All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.
Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.
The modal verbs are:-
CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / SHALL / SHOULD / OUGHT TO / WILL / WOULD
|
Modal
|
Example
|
Uses
|
| Can | They can control their own budgets.
We can’t fix it.
Can I smoke here?
Can you help me?
| Ability / Possibility
Inability / Impossibility
Asking for permission
Request
|
| Could | Could I borrow your dictionary?
Could you say it again more slowly?
We could try to fix it ourselves.
I think we could have another Gulf War.
He gave up his old job so he could work for us.
| Asking for permission.
Request
Suggestion
Future possibility
Ability in the past
|
| May | May I have another cup of coffee?
China may become a major economic power.
| Asking for permission
Future possibility
|
| Might |
We'd better phone tomorrow, they might be eating their dinner now.
They might give us a 10% discount.
|
Present possibility
Future possibility
|
| Must | We must say good-bye now.
They mustn’t disrupt the work more than necessary.
| Necessity / Obligation
Prohibition
|
| Ought to | We ought to employ a professional writer. | Saying what’s right or correct |
| Shall
(More common in the UK than the US)
| Shall I help you with your luggage?
Shall we say 2.30 then?
Shall I do that or will you?
| Offer
Suggestion
Asking what to do
|
| Should | We should sort out this problem at once.
I think we should check everything again.
Profits should increase next year.
| Saying what’s right or correct
Recommending action
Uncertain prediction
|
| Will | I can’t see any taxis so I’ll walk.
I'll do that for you if you like.
I’ll get back to you first thing on Monday.
Profits will increase next year.
| Instant decisions
Offer
Promise
Certain prediction
|
| Would | Would you mind if I brought a colleague with me?
Would you pass the salt please?
Would you mind waiting a moment?
"Would three o`clock suit you?" - "That’d be fine."
Would you like to play golf this Friday?
"Would you prefer tea or coffee?" - "I’d like tea please."
| Asking for permission
Request
Request
Making arrangements
Invitation
Preferences
|
- See more at: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/verbmodal.html#sthash.GTxxGHHp.dpuf
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