might not. To make a question, we put the modal before the subject: Can you help? Should we leave?
2) Ability: can / can’t (and could for past ability)
We use can to talk about ability in the present: I can drive. We use can’t for lack of ability: He can’t swim.
We often use could to talk about general ability in the past: When I was six, I could read. (For A2, focus on can for present ability and could for past ability.)
Warning
Do not add to after a modal: I can swim (not “I can to swim”). Use the base verb.
3) Permission: can / could / may
We use can to ask for and give permission in informal situations: Can I use your phone? / Yes, you can.
We use could to sound more polite: Could I open the window? It is polite, not necessarily past.
We can also use may for permission, especially in more formal English: May I come in?
Important concept
Short answers with permission:
Yes, you can. / No, you can’t.
Yes, you may. / No, you may not. (more formal)
4) Advice: should / shouldn’t
We use should to give advice or say what is a good idea: You should drink more water. We use shouldn’t to say something is not a good idea: You shouldn’t go to bed so late.
Advice can be gentle and friendly. In conversation, it often sounds like a suggestion, not a command.
5) Obligation: must / mustn’t / have to / don’t have to
Must and have to express obligation (something necessary). In many A2 contexts, they are similar: I must study tonight. / I have to study tonight.
Mustn’t expresses prohibition (it is not allowed): You mustn’t smoke here.
Don’t have to expresses no obligation (it is not necessary): You don’t have to come early.
Warning
Mustn’t = it is forbidden.
Don’t have to = it is not necessary.
These meanings are different.
6) Probability: might / may / could
We use might, may, or could to say something is possible, but not certain: It might rain. / She may be at home. / They could be late.
These modals are useful when you do not want to sound too sure. They are common in daily plans and small predictions.
7) Quick summary
Ability: can / can’t (present), could (past ability)
Permission: can (informal), could (polite), may (formal)
Advice: should / shouldn’t
Obligation: must / have to; mustn’t (prohibition); don’t have to (no obligation)
Probability: might / may / could
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with the best modal verb. Answers are shown in the table.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ______ swim, but I can’t dive. | can |
| 2) ______ I borrow your pen, please? (polite) | Could |
| 3) You ______ see a doctor if you feel very sick. | should |
| 4) Students ______ wear a uniform at this school. (obligation) | have to |
| 5) You ______ park here. It’s a bus stop. (prohibition) | mustn’t |
| 6) We ______ bring food. There is a café inside. (no obligation) | don’t have to |
| 7) It ______ rain later, so take an umbrella. (possibility) | might |
| 8) When my grandfather was young, he ______ run very fast. (past ability) | could |
| 9) ______ I come in? (more formal permission) | May |
| 10) You ______ check your passport before the trip. (advice) | should |
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