English Mastery
Module 3 · Modal Verbs

Modals Overview — What They Do

Intermediate40 min25 questions8 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

Modal verbs are ten small words — can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought to — that change the ATTITUDE of a sentence: ability, permission, possibility, obligation, advice. They don’t describe actions; they describe your stance towards an action. Master their four grammar rules first, and every modal chapter after this becomes easy.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Rule 1: base verb
Modal+V1, always
She can drive. (NOT: can drives / can to drive / can driving)
Rule 2: no -s ever
He can, she must, it might — modals never change form for any subject.
Rule 3: no do-support
Negatives and questions form directly
She cannot drive. / Can she drive? (NOT: Does she can...)

The golden rule: a modal is frozen. It never takes -s, -ing, or -ed; it never follows ‘to’; and it always hands a BASE verb to its right. Every modal error in this module breaks one of these three rules — check the frozen rules first, meaning second.

The three frozen rules
Subjectany subject+ modalnever changes+base verbV1 only1BASE VERB ONLYmodal + V1 – nothing elseShe can drive.can drivescan to drivecan driving2NO -S, EVERsame form for every subjecthe can · she mustit mighthe cansshe musts3NO DO-SUPPORTthe modal itself movesShe cannot drive.Can she drive?Does she can drive?Do you can help me?
Every modal error in this module breaks one of these three rules – check the frozen rules first, meaning second.
Step 2

When to Use It

can may might must shouldone word – five attitudes
Use 1

The five jobs modals do

One word can do several jobs — context decides.
  • ABILITY: She can negotiate in three languages.
  • PERMISSION: You may leave early today.
  • POSSIBILITY: The rates might correct after the election.
  • OBLIGATION: You must verify the title before paying.
  • ADVICE: You should get this agreement vetted.
couldsuggestionshouldadvicehadbetterwarningmustno choice
Use 2

Strength levels — the modal thermometer

Modals sit on a scale from gentle to absolute.
  • You could call him. (soft suggestion)
  • You should call him. (advice)
  • You had better call him. (warning)
  • You must call him. (no choice)
must deduction obligationcan permissionability
Use 3

One modal, many meanings

The same word shifts meaning with context — this module teaches you to read the shift.
  • He must be at the site. (deduction — I’m sure)
  • He must reach the site by 9. (obligation — required)
  • You can park here. (permission) / He can lift 100 kg. (ability)
SEMI-MODALShave toCh 4ought toCh 6had betterCh 5have got toCh 5like modals in meaning – slightly different in form
Use 4

Semi-modals — the helpers with ‘to’

have to, ought to, had better, have got to behave like modals in meaning but differ slightly in form. Each gets its own chapter.
  • I have to renew the licence this month.
  • You ought to inform the society office.
  • We had better leave before the traffic builds.
Ten modals, many jobs
ABILITYCh 2cancouldbe able to PERMISSIONCh 2 · 3cancouldmay POSSIBILITYCh 3maymightcould OBLIGATIONCh 4 · 5musthave tohave got to ADVICECh 5 · 6shouldought tohad better DEDUCTIONCh 2 · 4 · 8must becan’t bemust have REQUESTSCh 2 · 7 · 9cancouldwould OFFERSCh 7 · 9shall Iwould you likeTHE TEN MODALScancouldmaymightmustshallshouldwillwouldought tomodalsemi-modal
One word can do several jobs – context decides. Chapter numbers show where each job is taught.
Extra

