اللغة الإنجليزية — Grammar: Modal Verbs Can Could May Might Must Should — 2 ثانوي — شعبة آداب — بكالوريا — المنهاج الجزائري

Grammar: Modals – Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Should

1. Introduction to Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, advice, and prohibition. They do not change form (no -s in the third person) and are followed by the base form of the verb.

2. Can and Could

Can :

• Ability in the present : I can speak English fluently.
• Permission : Can I open the window?
• Possibility : It can rain today.

Could :

• Past ability : I could swim when I was five.
• Polite request : Could you help me, please?
• Possibility (less certain) : It could rain later.

3. May and Might

May :

• Formal permission : May I come in?
• Possibility (more likely) : She may come to the party.
• Wish : May you succeed in your exam!

Might :

• Less certain possibility : He might be at home.
• Very polite suggestion : You might want to try this restaurant.

4. Must and Have to

Must :

• Strong obligation (personal) : I must finish this project today.
• Prohibition (must not) : You must not smoke in the hospital.
• Logical deduction : She must be tired. She worked all day.

Have to :

• External obligation : I have to wear a uniform at school.
• Don’t have to = no obligation : You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.

5. Should and Ought to

Should :

• Advice / Recommendation : You should see a doctor.
• Expectation : He should arrive soon.

Ought to :

• Moral obligation / Strong advice : You ought to respect your parents.

6. Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate modal verb.

1. You ______ (must / can) stop at red lights. It’s the law.
2. ______ (Can / May) I borrow your pen, please?
3. She ______ (can / might) come to the meeting, but she’s not sure.
4. I ______ (should / can) study more if I want to pass the exam.
5. When I was young, I ______ (could / must) run very fast.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences using modals.

1. It is necessary for you to finish your homework. (must) → ______
2. Perhaps it will rain tomorrow. (might) → ______
3. I am able to play the guitar. (can) → ______

7. Answers

Exercise 1: must, Can/May, might, should, could

Exercise 2: You must finish your homework. / It might rain tomorrow. / I can play the guitar.

Study more with our lessons on Conditional Sentences and The Passive Voice.