Modal Verb Must May Might
What are modals and their uses? How do you use modals in a sentence? Why do we use modal verbs? What's the difference between should and must?
Modal verbs – must/may/might
Introduction
1) We use modal verbs to show if we believe something is certain, probable or possible (or not). We also use modals to ask permission, make requests and offers etc.
Modal verbs fall into the category of auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs). It means that they are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and additional meaning to a sentence.
2) We use the modal verb must and the base form of the verb to form sentences. Questions are formed by inverting the subject and must. Negatives are formed with not. Contracted forms are used (mustn’t).
We can use the modal verb must:
a) to express obligation, duty, or prohibition (this also refers to laws and regulations).
You must wear a seatbelt at all times.
You mustn’t use your smartphone while driving.
b) to emphasize the necessity of something.
People must drink a lot of water during the day.
c) to express our certainty in something being true.
Look! There are puddles everywhere. It must have rained.
You are still working? You must be tired!
d) to give a strong recommendation.
You must listen to this song, it’s so catchy!
We use the modal verb may and the base form of the verb to form sentences. Questions are formed by inverting the subject and may. Negatives are formed with not.
We can use the modal verb may:
a) to give permission or prohibit something.
If you have finished the test, you may leave the room.
You may not park here.
b) to ask for permission (more polite than can).
May I use your bathroom, please?
c) to express wishes.
May you both live happily!
d) in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things that typically happen in certain situations.
Drivers may feel tired after driving for 3 hours straight.
Note that we usually use the modal verbs may and might without a significant difference in meaning when expressing possibility. However, might often implies a smaller chance of something happening.
I might go to the movies tonight. I’m not sure.
Don't Stop There!
This is only a small part of the lesson. There is so much more to learn. Continue this lesson by joining The Ultimate English Grammar Course.
Inside the course, you can continue with this lesson. There are dozen more uses and examples not shown here. You will also get access to guided practice with a real English professor, a real-life dialogue conversation, and dozens of grammar practice problems with answers and PDF/ebook. Just click below to open the full course!
Still Not Sure?
-
Learn the most important topics in English grammar
-
Learn how to use English grammar in real conversation examples.
-
Prepare for English grammar exams like A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC
-
Improve your speaking, listening, and writing with English grammar.
-
Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced | All Levels
-
Master English writing with the new bonus English punctuation section
Everything You Need to Know
This course has every English grammar topic. If you want to learn perfect English, this course is for you! No other English course covers as many English Grammar topics. This course includes a full English grammar book with hundreds of practice problems.
Enjoy the new English punctuation course that is included with this already huge English grammar course.
4 courses in 1 | Beginner Grammar | Intermediate Grammar | Advanced Grammar | English Punctuation
Don't waste your time buying dozens of English grammar courses. Everything you need is all in this English Grammar Master Course. This is the only course that teaches you English grammar in use and also shows you how to use it in real English conversation.
Every lesson has dozens of useful English Grammar examples, video lectures, guided practice, real-life English conversation, and worksheet pdfs full of practice problems to help you learn English.
The teacher for this course is a real-life university professor and will answer any questions you have.
Every lesson comes with the following:
-
Dozens of examples with full explanations.
-
Side by side guided instruction with Professional English teacher
-
A real-life conversation dialogue to show the grammar topic in use
-
Plenty of activities and exercises to practice what you learned.
-
A PDF worksheet to download and work offline
This course has 3 sections. Beginner grammar, intermediate grammar, and advanced grammar.
The course now also includes a full English punctuation course in addition to the English grammar course. Learn to master English writing and bring your English to the next level.
With the help of our course, you will master English grammar to improve your English speaking, or to ace those tough English grammar test such as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, TOEFL, IETLS, AND TOEIC.
Start learning English the easy way!
Langpill | Learn English | Speaking | Listening | Writing