The Map of Module 3

Modal(s)Main jobsChapter
can, couldability, permission, requests, possibility2
may, mightformal permission, possibility, wishes3
must, have toobligation, prohibition, deduction4
have got to, had betterurgent obligation, strong advice5
should, ought toadvice, expectation, duty6
shall, will, wouldoffers, promises, habits, requests7
modal + have + V3past deductions and regrets8
polite combinationsprofessional & soft English9
Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
Modals वो दस छोटे शब्द हैं जो वाक्य का रुख़ बदलते हैं — काम नहीं, काम के प्रति आपका रवैया बताते हैं।
सकना can/could: वह गाड़ी चला सकती है। She can drive.
चाहिए should: तुम्हें आराम करना चाहिए। You should rest.
पड़ना / ज़रूरी must / have to: मुझे कल जाना पड़ेगा। I have to go tomorrow.
शायद may/might: शायद बारिश हो। It might rain.
तीन frozen rules रट लो: modal के बाद verb की first form (can go, NOT can goes/can to go), modal कभी नहीं बदलता (he can, NOT he cans), और negative/question में do नहीं आता (Can she...?, NOT Does she can...?)।
Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
He can drives very well.
He can drive very well.
Base verb after a modal — frozen Rule 1.
She musts finish today.
She must finish today.
Modals never take -s — frozen Rule 2.
Do you can help me?
Can you help me?
No do-support — the modal itself jumps to the front.
I can to speak Punjabi.
I can speak Punjabi.
No ‘to’ after a pure modal. (Only ought to / have to keep it.)
He can able to solve this.
He can solve this. / He is able to solve this.
Can = is able to. Using both is a double — the classic Indian-English modal error.
You should not to worry.
You should not worry.
The ‘to’ sneaks in through Hindi (‘chinta karne ki zaroorat nahi’) — English drops it.
Step 6

Signal Words

Reading a modal — ask these:
What job is it doing here: ability, permission, possibility, obligation, or advice?
How strong is it on the thermometer: could < should < had better < must?
Is the form frozen correctly: modal + base verb, no -s, no to, no do?
Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    You (must/submit) the KYC documents before the token payment.
  2. 2
    She (can/read) Urdu — her Nani taught her.
  3. 3
    I (may/come) in, sir?
  4. 4
    It (might/rain) during the possession ceremony — keep a tent ready.
  5. 5
    You (should/not/sign) anything without reading clause 7.
  6. 6
    He (could/lift) two cement bags at once in his youth.
  7. 7
    We (had better/leave) now — the expressway jams after 6.
  8. 8
    you (can/share) the location pin?
  9. 9
    Visitors (must/not/park) in front of the gate.
  10. 10
    You (ought to/inform) the RWA before renovation work.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    She cans speak four languages.
  2. 12
    Do you can come tomorrow?
  3. 13
    He must to attend the hearing.
  4. 14
    I can able to finish this by evening.
  5. 15
    You should not to trust that dealer blindly.
  6. 16
    They can drives to Jaipur in four hours.
  7. 17
    Might I to ask a question?
  8. 18
    He don’t can swim.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    वह अंग्रेज़ी बोल सकती है।
  2. 20
    क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता हूँ?
  3. 21
    तुम्हें डॉक्टर को दिखाना चाहिए।
  4. 22
    मुझे कल जल्दी उठना पड़ेगा।
  5. 23
    शायद वह कल आए।
  6. 24
    तुम्हें यहाँ गाड़ी खड़ी नहीं करनी चाहिए।
  7. 25
    क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं?
Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
must submit
2
can read
3
May I come
4
might rain
5
should not sign
6
could lift
7
had better leave
8
Can you share
9
must not park
10
ought to inform
Answers · Set B
11
She can speak four languages. (Modals never take -s.)
12
Can you come tomorrow? (No do-support.)
13
He must attend the hearing. (No ‘to’ after must.)
14
I can finish this by evening. / I am able to finish this by evening. (Can OR able to — never both.)
15
You should not trust that dealer blindly. (No ‘to’ after should not.)
16
They can drive to Jaipur in four hours. (Base verb.)
17
Might I ask a question? (Base verb — no ‘to’.)
18
He cannot (can’t) swim. (Negative forms directly on the modal.)
Answers · Set C
19
She can speak English.
20
May I come in? / Can I come in?
21
You should see a doctor. / You ought to consult a doctor.
22
I have to get up early tomorrow. / I must wake up early tomorrow.
23
He might come tomorrow. / Maybe she will come tomorrow.
24
You should not park (your car) here. / You must not park here.
25
Can you help me? / Could you please help me?

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Next up · Chapter 2Can & Could

Ability, permission, and the hidden rule about past achievements that even advanced speakers miss.