Modal Verbs

Question 1

CAN / COULD

Answer 1

Meaning & Usage:
“Can” and “Could” express ability, permission, and possibility.
“Can” is used for present/future; “Could” is for past or polite/formal requests.

✅ Examples:
(Affirmative – Present Perfect Continuous)
→ She has been able to swim since she was five.

(Negative – Past Continuous)
→ I couldn’t understand what they were saying during the meeting.

(Interrogative – Future Perfect)
→ Will he have been able to finish the task by tomorrow?

Question 2

MUST / HAVE TO / NEED TO

Answer 2

Meaning & Usage:
“Must” expresses strong obligation, necessity, or deduction.
“Have to” and “Need to” are often used for external obligation or practical necessity.

✅ Examples:
(Affirmative – Simple Future)
→ You will have to submit the report by Friday.

(Negative – Present Continuous)
→ She isn’t needing to work overtime this week.
(NOTE: “Need” as modal is rare in continuous but valid in British English)

(Interrogative – Past Perfect)
→ Had they needed to call a technician before the crash?

MUST NOT / MUSTN’T = PROIBIÇÃO
Drivers mustn’t use their phones while driving.

❌ NÃO usar “must not” para dizer que algo não é necessário! Nesse caso, usar:
DON’T HAVE TO / DOESN’T HAVE TO / DIDN’T HAVE TO

Question 3

SHOULD / OUGHT TO

Answer 3

Meaning & Usage:
“Should” and “Ought to” are used to give advice, express moral obligation, or expectation.

✅ Examples:
→ You should drink more water every day.

→ He shouldn’t be working this late tomorrow.

→ Ought we to tell her the truth? (mais comum no inglês britânico e soa formal, no inglês americano, usamos mais “should”).

Question 4

MAY / MIGHT

Answer 4

Meaning & Usage:
“May” and “Might” express possibility, uncertainty, or permission (may is more formal).

⚖️ Diferença entre MAY e MIGHT
Modal Uso principal Grau de possibilidade
MAY Possibilidade, permissão Normal (~50%)
MIGHT Possibilidade Mais fraca (~30–40%)

📌 Ambos funcionam no presente ou futuro com sentido semelhante.
“Might” também pode ser usado no passado com have + past participle (“They might have taken the wrong train”).

✅ Examples:
(Affirmative – Past Perfect Continuous)
→ They might have been waiting outside for hours.

(Negative – Future Perfect)
→ The system may not have completed the update by then.

(Interrogative – Simple Past)
→ Might she have called you yesterday?

❗ MIGHT NOT = (ou a forma contraída “mightn’t” – mais comum no inglês britânico)

Question 5

WILL / WOULD

Answer 5

Meaning & Usage:
“Will” expresses future certainty, promises, or spontaneous decisions.
“Would” is used for hypotheticals, politeness, or past habits.

✅ Examples:
(Affirmative – Future Continuous)
→ He will be attending the conference next week.

(Negative – Past Perfect Simple)
→ I wouldn’t have known that without your help.

(Interrogative – Present Continuous)
→ Would you be joining us for lunch today?

Question 6

SHALL

Answer 6

Meaning & Usage:
“Shall” is used mainly in formal British English for suggestions, offers, or futuristic intentions (similar to “will”).

✅ Examples:
(Affirmative – Simple Future)
→ We shall meet again soon.

(Negative – Present Perfect)
→ He shall not have completed the task without supervision.
(Note: rare but acceptable in legal/formal British contexts)

(Interrogative – Simple Present)
→ Shall I open the window?