Grammarbit

Install Grammarbit

Free, no app store, no sign-up. It opens full screen and your progress stays with you.

  1. Look for the install icon at the right of the address bar, or open the browser menu.
  2. Choose “Install”. The app opens in its own window.

Learn · A1 to C2

Modal Verbs

Small words like can, must, should and might that change the meaning of a verb: what you’re able to do, what’s allowed, what’s a good idea, and how sure you are.

Practise nowI’m a beginner

New to modals? Read the sections marked A1 and A2, answer the quick checks, then practise. Come back for guessing (B1) and the past forms (B2) when you’re ready.

See it in action

A1

Ana starts a new job today. Read or listen, and notice the words in bold.

Ana’s first day

Mr Price: You can park here, but you can’t park by the door — that’s for deliveries.

Ana: Do I have to wear a suit?

Mr Price: No, you don’t have to. Jeans are fine. But you must wear your badge.

Ana: Could I leave early on Fridays?

Mr Price: You should ask your manager. She might say yes!

Quick check

Look at “you can park”, “you must wear”. What comes after can and must?

Quick check

Does Ana need to wear a suit?

What modals mean

A1–A2

Each modal adds a meaning to the verb after it. These are the five big ones.

1. Ability: can, can’t (A1)

Use can for what you’re able to do — you know how, or it’s possible for you.

She can speak three languages.

I can’t swim, but I can ride a bike.

Practise this

2. Permission and requests: can, could, may (A1–A2)

can = it’s allowed; can’t = it isn’t allowed. To ask, use Can I…? — Could I…? is more polite, and May I…? is the most formal. To ask someone to do something, use Can you…? or Could you…?

You can park here after six.

Could I borrow your pen? May I come in?

Could you help me with this box?

Practise this

3. Advice: should, ought to, had better (A2)

should = it’s a good idea; shouldn’t = it’s a bad idea. Ought to means the same as should, and it’s the only modal with to. Had better (’d better) is stronger — often a warning — and its negative is had better not.

  1. must · have to — necessary100%
  2. had better — strong advice
  3. should · ought to — a good idea
  4. don’t have to — your choice0%

You should see a doctor about that cough.

You ought to drink more water.

We’d better leave now, or we’ll miss the train. You’d better not be late.

Quick check

“You should try the soup here.” Is it a rule?

Practise this

4. Obligation: must, have to (A2)

must and have to = it’s necessary. Have to is a normal verb: she has to, Do you have to…? Must often shows the speaker’s own feeling or a written rule; have to is a rule from outside — but in most sentences both are fine.

You must wear a seatbelt. It’s the law.

My sister has to get up at six on weekdays.

Practise this

5. Possibility: might, may, could (A2)

Use might, may or could when something is possible, but you’re not sure.

  1. It will rain.sure
  2. It might · may · could rain.maybe
  3. It won’t rain.sure: no

Take a coat — it might rain later.

I may stay at home tonight. I might not come to the party.Negative: might not / may not (not “couldn’t”, which means something else).

Practise this

Positive, negative, questions

A1

Modals are easy in one way: they never change. Same form for every person, then the base form of the verb. No do / does.

Every person
PositiveI / she / they can swim
NegativeI / she / they can’t (cannot) swim
QuestionCan she swim?
Short answerYes, she can. / No, she can’t.

The same goes for should, must, might, could: shouldn’t, mustn’t, might not — just add not after the modal.

have to is the exception: it works like a normal verb. She has to work. She doesn’t have to work. Does she have to work? — Yes, she does.

She cans swim.She can swim.

He can swims. / He can to swim.He can swim.

Do you can drive?Can you drive? — Yes, I can.

Should I call her? — Yes, you should.

You don’t should worry.You shouldn’t worry.

Saying can and can’t

In a sentence, can is weak and short: /kən/. Can’t is strong and clear: /kɑːnt/ (UK) or /kænt/ (US). Listen for the stress.

I can come. I can’t come.

Quick check

Which question is correct?

Practise this

Past and future: could, had to

A2–B1

Most modals have no past or future form. Use these instead — you can’t put two modals together (will can, will must).

PastNowFuture
Abilitycould / was able tocanwill be able to
Obligationhad tomust / have towill have to
No obligationdidn’t have todon’t have towon’t have to

As a child, I could swim, but I couldn’t ride a bike.

After the course, you’ll be able to read music.

