English Modal Verbs: Everything You Need to Get Started!

Examples of modal verbs in English show us how powerful these small words can be for sharing ideas clearly and politely. Mastering modal verbs is essential for effective communication, whether you’re making a suggestion to your colleague, asking for permission from your boss, or telling your best friend that they must learn a language with Busuu. 

Take a look at the list of modal verbs in English and examples in this article so you can feel more confident when speaking and writing English in your everyday life.

Master English modal verbs with Busuu

Relevant examples for everyday use

When you learn English with Busuu, you get practical examples you can use at work, school and in your daily life.

Brush up on English grammar with quizzes

Practice makes perfect. Our Busuu English lessons are built with interactive quizzes that let you put your learning to use right from the start.

Learn English on your time

Whether you have five minutes or a whole hour, you decide how long to study. Our bite-sized lessons are designed to deliver maximum learning at your convenience.

What are modal verbs? 

Modal verbs (also known as modal auxiliary verbs) are helping words that add to the meaning of the main verb in a sentence. 

Check out these examples to see how they work:

I study English every morning.  

I should study English every morning.

I can study English every morning. 

With the first sentence, the speaker shares a fact about their daily routine using the main verb “study.” 

In the second example, the speaker adds a modal verb – should – to show that the action, “study,” is something necessary or important to them, rather than a fact about their routine.  

By using the modal verb can in sentence three, the speaker tells us that they have the option to “study.”

Modal verbs are essential for expressing your thoughts with greater precision. They allow you to share more than just facts – they help you talk about your intentions, feelings and attitude.

Unlike other auxiliary verbs like do, be and have, which we use to change English verb tenses in a sentence and to ask questions, modal verbs are used to

• Show whether an action is possible

• Ask for permission to do something

• Talk about ability or skill 

• Say if an action is necessary

• Make a request

• Suggest or recommend an action

• Give a command

When you understand how to use English modal verbs correctly, it opens up a world of possibilities for speaking, writing and understanding what others are trying to say. 

List of modal verbs in English with examples

Below is a list of modal verbs in English, organized by function (what they are used for). You may notice that some modal verbs can be used in more than one way. That’s because many modal verbs serve different purposes depending on the context.

1. Modal verbs to show possibility 

These modal verbs help us talk about things that are possible or allowed. They include: 

• Can 

• Could

• May 

• Might 

• Should 

• Would 

Examples: 

You can travel from New York to Toronto by car in a day. 

Some people may find it easier to study English online. 

My sister might not visit next Christmas.

Winters could become less cold in the future.

The students should pass the exam if they study daily.

Learning English grammar would improve my email writing skills. 

2. Modal verbs to ask for permission 

Whether you need to request a bathroom break during a meeting or want to ask a colleague to borrow their pen, you can use any of the following modal verbs in question form:  

• Can 

• May

• Might

• Could 

Examples:

Can we park our vehicle in your driveway?

May I borrow your phone to make a quick call?

Might you lend me your notes from yesterday’s lesson?

Could our team attend the meeting next Friday?

3. Modal verbs for talking about ability

Tell your friends about your amazing talents with these modal verbs:

• Can 

• Could

Examples: 

More people can code in 2025 than 20 years ago.

His mom could speak French when she was younger. 

4. Modal verbs for expressing necessity or obligation

Sometimes you need to show that an action is urgent or important. Do so with these modal verbs:

• Must

• Should

• Ought to

Examples: 

You must arrive by 7:30pm to catch the flight!

We should brush our teeth every day.

The neighbors ought to keep their music down!

5. Modal verbs to make a request

We all need support at some point in our lives. Ask for help with these modal verbs: 

• Can

• Could

• Would

• May 

Examples:

Can you lend me some cash for gasoline?

Could I use your laptop to finish my work?

Would you mind helping me with these boxes?

May I speak with the manager?

6. Modal verbs to make a suggestion or recommendation

We all have that one friend who likes to give advice. If that’s you, take a look at these English modal verbs to share your recommendations: 

• Could

• Would

• Shall

• Should

• Ought to 

• Might 

Examples: 

They could practice in the mornings before going to work.

It would be smart to do meal prep on Sundays.

Shall I book the conference room for next week’s meeting?

You should try the Busuu app if you need real practice with native speakers.

Parents ought to encourage their children to learn a second language from a young age.

We might start by asking our current customers what they like about the product.

7. Modal verbs to give a command 

Make sure others are following the rules by adding these modal verbs when giving instructions: 

• Must

• Shall

Examples: 

Applicants must include a cover letter with their job application.

Residents shall report any suspicious activities within the building.  

Busuu can help you practice your English modal verbs 

Get feedback from native speakers 

Join the millions of language learners and native English speakers in Busuu’s online community and get individual feedback on your speaking and writing. Use English modal verbs to share more about yourself and make new friends.

