Modal verbs

Learn about modal verbs and their different meanings and do the exercises to practise using them.

Level: beginner

The modal verbs are:

can
may
must
shall
will

could
might

should
would

We use modals to show if we believe something is certain, possible or impossible:

My keys must be in the car.
It might rain tomorrow.
That can't be Peter's coat. It's too small.

We also use them to do things like talk about ability, ask permission, and make requests and offers:

I can't swim.
May I ask a question?
Could I have some tea, please?
Would you like some help?

Modal verbs: MultipleChoice_MTYzNDI=

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Hello Manshuk,

This page is a general page on modal verbs. You can find exercises on the pages devoted to particular modal verbs or concepts. You can see links to these pages above the comments section or in the list on the right.

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Could you please help me understand what does seldom direct mean hear? Documentation is a critical step in the revitalization process of a language, but the path from documentation to producing new speakers is seldom direct.

Hello Sash,

The phrase 'the path... is seldom direct' means that the process is usually a complex one.

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi I just want to check the answers 1-There is a lot of traffic.We(must-might)be late. The author chose might but I think must can be the correct answer 2-The tour guide said that ten is the (fewest-least) number of tourists she can take on the boat trip. the writer chose least but I think it is fewest is the correct answer

Hi Hamdy Ali,

In the first example 'might' is correct. We can use 'must' to speculate about the present (so we could say 'they must be getting worried now') but not to guess about the future.

In the second example I would say that 'the fewest tourists' or 'the lowest number of tourists' would be the most natural options. You could say 'the least number of tourists', though it is unusual and not the most common/standard option. 'The fewest number of' is not correct.

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

How do you do? Choose 1-There is a lot of traffic.We(must-might)be late. 2-The tour guide said that ten is the (fewest-least) number of tourists she can take on the boat trip .

Hello Hamdy Ali,

I'm afraid we don't provide answers to questions from elsewhere. If we tried to do this then we would end up trying to do everyone's homework or tests for them! We're happy to explain things and provide as much help as we can but we don't give answers to tasks from elsewhere.

Best wishes,

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team