Auxiliary Verbs or helping verbs are of two types: Primary Auxiliary Verbs and Modal Auxiliary Verbs. In this post, you will find 24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs with examples.
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs are can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, must, dare, need, used to, ought to, etc
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 1
Will
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| Functions | Examples |
| Asking | Will you please pass me the salt? Will you lend me your pen for a moment? Will you be available for a meeting tomorrow afternoon? Will you help me move the furniture? Will you help me carry these bags to the car? |
| Possibility | It will probably rain tomorrow. She will likely be late for the meeting. There will possibly be a traffic jam during rush hour. The package will maybe arrive by the end of the week. She will possibly arrive late due to traffic. |
| Suggestion | We will have a great time if we go to the beach. He will enjoy the book I recommended. They will benefit from attending the conference. You will enjoy the movie if you like suspense. It will be beneficial for you to start exercising regularly. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 2
Would
| Functions | Examples |
| Conditional statements | If I had more time, I would travel around the world. |
| Polite requests or offers | Would you please pass me the salt? |
| Habits or repeated actions in the past | When I was younger, I would always play soccer with my friends. |
| Imaginary or hypothetical situations | If I were a millionaire, I would buy a luxurious mansion. |
| Future in the past | He said he would call me later tonight. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 3
Shall
See Also
Shall | ENGLISH PAGEshall I call you or can I call you?Everyday Grammar: The 'Should' vs. 'Shall' DebateShall Past Tense: Conjugation in Present, Past & Past Participle Tense, shall Verb Forms| Functions | Examples |
| Suggestions or offers | Shall we go to the park this afternoon? I shall help you with your luggage. |
| Future actions or plans | I shall attend the meeting tomorrow. We shall leave for our vacation next week. |
| Promises or intentions | I shall always love and support you. She shall do her best to make it to the event. |
| Requirements or rules | Students shall complete the assignment by the end of the week. All visitors shall sign in at the reception. |
| Commands or instructions (in formal contexts) | You shall not enter this restricted area. Shall the defendant rise for the verdict? |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 4
Should
| Functions | Examples |
| Seeking advice | Should we go for a walk? |
| Obligations or expectations | Students should complete their assignments on time. |
| Probability | The train should arrive in about ten minutes. |
| Criticism or expressing dissatisfaction | You should have apologized for your mistake. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 5
Can
| Functions | Examples |
| Ability or capability | I can swim. She can speak three languages fluently. |
| Permission or authorization | Can I borrow your pen? You can go out and play after you finish your homework. |
| Requests or asking for assistance | Can you help me carry this box? Can someone please open the door? |
| Possibility or potential | It can get quite crowded during rush hour. The weather can change suddenly in this region. |
| Making general statements | Cats can see in the dark. Vegetables can be a healthy choice for a balanced diet. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 6
Could
| Functions | Examples |
| Past ability or capability | When I was younger, I could run faster. |
| Polite requests or asking for permission | Could you please pass me the salt? |
| Conditional statements or hypothetical situations | If I had more time, I could visit you. |
| Expressing possibility or uncertainty | It could rain later today, so take an umbrella. |
| Polite suggestions or offering help | You could try calling customer support for assistance. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 7
May
| Functions | Examples |
| Possibility or uncertainty | It may rain later today, so you should bring an umbrella. He may arrive late to the meeting due to traffic. |
| Permission or granting consent | May I borrow your pen, please? You may leave the room if you have finished your exam. |
| Expressing wishes or hopes | May all your dreams come true! May you have a wonderful birthday! |
| Polite requests or asking for permission | May I ask you a question? May we have a moment of your time to discuss this matter? |
| Expressing probability or likelihood | She may be at the library studying. The package may arrive tomorrow, according to the tracking information. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 8
Might
| Functions | Examples |
| Possibility or uncertainty | It might rain later today, so you should bring an umbrella. |
| Polite requests or asking for permission | Might I borrow your laptop for a moment? |
| Expressing a slight possibility | She might be able to finish the project by tomorrow. |
