Modal verbs are special verbs that are used very differently to normal verbs. Modal verbs are always used with other verbs. The most common present modal verbs are:
- may
- might
- could
- should
- must
- can
Sentences with modal verbs are formed using:
| Subject | Modal | Verb | |
| I, You, He, She, It, We, You, They | might | have | an extra backpack for you to borrow. |
Modal verbs do not change depending on the subject, unlike most verbs.
| Normal Verb | I am / She is |
| Modal Verb | I could be / She could be |
The modal verb always stays the same, and the verb following the modal is always in its root form. Here are some examples of sentences with modal verbs.
I might have something special in here.
He must feel very tired.
They should be at home.
You can also use modals to make negative sentences and phrases.
| Subject | Modal | Not | Verb | |
| I, You, He, She, It, We, You, They | may | not | be | in her office right now. |
Present Continuous Modals
We often use modal verbs in the present continuous. These sentences are formed using:
| Subject | Modal | Be | Present Participle | |
| I, You, He, She, It, We, You, They | could | be | meeting | with the teacher right now. |
Here are some sentences using present continuous modals.
They should be sleeping already!
Hillary might be dancing in her room.
He may be eating his dinner right now.
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.