Modal verbs

Modal verbs have two main kinds of meaning:

1. Certainty: we can use modal verbs to say for example that a situation is certain, probable' possible or impossible.

🌱You must be tired.

🌱 Emma should be home by now.

🌱 We might go to Russia in June

🌱 It can't be true 

2. Obligation and freedom: we can use modal verbs for example to tell or advise people (not) to do

things, and to talk about freedom or ability to do things. With these meanings they are important in the expression of instructions, requests, suggestions and invitations.

🍃Students must register today.

🍃Can I go now?

 🍃You should take a break'

🍃Would you like to join us for a drink?

Modal verbs are not generally used to report situations and events, but simply to talk about their probability, possibility etc. so, for example: we say that something could happen in general, or that it could not happen, but to say that somebody actually did something on a particular occasion, we use a different

verb. 

 Compare:

I could read when I was four. I couldn't read his handwriting'

I managed to open the tin with a screwdriver (❌not I could open... )

🧩tense

Note that could, might, should and would are not generally used as past forms of can, may, shall and

will (though this can happen in indirect speech) Mostly, they are used for less definite

meanings. Compare:

🌱Can l go now? (direct request) 

🌱Could I go now? (Less direct, more polite)

🌵part 1

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