Yesterday I must work late.Yesterday I had to work late.

Tomorrow we’ll have to get up early.For a plan, “We have to get up early tomorrow” is fine too.

Quick check

Last year, I ___ work every weekend.

Practise this

mustn’t or don’t have to?

B1

In the positive, must and have to mean almost the same. In the negative, they’re completely different.

mustn’t (can’t)don’t have to (needn’t)
It isn’t allowed. Don’t do it!It isn’t necessary. You can if you want.
You mustn’t smoke here — it’s a hospital.You don’t have to pay — the museum is free on Sundays.

You mustn’t run by the pool — it’s slippery.

She doesn’t have to get up early at the weekend.

Quick check

The museum is free today. You ___ pay.

Practise this

Guessing: must, might, can’t

B1–B2

We also use modals to say how sure we are about something now, using what we know. The verb is often be.

  1. must — I’m sure it’s trueyes
  2. might · may · could — maybe
  3. can’t (couldn’t) — I’m sure it isn’t trueno

Tom hasn’t eaten all day. He must be hungry.The facts make me sure.

Lisa isn’t answering her phone. She might be asleep.

Sam has just had a huge lunch. He can’t be hungry.The opposite of must here is can’t — not mustn’t.

Quick check

Her coat is here and the lights are on. She ___ be at home.

Practise this

Advanced uses

B2–C2

Modals can also look back at the past, and they have passive forms.

Show the advanced uses

Modals about the past: should have done (B2)

Modal + have + past participle talks about the past. Each modal keeps its meaning:

  • should have = it was a good idea, but it didn’t happen (regret or criticism).
  • shouldn’t have = it happened, but it was a bad idea.
  • could have = it was possible, but it didn’t happen.
  • must have = I’m sure it happened; can’t have = I’m sure it didn’t.
  • might / may have = maybe it happened.
You should have called me: calling was a good idea, but it didn’t happen.
It must have rained last night: I didn’t see it, but the wet streets make me sure it happened.

I failed the exam. I should have studied harder.

I’m so tired. I shouldn’t have stayed up so late.

The streets are wet. It must have rained last night.

She was with me all evening. She can’t have taken the money.

Why did you walk home? I could have given you a lift.

You should of told me. / You should had told me.You should have told me.In speech should have sounds like “should’ve” — but it’s always have, then the past participle.

Quick check

“You should have called me.” Did you call?

Practise this

needn’t have or didn’t need to? (C1)

needn’t have + participle: you did it, but it wasn’t necessary. didn’t need to + base form: it wasn’t necessary — usually so you didn’t do it.

I took an umbrella, but it didn’t rain. I needn’t have taken it.

The museum was free, so we didn’t need to pay.

Quick check

“I needn’t have cooked so much.” Did I cook a lot?

Practise this

Passive with modals (B2–C1)

Modal + be + past participle: must be signed, can be bought. About the past: modal + have been + past participle: must have been sent.

The form must be signed by a parent.

Tickets can be bought online.

The letter must have been sent to the wrong address.

This medicine should taken after meals.This medicine should be taken after meals.

Practise this

Common mistakes

All

She cans drive.She can drive.

You must to wear a helmet.You must wear a helmet.

We should going home.We should go home.

Do you can help me?Can you help me?

He don’t have to work tomorrow.He doesn’t have to work tomorrow.

She will can drive next year.She will be able to drive next year.

Yesterday I must stay late.Yesterday I had to stay late.

You mustn’t pay — it’s free.You don’t have to pay — it’s free.mustn’t = not allowed; don’t have to = not necessary.

You’d better to hurry.You’d better hurry.

He must had forgotten.He must have forgotten.

Remember

  • After a modal, use the base form: can swim, should go — no to, no -s, no do / does.
  • can = ability or permission; should = advice; must / have to = necessary; might / may / could = maybe.
  • mustn’t = not allowed, but don’t have to = not necessary.
  • Past and future: could, had to, will be able to, will have to — never will can.
  • Guessing: must (sure), might (maybe), can’t (sure it isn’t).
  • About the past: modal + have + past participle: should have called, must have rained.

Practise modal verbs

Pick your level. Each one mixes gap-fills, meanings, word order, “find the mistake” and more — new exercises every time.

Sample exercises by level:A1 · A2 · B1 · B2 · C1 · C2

Ready to try it?

Practise modal verbs