User Tools

Site Tools


english:grammar:modals

Modals

What it is: Helping verbs like can, could, may, might, must, should, will. What it’s for: Express ability, permission, advice, obligation, possibility. Example: “You should drink more water.”

Form

  • Modal + base verb (V1)
    1. can go, should study, must wear
  • Negative: cannot/can’t, should not/shouldn’t, must not/mustn’t
  • Questions: Can you…? Should we…?

Common meanings

  • can: ability/permission → “I can swim.” / “Can I sit here?”
  • must: strong obligation → “You must wear a helmet.”
  • should: advice → “You should sleep earlier.”
  • might/may: possibility → “It might rain.”

Hard words (Glossary)

  • *modal* /ˈməʊdl/: động từ khuyết thiếu
  • *permission* /pəˈmɪʃən/: sự cho phép
  • *obligation* /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən/: nghĩa vụ/bắt buộc
  • *possibility* /ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/: khả năng có thể xảy ra
english/grammar/modals.txt · Last modified: by phong2018