Improve your pronunciation with Busuu’s adaptive conversation feature

Want to check your pronunciation at any time? Busuu’s adaptive conversation feature brings English learning to life. When you sign up for Busuu, you get immersive, dynamic conversation straight from the app. You can also get personalized feedback at the end of each conversation.

Build your speaking confidence with our expert-designed lessons

Our expert-designed English lessons help you get the most out of your learning. Based on current language learning research and proven methodology, Busuu’s lessons are all about using writing and speaking skills as soon as you learn them so you can achieve faster fluency.

How to use English modal verbs 

Now that you have a complete list of modal verbs in English and know what they mean, you can start using them with more confidence. But first, take a look at some useful grammar tips you should keep in mind to avoid making common English modal verb mistakes.  

Modal verbs don’t follow subject-verb agreement 

Unlike the main verb in a sentence, modal verbs in English do not need to follow subject-verb agreement rules. This means that they do not change form based on the subject of the sentence. In other words, you never need to add endings like -s, -ing, or -ed to the end of a modal verb.

Incorrect: Our new colleague mights join us this Friday.

Correct: Our new colleague might join us this Friday.

English modal verbs are not related to verb tenses

Modal verbs are not tied to specific verb tenses. Instead, we use them to express attitudes that can relate to the past, present or future. 

Take a look at the use of might in the following sentences: 

• I might need to visit the dentist next week. (Here, we are talking about a future action).

• They might not understand what you are saying. (The speaker is referring to the present). 
  

An exception is that the modals could and would can be used to talk specifically about the past in some situations, as in the following examples:

• When I first joined the company, I would stay an extra hour after work, completing any unfinished work. 
  

• We couldn’t understand our American colleagues before we started learning English with Busuu. 

Questions and negatives using English modal verbs 

When asking a question using a modal verb, just flip the subject and the modal verb: 

Statement: The students should complete Lesson 1 before moving on to Lesson 2.            

Question: Should the students complete Lesson 1 before moving on to Lesson 2?

Statement: Martha could ask Peter for help with the project.        

Question: Could Martha ask Peter for help with the project?

To make a negative sentence, add not between the modal verb and the main verb:

Statement: The new supervisor ought to inform the team about future projects.

With “not”: The new supervisor ought not to inform the team about future projects.  

Statement: Calls may be answered during the lunch break. 

With “not”: Calls may not be answered during the lunch break. 

Modal verbs and formality 

A distinguishing feature of modal verbs in English is that they can help us speak or write more formally. For example, the way you speak with your manager is probably different from how you talk with your colleagues. Modal verbs can help you express that difference in tone.

When you want to sound a bit more formal or polite, try using the modal verbs may, might, could, would, should, ought to and shall. The table below shows some examples.

Modal verbs for formal or polite conversations

Common mistakes using English modal verbs

Being aware of common English modal verb mistakes is as important as mastering modal verb grammar. Once you start catching these potential errors, you can easily fix them by paying a little extra attention.

Adding “to” after a modal verb

You may have learned that when there are two consecutive verbs, the second verb is in either infinitive form, to + verb or verb +i ng.

This rule does not apply after a modal verb. The second or main verb is always in the bare infinitive – the verb without “to.”

Incorrect: I should to call my mom on the weekend.

Correct: I should call my mom on the weekend.

Incorrect: The students might to have a three-day weekend next month.

Correct: The students might have a three-day weekend next month.

Using the wrong modal verb for the situation 

When you use a modal verb in the wrong way, it can make you sound rude or strict, or even send the wrong message, depending on the situation. Notice how different modal verbs are used in the following examples: 

A recommendation: Applicants should submit a cover letter with their application.

A requirement: Applicants must submit a cover letter with their application.

A suggestion: Children ought not to swim in this pool without their parents.

A rule: Children cannot swim in this pool without their parents.

A direct request: Can you call me in five minutes?

A polite request: Could you call me in five minutes?

Using two modal verbs together 

You might not realize it, but using two auxiliary verbs in a row – either two modals or one modal with another type of auxiliary verb or phrase – can easily happen if you are not careful! Using two auxiliary verbs together can make your sentence sound strange or incorrect. 

Instead, you can find another modal verb or verb phrase to express the same idea accurately, as in the following examples:

Incorrect: Our friends might can help us move to the new apartment.

Correct: Our friends might be able to help us move to the new apartment.

Awkward: You should have to learn to drive if you want to live in Miami. 

Correct: You must learn to drive if you want to live in Miami.

It’s okay to make mistakes when you practice using modal verbs. What matters is to fix your mistakes and keep practicing! 

Why Busuu is the best place to practice English modal verbs

These examples of English modal verbs are just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s why Busuu is the best place to learn advanced English grammar topics.

• Busuu lessons are targeted to your level and cover essentials of English grammar.

• In-context examples show you how to use grammar naturally in daily conversation.

• Exercises throughout and in between lessons test your knowledge of and ability to use English grammar. 

• AI-powered Busuu Conversations help you practice speaking and provide instant feedback. 

You can share writing and speaking samples and receive corrections from native speakers through Busuu’s online community.