SPOKEN ENGLISH MODEL VERBS

Model Verbs

Common Modal Verbs
Can	Ought to
Could	Shall
May	Should
Might	Will
Must	Would

Can

I can speak Spanish.

They can’t speak fluently

Can you play the piano?

Can’t you come tomorrow?

Could

He could beat the record easily

I couldn’t help you

Could you come yesterday?

Couldn’t Pakistan win the world cup?

Must

We must get up early in the morning

You mustn’t tell a lie

Must I go to college everyday?

Mustn’t they learn English?

Should

We should help the poor people

You shouldn’t smoke cigarettes

Should I learn English?

Shouldn’t they play cricket in the street?

May

It may rain today

Pakistan may win the match

May I come in?

May we not sit here?

Might

He might come anytime

She mightn’t pass the test

Might they learn English?

Mightn’t she go to London?

Have to

I have to learn English

We don’t have to get up early in the morning

Do you have to go at 9?

Don’t they have to speak English in the class?

Have got to

I have got to go

She has got to work hard

Have you got to catch the train?

Have they got to learn French?

Ought to

I ought to obey my elders

We ought not to tell a lie

Ought we to learn English?

Ought they not come late?

Degree of possibility

He could be upstairs

He might be upstairs

He may be upstairs

Prediction

She might win

She will win

She may win

She could win

Polite Requests

Can I see you in your office, please?

Could I see you in your office, please?

May I see you in your office, please?

Would you tell me the time, please?

Could you tell me the time, please?

Can you tell me the time, please?

Will you tell me the time, please?