| Expressing past regret | I might have passed the exam if I had studied more. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 9
Must
| Functions | Examples |
| Obligation | You must submit your assignment by tomorrow. |
| Certainty | It’s getting late, and they must be home by now. She’s been practicing for hours; she must be a skilled pianist. |
| Strong Probability | The dark clouds indicate that it must rain soon. |
| Prohibition | You must not enter this area without proper authorization. Visitors must not touch the exhibits in the museum. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 10
Dare
| Functions | Examples |
| Questioning or challenging | How dare you speak to me like that? Who dares to defy the court’s orders? |
| Permission or offering | Dare I ask for a favor? Dare you join me on this adventure? |
| Negative statements | I dare not open that mysterious package. They dare not reveal their true identities. |
| Expressing bravery or willingness | She dares to take risks and explore new opportunities. He dares to speak up against injustice. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 11
Need
| Functions | Examples |
| Necessity | I need to finish my assignment before tomorrow. We need to buy groceries for the week. |
| Lack of necessity or obligation | You don’t need to worry; everything is under control. You didn’t need to attend the meeting. |
| Emphasizing a strong recommendation | You need to see this movie; it’s amazing! We need to try the new restaurant downtown. |
| Expressing a requirement | He needs to pass the exam to graduate. The documents need to be signed by tomorrow. |
| Denying necessity or obligation | You needn’t bother about the dishes; I’ll take care of them. They needn’t worry about the expenses; it’s all covered. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 12
Used to
| Functions | Examples |
| Past habits or actions | He used to walk every morning. She used to visit her grandparents every weekend. |
| Past preferences or likes | We used to enjoy camping in the mountains during summer vacations. They used to listen to rock music, but now they prefer jazz. |
| Expressing familiarity | I’m used to working late hours. They are used to the cold weather since they grew up in a northern climate. |
| Comparing past and present situations | Life used to be simpler before the advent of technology. Life used to revolve around physical mail, but now we rely on emails and instant messaging. |
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Table 13
Ought to
| Functions | Examples |
| Advising or giving recommendations | You ought to eat more fruits and vegetables for a balanced diet. She ought to study for the exam if she wants to do well. |
| Expressing moral or social obligation | We ought to help those in need. He ought to apologize for his behavior. |
| Expressing expectations or duty | They ought to arrive on time for the meeting. The employees ought to follow the company policies. |
| Expressing probability or likelihood | It ought to rain later, judging by the dark clouds. He ought to pass the test with all the preparation he did. |
| Expressing regrets or missed opportunities | I ought to have called my parents on their anniversary. She ought to have taken the earlier train to avoid the traffic. |
In English, the 9 modal auxiliary verbs (Can, Could, May, Might, Shall, Should, Will, Would, Must) listed earlier are generally considered the main modal verbs. However, we will add some additional modal auxiliary verbs, which are sometimes considered modal auxiliary verbs.
24 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Summary
| Modal Auxiliary Verbs | Functions | Examples |
| Can | 1. ability 2. possibility | 1. Lisa can speak French fluently. 2. It will be a challenge, but I think we can complete the project if we work together. |
| Could | 1. ability 2. requesting | 1. He could do it. 2. Could you pass the salt, please? |
| May | 1. possibility 2. permission 3. offering | 1. Alisha may come here today. 2. May I come in? 3. May I get you a cup of coffee? |
| Might | 1. possibility 2. suggestion | 1. His statement might be true. 2. You might try a new restaurant today. |
| Must | 1. obligation 2. certainty 3. strong probability 4. prohibition | 1. You must obey your parents. 2. I must submit my assignment before the deadline. 3. You must be hungry after a busy day at work. 4. You must not waste your time. |
| Dare | 1. challenge 3. negative force 4. interrogation | 1. I dare you to try spicy salsa! 2. I wouldn’t dare to ask HR for a salary hike. 3. How dare you speak to your mother like that? |
| Need | 1. prohibition 2. interrogation | 1. You need not come here. 2. Does he need to go there? |
| Used to | habitual action in the past | My mother used to tell me moral stories. I used to live here when I was a boy. He used to walk every morning when he was in New York. |
| Ought to | 1. obligation 2. strong likelihood | 1. a) You ought to work hard for your exam. b) We ought to obey our parents. 2. It ought to rain later today. |
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