Modal Verbs Meanings

Question 1

“Can”

Answer 1

• Modal of permission, ability & possibility
- Basic meaning: *ability, possibility * and permission
- Extended meaning: speculation

Question 2

“Could”

Answer 2

• Modal of permission, ability & possibility
- Basic meaning: general ability in the past, permission, possibility
- Extended meaning: speculation

Question 3

“May”

Answer 3

• Modal of permission, ability & possibility
- Meaning: possibility and permission

Question 4

“Might”

Answer 4

• Modal of permission, ability & possibility
- Basic: possibility
- Extended: speculation, implied criticism/permission

Question 5

“Should”

Answer 5

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: advice
- Extended: inferred probability, reproach or regreat

Question 6

“Ought to”

Answer 6

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: advice
- Extended: inferred probability, reproach or regret

Question 7

“Must”

Answer 7

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: internal obligation, prohibition, minimal requirements
- Extended: speculation/deduction, polite insistance

Question 8

“Have (got) to”

Answer 8

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: external obligation, lack of obligation
- Extended: inferred probability, polite insistance

Question 9

“Need”

Answer 9

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: necessity
- Extended: advice (“needn’t” = it’s done // “didn’t need to” = not known)

Question 10

“Dare”

Answer 10

• Modal of advice & necessity
- Basic: fossilized expression, advice
- Extended: admonition (dissaproval)

Question 11

“Will”

Answer 11

• Modal to express future time
- Basic: general future time, predictions
- Extended: inferred probability, habits, willingness, requests

Question 12

“Shall”

Answer 12

• Modal to express future time
- Meaning: *suggestion, future”

Question 13

“Would”

Answer 13

• Modal to express future time
- Basic: future prediction done in the past
- Extended: hypothetical, habits in the past, willingness, requests, polite offers