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Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Because they’re a type of auxiliary verb (helper verb), they’re used alongside the infinitive form of the main verb of a sentence. Common examples of modal verbs include can, should, and must.

Modal verbs can be tricky, but the good news is that they’re simple once you learn how they work. Below, we explain everything you need to know to use modal verbs with ease.

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Modal verbs are used to express certain hypothetical conditions, such as advisability, capability, or requests (there’s a full list in the next section). They’re used alongside a main verb to inflect its meaning.

Consider the difference between these two examples:

I swim every Tuesday.

I can swim every Tuesday.

The first example is a simple factual statement. The speaker participates in a swimming activity every week on Tuesdays.

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Modal verbs are quite common in English; you’ve seen them in action hundreds of times even if you didn’t know what they were called. The most frequently used ones are:

can

may

might

could

should

would

will

must

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What special conditions do modal verbs indicate? Here’s a list, along with examples:

Likelihood

Some things seem likely to be true but can’t be stated as definite facts. In these cases, you can use the modal verbs should and must to show probability without certainty.

Her parents must be so proud.

My baby brother should be asleep by now.

Possibility

In a situation when something is possible but not certain, use the modal verb could, may, or might.

Judging by the clouds, it might rain today.

She may become the youngest pro soccer player ever.

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Luckily, using modal verbs in a sentence is pretty simple. For basic sentences—in the simple present tense—just remember these rules:

Modal verbs come directly before the main verb except for in questions.

With modal verbs, use the infinitive form of the main verb. With most but not all modal verbs, to is dropped from the infinitive.

So if you want to brag about your ability to eat an entire pizza, you use the modal verb can before the infinitive form of eat without to—which is simply eat. The rest of the sentence continues as normal.

I can eat an entire pizza.

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Modal verbs – Can, May, Could, Must, Would, Might, Should - English Grammar lesson

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Modal Verbs of the English Language -  Complete Guide