English / Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Modal Auxiliary Verbs are used to express (ability, possibility, permission or obligation,
necessity, capability, willingness), used for forming tenses, questions, the
passive, etc.
Modal Auxiliaries/ Modal Verbs List
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S. No
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Modal Verbs
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Indicate / Says
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1
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Can
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Ability, Request
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2
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May
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Permission / future possibility
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3
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Must
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Necessity / obligation
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4
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Shall
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Offer / suggestion
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5
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Will
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Willingness, certain prediction / promise
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6
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Could
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Past ability , suggestion, future possibility
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7
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Might
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Present / future possibility
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8
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Ought
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What’s right and correct
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9
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Should
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Advice / certain prediction
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10
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would
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Request, Invitation / making arrangements.
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Note
These verbs also indicate negative: could not, may not, should not,
etc.
Modal Auxiliaries Indicating Present / Past Tense Include:
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S. No
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Present Tense
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Past Tense
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1
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Will
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Would (used to)
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2
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Can
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Could
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3
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Must (have to)
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(Had to)
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4
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May
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Might
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5
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Should (ought to) (had better)
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Should (ought to)
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